Washing saddle pads

[MissusS]

I just did two loads of laundry each with two
Saddle pads in the machine per load. I ended up running each load through twice (and this was after using a rubber brush to take off the excess hair before running them through the first time). First cycle I put the pads in folded in half with the inside facing out, and then fold them with the inside in for the second wash round. So four pads and four wash cycles. I typically run through 2-3 pads at a time and often run the machine twice. I’m starting to wonder if I only put one pad in each load whether that would increase my chances of getting a clean pad out the first time.

Once I’m done I have to run a “clean washer” cycle or my husband would probably be irate.

In the summer I’ll wash them outside with the hose but I can’t do that in the winter. I’ve also soaked them in the bath tub before but that’s a dirty job.

How do you wash your saddle pads?

[SillyHorse]

I give them a ride in the dryer, with no heat, for five or ten minutes to get most of the hair out. Also, I don’t wait for them to get really bad with ground in dirt before I wash them. Not saying that you do, though.

[GraceLikeRain]

I wash mine frequently. Every 1-3 rides in the summer and 4-6 in the winter. I’ve got a reusable lint roller with a cage that traps the hair so the whole thing gets an aggressive rub down before the wash. 15 minute rapid cycle with 1 pad and a scant tablespoon of detergent. Dryer for < 10 minutes with a million dryer balls and air dry the rest of the way. They come out pristine each time with zero signs of fading and some are pushing 8 years old.

[luvmyhackney]

I wash mine every ride in the summer, I shop vac the hair off, place them with the dirty side out, showing, and cold wash with two squirts of Dropps laundry detergent, and vinegar in the softener part. In the winter I only wash when I can see a good bit a dirt so 3-4 rides. I’ve spot treated really dirty pads with what ever was on hand. I can wash 4 pads with a small load of towels and they come out clean.

I dry them low heat with dryer balls in the winter, otherwise they take forever. In the summer, I hang dry.

[kaya842]

Apparently I’m a slacker. My pads don’t get washed as often as y’all’s! They get done when I have time/ remember to do it which is every few months. I use an Uproot style hair removing brush before tossing them bottom (horse side) facing out with Dropps detergent, oxyclean (currently I have all white pads), and vinegar. They then get hung up to dry.

[WildGooseChase]

Laundramat for me, at least until I got my agitator-less washer. I just wash all the horse stuff in the deep water and do an extra rinse.

If you want to get the hair off, tumble dry for a few minutes before you wash, they really shouldn’t be so dirty that you can’t do this. If they are, you’re waiting too long between washes.

[WildGooseChase]

Dropps oxi boost pods are super good! I was a die hard Dropps user for a long time.

[Foggy]

I do a soak in the laundry sink first. I have found this helps get rid of hair left and a lot of the dirt and then the washing machine doesn’t have as hard of a job.
I try to remember to change pads regularly so they don’t get as dirty in the first place.

[trubandloki]

Modern front load washing machines use too little water to do much good on things like this. (Says me who has one of those modern water saving useless machines.)

I wash after every use in the summer and not that frequently in the winter. During shedding seasons I remove as much hair as possible. On my fleece backed pads I use a dog slicker brush to get the hair out.

I hang to dry.

[showy]

Blast with the hose first! It gets a good layer of dirt and hair off before throwing in the washer. I think I read that trick on here actually.

If I can’t, I’ll lint roll and wipe down with a rag then wash one at a time.

I’m also a big fan of the cheaper white schooling pads for everyday use. Dover is good. You can wash with bleach and dry normal. I’m too lazy to hang mine to dry.

-owner of a piggy white horse

[SBrentnall]

I have an LG front loader and I only need to run mine through once on a cold wash. I brush all the hair off first, then load 2 at a time. I also add bandages, ear bonnets, etc so perhaps the additional small items add some degree of agitation.

[SBrentnall]

@trubandloki

Modern front load washing machines use too little water to do much good on things like this.

Depends on the washer. My front-load Miele got my saddle pads sparkling clean for 20 years. My current LG gets them clean, although the white is not as sparkly as with the Miele.

[endlessclimb]

I would say that top loaders are useless on saddle pads. I’ve had nothing but good luck with front loaders, and yes - the mega efficient ones.

[luvmyhackney]

I use a top loader in the barn with no issues. My next washing machine will be a Speed Queen.

My in the house machine is a front loader and I loathe it at times.

[punchy]

I just hose them off after a ride and use an old horse brush with the running hose to brush the areas that have dirt and sweat. Sometimes I use soapy water, mostly not. Then I hang it on the clothesline or a chair in the sun bottom side up so it doesn’t bleach out the color.

[Cerise]

I probably wash my saddle pads too often - someone once compared them to used gym socks and I’ve never quite gotten over it. In the summer I usually wash them after a ride or two, so they really don’t collect all that much hair. In the winter I’ll get maybe five rides out of a pad before I wash it, I’ll take a mud brush or a lint roller to it to get rid of the worst of the hair if I need to. I also wash my pads in a LeMieux laundry bag - I throw boots and wraps in it too - and that helps keep hair out of the machine. I also have some of their Cactus balls, toss those in the bag and they catch the hair. Only problem with those is my cats think they’re toys and keep stealing them.

I’ve never had a problem with my front load washer getting them clean. Always wash cold and I usually lay them out to dry. Many are fine to go in the dryer though.

[mika0116]

Hose - on the most concentrated setting - dirt, hair, everything. sometimes add soap or enzyme wash for stains- hang dry.

I realize now many folks live in cold / freezing temps where this isn’t exactly possible given the temps for significant portions of the year

Winter climates - laundromat & buy enough saddle pads for rotation between trips

[MissusS]

I have the laundry bag and cactus balls but don’t find they help… things get cleaner mucking up my machine all loose in there!

[peedin]

I take mine to the tack store. $5 per pad. They use non stinky detergent and hang to dry. Cleaner than I could ever get at home. I do vacuum the hair off before taking the pads in.

[Xanthoria]

@trubandloki

Modern front load washing machines use too little water to do much good on things like this. (Says me who has one of those modern water saving useless machines.)

My front load, high efficiency (HE) washer and dryer in one LG cleans two pads beautifully on cold with a prewash and extra rinse, and very little water.