How to Clean Equine Blankets

Preparing the Blanket for Washing

• 1

  Drape blanket over a 4-foot-tall fence and brush it down with a stiff brush or broom. This will dislodge loose dirt and grime from the outside of the blanket. When you have brushed off as much loose debris as possible, spray any grass or manure stains on the blanket with a horse-friendly stain removal product. Let the spray sit for several minutes, then rub it vigorously with a damp sponge until the stain is faded or has disappeared completely.

• 2

  Turn the blanket inside out and repeat the brushing and stain removal process on the inside of the blanket. You may have to brush more vigorously on the inside of the blanket because of the amount of winter horse hair that tends to get stuck to the blanket. It is important to remove as much of the hair as possible because hair will damage your washing machine. It also can stick to the blanket and inadvertently get stored for next year right along with the blanket.

• 3

  Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to suck as much of the remaining hair off the blanket as possible.

• 4

  Unbuckle all straps, including the leg straps, tail cords, girth straps and chest buckles. Equine author Cherry Hill recommends covering all buckles with socks to protect the inside of the washer tub. Use a rubber band or other elastic to hold the socks over the buckles.

Washing by Hand

• 5

  If you do not have access to a washing machine or do not want to take the chance of damaging your washing machine, you can wash the horse blanket by hand in a large tub of water. Before washing the blanket, make sure to read any washing instructions recommended by the manufacturer.

• 6

  Fill a large tub with water of desired or manufacturer recommended temperature, then pour detergent or soap into the tub.

• 7

  Place blanket in tub and submerge it, soaking the fabric. Once the blanket is completely wet, scrub the blanket thoroughly until you are satisfied with its cleanliness.

• 8

  Take the blanket back outside and lay it back across the fence to drip dry. Wet horse blankets are typically too heavy to be supported by clotheslines.

Washing by Machine

• 9

  Set the washer to the preferred or manufacturer recommended setting. Insert blanket in washing machine, taking care to evenly distribute the weight. Hill recommends placing waterproof blankets into the washer inside out to make sure the blanket washes evenly. Otherwise, wash the blanket with the dirtiest side facing out.

• 10

  Pour in detergent and run the washing machine.

• 11

  When the wash cycle is complete, place the horse blanket in the dryer, carefully securing all straps. It may take several drying cycles before the blanket is completely dry.