What are your secrets for washing saddle pads? Most have embroidery, so heavy bleach is a problem. Tips/Tricks?
Iâm not sure how much good it would do with things that have already been washed/dried and had stains set that way, but I always soak my white pads in our laundry tub with detergent for an hour or two before actually putting them in the washing machine. Iâll also put detergent directly on the pad as a spot treatment if there are any marks as opposed to general dirtiness, and depending on pad material and the severity of the mark, Iâll scrub the spots with a brush and detergent before putting in the washing machine too.
It may be overkill but everyone is always baffled by how white my half pads stay and I even managed to get a purple Quic Silver spot out of my white cotton show pad with this strategy so it definitely works for me.
3 Likes
You can try Oxyclean rather than chlorine bleach. An Oxyclean paste kept damp in hot sun will do a lot of whitening. Donât put it over colored bits
Vacuuming saddle pads before washing them is my go-to move for all saddle pads. I find they come out much cleaner when all the loose hair and dirt is removed first. Iâve had white saddle pads Iâve vacuumed during shedding season that have looked clean just from removing the hair.
1 Like
Scotchguard them before they get dirty 
then theyâre much easier to return to white!
2 Likes
Having a clean horse?
Sorry, that was meant for a laugh.
I have had reasonable luck with Oxyclean.
The thing that seems to make a difference is washing them when they are dirty, not waiting for a load and letting the sweat and dirt dry into the pad. Washing them when I am done with that pad that day.
Which is clearly a real nuisance.
When the kiddos showed needing white saddle pads, we had designated pads for showing. They were only used for the show and washed immediately after (soaking and all that). This kept them pristine for the showring. When they no longer looked perfect, they were moved down the food chain to daily use, and eventually, into dog bed or barn cat bed use. We had the same policy with white breeches --new pair for show --launder ASAP after show, and when no longer perfect, went to daily wear. I am currently wearing DD ânot show worthyâ white breeches and using her ânot show worthyâ white pad for my own dressage practice --she shows, I donât.
11 Likes
Do you only scotchguard white pads or do you do it for all?
I am moderately intrigued⊠I would never have thought of this. I have a brand new white ogilvy friction-free dressage pad with navy embroidery that I might consider this for. I was resigning myself to just having to go for a full soak and scrub then wash once it gets put into use.
Historically Iâve only done the white ones but Iâm considering it for all new purchases (just havenât bought any in a while, I have plenty ).
You can avoid the problem with a Paint horse. Either the pad or the horse will look yellow no matter how clean they both are. Thatâs why I like pastels. 
1 Like
If youâre using it everyday use a baby pad underneath it
â> Wash after almost every use. Iâm a little nuts about saddle pads.
â> Immediately after untacking, hit it with Spray ânâ Wash. It works better for me than Oxy spray. Be sure to spray over a sink or outdoors or in the wash stall. Itâs slippery on floors.
â> At home, rinse in a sink and then soak with no more than a teaspoon of Orvis. Agitate (squeeze but donât wring) by hand. If youâre an Oxy fan, use Oxy. For me, Orvis is superior â I often use it on my own laundry, particularly towels and linens. If you use more than a teaspoon, you will drown in suds. And if you overdo Orvis in your machine, GOOD LUCK. In that case youâll want to Google the solution to the unfortunate circumstance known as suds lock.
â> Launder in a giant lingerie-type bag. Theyâre marketed for washing dog beds and blankies. They keep the hair in the bag and out of your washer.
â> Restoration powder is amazing. (Thatâs it. Thatâs the name. Restoration.) Itâs available (as are Orvis and the wash bag) at the online place where everything in the world is available. Like Orvis, itâs used by textile restorers. Itâs pricey, but itâs your best tool for removing very old stains and reviving neglected fabric.
â> You wouldnât dream of putting saddle pads in the dryer on a setting other than air, right? Right.
What do you use for âScotchguardâ now? I think the stain repellant spray was discontinued for environmental reasons.
Agree with all the tips: wash right away, Oxy/stain remover spray on the really dirty bits, dry in sunshine to bleach as white as possible.
Final tip is the magic of bluing. Turn the water in a sink sky blue, dip saddle pad to optically brighten to a bright white.
1 Like
Well, theyâre still selling Scotchguard on Amazon, Target, etc.
I use camp dry. You can get it online, at Walmart or anywhere that sells outdoor gear
3M reformulated Scotchgard amid concern about an ingredientâs potential toxicity.
1 Like
Iâm happy to hear Scotchgard is back! I didnât see it for sale anywhere for a while so I didnât know!
A search on amazon reveals that there are multiple types of scotchguard⊠Am I safe to assume the red bottle (regular) is what I want?
If I were treating my saddlepads Iâd choose a horse-blanket waterproofing spray before Iâd choose Scotchgard or any similar product, as the horse products are formulated with animals in mind.
1 Like
