waterproofing rugs

[lynnemh]

does anyone still wash and proof thier rugs themselves? trying to save money,i have just washed & proofed 2 rugs myself using nikwax, one in the machine, one by hand (no detergent used + machine cleaned out first) niether of these rugs are now waterproof. i am sure in the past people have told me they use non- horse products for proofing rugs, which work better, and are cheaper. please can you give me your suggestions as to what to use as an alternative? thanks

[s4sugar]

I recently washed and proofed a 150g fill rug in my machine and got an excellent result but I washed the rug with non bio powder and then put it through a second wash with no additives before using the nicwax.

The result was a rug that had a pool of water when it rained whilst it was hanging over my rotary airer.

It has been on Martha since Sunday and she has been dry under it despite some downpours.

I just wish my washer (6kg) was big enough to take her heavier rugs as it costs about £6 to do at home but £18 to have them cleaned and proofed.

[Trewsers]

WEll, for the first time this year I've washed and reproofed my rains heets - I don't think I could fit a bigger padded rug in my machine. ANyway, I used Nikwax but was a bit disappointed in the amount I had to use! The re-proofer doesn't go very far, you have to use half of the bloomin bottle!!!!!!! (I think it cost me about £11). So only two rugs per bottle - plus the Nikwax cleanser I bought. Have to say tho, its definitely worked. Madam's rainsheet was grand, you could see the rain bobbling up on it.

[Daisy_Roots]

I've always had good results with Nikwax and I know my local rug cleaner uses it.
I'd check the directions, mistakes are easily made and then maybe speak to who you bought it from or Nikwax, maybe a faulty batch was made.

[mich301]

Well I have a money saving tip for you guys, although I haven't actually tested it myself, someone on my yard swears by it.

Every time you wash your rugs rub candle wax all over them when they are dry, if you do this every time you wash them the wax builds up over time and will never leak again!

[lynnemh]

thanks for all replies. these rugs are only one year old and hadnt been washed previously, so know no soap has been used on them i used 3/4 bottle which i put on hand on the 6'3" one a week ago, and it soaked up last weekends rain like a sponge- totally useless, and this week i did the 5'3" in the machine, and put an entire bottle in just to make sure. cant figure out what went wrong, but remembered someone once telling me they got canvas waterproofing from b and q or something similar, which was much cheaper than the horse based products. ( it ussually is, isnt it) hoping someone will know what is was, as my money saving by cleaning and proofing my own rugs is running a bit expensive at the minute. mitch301, ive used that candle wax method in the past to smear over a rip that i didnt patch, just sewed together, and it worked brilliantly;please could you find out how many candles your friend melted for one rug?

[devonlass]

I always use the nikwax rug proof,and have brilliant results everytime,so not sure why it didn't work for you

However I always wash mine first with non bio,then extra rinse,clean out dispenser drawer and then use the rug proof on a 40 degree wash cycle,maybe the washing first is where you're going wrong??,they need to be clean as I understand it so the proof can penetrate the material.

[lynnemh]

nope, i did it like you, used to do all of my rugs with no problems, til i got lazy and decided to buy a new rug each per year, so stopped for a couple of years. i dont know why it didnt work- used no detergent at all, and cleaned the machine and dispenser scrupulously- wondering whether i had a faulty batch or something, just want a cheaper alternative to nikwax now, as if i spend much more, i could have just bought 2 cheapies off ebay and saved myself some trouble.

[mich301]

I'll find out for you but I don't think they bother melting them, they just rub it all over just like waxing a surf board!

[learningcurve]

I am another one who uses nikwax, never had a problem.

[Portia]

Couldn't fit mine in the washing machine, so did them in the summer on a dry day - with power-washer. That shifted all the dirt and hair, and where the linings were greasy just scrubbed them by hand with some mild deterrgent.

Once dry (and you really need a few days sun for the heavyweight rugs), I used Lincoln waterproofing or tent waterproofing wash. The rugs needed re-proofing perhaps twice a year - depended on how much she rolled and wore off the proofing!

http://www.centralsaddlery.co.uk/pro...ofa-universal/
http://www.camping-online.co.uk/tent...fing-for-tents

[lynnemh]

portia; again, yes i washed my big one in the summer with a hose on the lawn. and it was stored hanging on a line in a storage area that is totally dry, not damp or mildewy, until i proofed it last week. and both of these rugs were really clean before i waxed them. and no i didnt use washing detergent on them, actually had a botttle of nikwax rug shampoo! i really did follow the instructions carefully, and i washed at 40 degrees for the machine washed one, and as i said i scrupulously cleaned out the soap dispenser and also put the washing machine through an unsoaped wash cycle before i put the rug in. my post is not about knocking nikwax, or is nikwax any good, or did i follow directions correctly ( which i did). i just cant afford to buy another 2 bottles of it, and simply want to find a cheaper alternative, which i know people have mentioned using in the past.

[kturner]

I have always washed my rugs in my machine at home, small pony, and never used a re-proofer! He is always dry under them. They are Horseware ireland and look slightly plastickey anyway. He has them on for a few days in heavy rain and it never goes through.

I should add that I dont use any ppowder, just whatever is left in soap dispenser and pipes already, use a short cold wash. After all it is just to get the mud off the outside and make me feel better they are not dirty or full of insects inside, or I would throw them away.

[Kc Mac]

I use Thomsons Water seal. Its fantastic stuff!! I get a big tin for about £10 at Homebase or B&Q (can't remember which one!).

I pressure washed the rugs, once dry painted 2 coats on - it dries really quickly and they are very much waterproofed! The only thing i found was it makes the colour of the rug slightly darker but t least it works

[lynnemh]

thanks for all of your replies; im going to go for the thompsons i think. hope i can just put it straight on the rug without re washing as they arent muddy, just rainwashed and left to re dry now.