Should I wash my waterproof turnout rug in my washing machine?

You can put it in the washing machine, but use only cool water and don't use detergent. You can use a mild soap, like pure soap flakes. (It's important to realize that soap and detergent are two different things. Yes to soap, No to detergent.) You can also go to a sporting goods store and ask them for what they advise people to use on weatherproof jackets -- something like Nikwax or Grangers Revivex. That helps re-establish the waterproofing. Hang it to dry. Don't tumble dry.

Before washing, try to get as much mud and such out of it first, just to make it easier on the machine. Let it dry and hang it to beat it a bit with a stick or shake it.

Here's Weatherbeeta's instructions:

"We recommend that before washing, you:

1. Remove excess dirt and mud with a hose or stiff brush.

Then,

1. Either hand wash or machine wash your rug/blanket (front-load machines only, please!) on a gentle cycle.

2. Use only cool wash temps. (max 30°C, 85°F) and mild soap – otherwise you risk compromising your WeatherBeeta’s unique waterproof, breathable coating.

3. Rinse thoroughly, then…

4. Line dry (never machine dry!).

5. Finally, store your WeatherBeeta rug/blanket in a cool, dry area (perhaps in the handy, reusable bag you bought it in)"

-- http://www.weatherbeeta.com/USA/Care/care.asp

You can still wash it. Make sure you hang it out to dry though.

If you're worried about it not being so waterproof after just get a can of that spray on stuff for shoes and it should do the trick.

You should re-waterproof rugs at the start or end of each season.

Washing powders can strip the rug of its waterproofness; there are reproofing detergents you can use, designed for jackets and the like. They go in the machine exactly the same as a liquid wash would, into the drawer, and wash and reproof at the same time.

Not sure where you'd be able to get hold of it ... I get mine at an outdoorsy hillwalking shop.

If you do decide to put it in the washer, I would use cold water and do not put it in the dryer. That is where I think the waterproofing would tend to wear off or crack. Also, if it is really muddy, I would brush it off first (if dry) as you don't want to clog up the washer.

I agree with Suzie as far as hanging it over a fence and using a hose and letting it air dry too.

You can, if you want everything you put in it in the future to smell like mud and horses...

If you have a hose with a nozzle that has a high-powered setting, use that to blast all the junk off of it. Sometimes you can go to a self-service carwash (with those high-powered hoses) and do your blankets there (I do!).

Before you get it wet, though, use a stiff brush to get off as much as you can- ever try to brush a horse with wet mud on it? Not fun. Let it dry, brush, vacuum, then hose.

I would be more concerned about your washing machine..... you could break it. Take it to a laundry mat and use thier machines. They also sell in Dover blanket soap that will not harm the blanket. Also before you wash it try vaccuuming it, it will remove some of the hair and mud instead of clogging your machine

I wouldn't if I were you. I'd wait til the mud was dry, brush it off, then hose it down, and wash with a big sponge and gentle soap. Did you try checking the Weatherbeeta website to see if they had cleaning instructions?

Or you could squirt it with a hose and hang it up so it doesn't have to be beat around in the washer at all. it is weatherproof so water won't effect it.

Use a hose to get most of the dirt off. then put it in your washer as you would normal laundry and put your washer on high powered. then put it in the dryer (to get rid of any of the residual hair and dust particles

if you have a big washer should be fine.