Posted 2014-06-10 1:40 PM Subject: Ways to clean saddle pads
Expert
Posts: 1477 Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton
I've never been one to clean my saddle pads because I've always rode neropreme pads. Spray them off and there clean. I've started using different pads for different horses and only one rides Neuropreme. I've got impact gel a Professionals Choice pad and one that's made by Justin. There getting dingy looking so it's time to clean them. How can I clean them but not make the felt look bad? My justin pad is white so it really looks bad.
If you have a power washer those are great for getting the pad really nicely clean. Otherwise use a hose and scrub them by hand. Be careful if you are going to use soap as it can stay in the pad even after you have rinsed it a lot and irritate your horses skin.
These are the instructions 5Star send its dealers about care and cleaning of their pad. Not sure if it applies to the felt ones you have but, you could give it a shot.
"Prevent dirt and hair build-up on the under side of pad by occasionally brushing. This keeps old hair from trapping dirt and sweat and from being pushed further into the pad.
To remove embedded hair and dirt, rub a dry 5 Star cleaning sponge in circular motion on a dry pad. Wipe off sponge with your hand to remove pad hair.
For pads with heavy crusted sweat and dirt, break up areas with rubber fingered curry or scrape gently with a dull edged object being careful to not cut the felt. Then vacuum with a shop vacuum when possible, otherwise simply slap with your hand to remove excess grime. Vacuum or brush away loose material.
Washing is only necessary after a 100 plus hours of use or when pad is beginning to feel hard in pressure point zones (shoulder points and loin area). Only use a small amount of a soap safe for fine wool, or one that is safe for your horse.
When washing make every effort to wash pad from the center to outer edges in all directions. Simply hang or hold pad by gullet hole and begin rinsing from the center of the pad to outer edges. Rotate the pad by changing hand position to edge so you can get dirty water to flow to all the edges, rather than just moving toward back of pad. Never lay pad flat and begin rinsing as it only drives dirt and sweat salts into the pad. This is true with any type of pad.
Wash (rinse lightly) using only enough water to dissolve sweat salts and dirt residue so they will be carried away in rinse water. Then hang by gullet hole or lay naturally over a rail. Do not lie on its back to dry as it will stretch the leather and pull out the inner lacing. After pad is dry flex pad in the areas that have not softened. This will cause felt to fluff and loosen, restoring cushion so there is minimal losses in compression protection from hardening.”
Ways to clean saddle pads
