This week I hosed off and scrubbed my 5 Star and CSI saddle pads. I just used water and a scrub brush to get as much hair and dirt/sweat out of both as I could. Set them out on my screened-in porch to dry the last few days. I brought them in today and the both STINK like wet dog. I tried spraying them down with freebze order eliminator (the kind you can use on couches) and now they smell like stinky wet dog with a hint of roses. Any suggestions on how to get the smell out? Just more time outside? They didn’t smell anything like this before I washed them! :eek:
They need time belly up in the sun.
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They need to sit in the sun to dry.
They are still wet, felt takes long to dry inside.
Some horses have stinkier than normal blankets, especially grey ones do.
I can pick a blanket used on a gray by the strong acrid smell.
Cattle love grey horse smell, will come out of the brush following a grey horse when they won’t any other and it is the smell, because they will follow a young still very dark horse.
When I wash my 5 Star pads, they take at least a couple days to fully dry.
I can’t say I’ve ever noticed them being stinky … of course I’ve never stuck my nose in them to smell either.
It doesn’t sound like you used soap of any kind??? I also use OxyClean laundry detergent on them when I was them.
I have never had a gray horse, but that is interesting to know about them being stinkier.
It wasn’t just sticking my nose in them, I could smell them from several feet away. :eek:
I didn’t use any kind of soap. Just water and elbow grease. I was worried that the soap would get deep into the material and I would never be able to get all of it out.
After another spraying with frebreeze they do seem to finally be smelling better though.
I always use soap. How are you supposed to get the dirt off otherwise?
Do you wash your clothes with only water? Not meant to be snarky - honest question!
I’ve always heard to only use water, dry sponge, and a vacuum on felt pads. Mine stay pretty clean this way.
After every ride sprinkle Coat Defense powder on the wet side of the pad. It will dry quick and never smell again. You can sprinkle it on your horses backs before blanketing too. No more smelly blankets! The stuff is amazing! https://www.coatdefense.com/
Sun, sun, sun, sun and sun. This is the exception to never letting tack dry in direct sunlight. They stink because of never completely drying and some host mold related flora on those nice, tightly packed, natural fibers that are always damp deep down. Synthetic pads don’t get that skanky smell that’s more then just sweat.
Belly up in direct sunlight, and it takes more then one day unless you are in the desert. I used to put it on the hood of the car parked in the sun after every ride, sort of bake it from both sides while I piddled with rinsing and cooling the horse and gossiping. Might want to try a light spritz of Lysol or other NON BLEACH disinfecting spray before laying it out. Works with the sheepskin and felt half pads too.
And destinks a helmet in just a few hours too.
That’s my other problem, my helmet smells! I wash the liner once a month, but now that it is getting warmer and warmer I don’t think just once a month is going to hack it! So do you spray your helmet with disinfecting spray too?
Yes. Lysol or store brand. Spritz it then put it in the sun as soon as you get off. You can bake it inside the car too…but leave the windows open so it doesn’t stink up the car
This is kinda late advice, but 5 Star makes liners for their pads so you can just wash the liner and the pad will stay clean.
