I used to take them to get washed, but now it’s a long drive to get there so I did it myself last fall. Laid them all out on the grass and washed them by hand with Nikwax soap. Then sprayed with Nikwax waterproofing. They held up well so far.
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I take mine to the laundry mat. I roll them to look like sleeping bags and chat up anyone there about “kids and camping” as I put them into the biggest industrial machine there. I use the Wal-mart orange cap waterproofing --seems to work well.
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Teenagers went on a huntin trip 
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I wash mine with Blanket Safe brand “soap” and then follow up with her waterproofing spray while blanket is wet. I hang them to dry. I wash them once at the end of the season. The waterproofing spray has worked great… water beads on the top like they were new. I also use her fleece and wool soap when I wash the fleece coolers and quarter sheets. Gets the dirt and smell out of the horse clothes 
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I do the soaking method and hand washing too to preserve the waterproofing. If they are really muddy, yes, definitely the soaking makes a huge difference. I hit them with a hose to get the initial loose dirt off, then soak - if they are very bad I soak with just water first, then dump & add clean wather to soak with Rambo blanket wash. I really scrub the inside well before rinsing but I barely use a scrub brush on the outside because I don’t want to mess with the waterproofing.
They do not look nearly as nice and new as when I have sent stuff out to be washed (usually when it needs a repair done at the same time), but I make sure that they smell clean. I have Rambo turn-outs that are 10-20 years old that are still waterproof 
I watched someone just pour Tide all over her turnout to wash it herself when she saw me doing mine. 
And that is why I do not buy used turn-out blankets
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I have dumped all mine into a 100 gal. water trough, let them soak and swished them around, dumped it out and then dragged them home (in the back of my truck) before putting them in the washer. I have a front load, super extra large capacity (seriously, it’s huge), and I use Nikwax. Knock wood, it’s been working fine for me.
OTOH, the way my mare has been wearing ‘dreadlocks’ (aka mudlocks) this winter, I have quite literally stood her outside and taken the hose to the blanket. Yeah, she was dripping mud. I decided she made a pretty decent blanket hanger, and I may use her again when pre-cleaning blankets!
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Using a trough for soaking is a good idea!
I’m probably going to be hand washing and soaking at home (unless I find another local service to send them out to).
I’m not sure if I’ll soak overnight but we will see.
Maybe I can buy a kiddie pool or something to soak multiples at a time lol
I might try that idea! I have an unused kiddie pool that we bought for our dog, who only looks at it with disdain 
I usually use a utility/muck tub and can only do one at a time. I feel like a witch making potions over my cauldron when I stir it with a broom handle to get the suds agitated
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There are a couple of laundromats near me that allow washing of horse stuff, so I go there with a big load of blankets once a year. I use rambo wash or nikwax typically, whatever’s around. If the blanket is older/needs it I’ll also do the wash in waterproofing, but that’s it. If something is really in bad shape or needs big repairs, I still send them out.
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I have the same unused kiddie pool for my dog in the storage building but I want a bigger one for blankets
I’m really not excited about the idea of having to spread out blanket washing over many days.
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I do mine at home, but used to take them to the laundromat, which has enormous commercial machines. I use Nikwax Rug Wash and Rug Proof. I have Horseware rugs, the oldest of which is about 13 years old, and have had no problems with waterproofing.
I do try to wash rugs multiple times a season (in my home washer,) more to make sure that the lining doesn’t get disgusting from sitting next to his skin all year.
Rug Wash and Rug Proof are not cheap, but they work.
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The lining is what I’m most worried about. I don’t have mud so the outer layers are just a bit dusty on mine, but the liners could definitely use a good cleaning!
I go to a laundry mat with towels/rags to dry the floor when I’m done and hauling the clean, wet blankets out to my trunk. Buy some Rambo wash ahead of time and take dollar bills or coins - lots. Each big turnout blanket to its own huge front load - plenty of room to get clean.
And take a good book and disappear into it while you’re waiting. Here’s one idea. 
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And be sure to wash on the COLD setting
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That looks like a nice book. Elephants are fascinating.
I’m just getting started and it’s very good. What is most remarkable so far is that it’s just 20 years ago that for an animal behavior scientist to say animals had emotions was a risk to lose your job. No wonder animals have had such a rough road.
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Blanket washing - pace yourself. I wash 12 every spring. Once sun dried they go into vacuum bags, get sucked flat, and stored in trunks. Spreading the labor out over 12 days reduces my stress level a lot, being obsessive.
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For waterprooofing use marine waterproofing for sail covers. Works great!
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Spray them while wet? That’s interesting. I’m new to blanketing so I’m trying to learn how to keep my sheet waterproof.
