At Luckyhorse, we use industrial washing machines designed to handle the size and heavy dirt load of horse blankets. Our process ensures a thorough, deep clean without damaging the fabric.

What do we wash with?

We use sodium percarbonate, an oxidizing agent that’s completely safe for both humans and horses. You’ll also find it in everyday products like toothpaste and body care items.

How does it work?

When mixed with water, sodium percarbonate breaks down into hydrogen peroxide—great for tackling tough stains—and sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), which effectively breaks down oily residues thanks to its alkaline nature.

Is it safe and fragrance free?

Yes! Sodium percarbonate is fragrance-free and leaves no residues behind, even in the many layers of batting and fabric found in horse blankets. This makes it a safe option for horses with the most sensitive skin.

Can you wash my dog bed?

Absolutely! We can clean dog beds, covers, and just about anything else you’d rather not put through your home machine.

What waterproofing actually is

The treatment we apply is called a Durable Water Repellent, or DWR. It works by causing water to bead up and roll off the surface of the fabric rather than soaking in. You've seen this on a good rain jacket. That's the same technology.

What DWR is not is a waterproof seal. Horse blankets are designed to be breathable, meaning they allow sweat and moisture vapor to escape from the inside so your horse doesn't end up clammy and cold from trapped moisture against their skin. That breathability is an important and intentional feature of how modern blankets work. It also means that no treatment will make a breathable blanket completely impenetrable to water under all conditions, and any product that claims otherwise is overselling, including products like Nikwax that you may already be using at home.

What affects how well it performs

DWR works best under normal conditions. Several factors can affect performance that have nothing to do with the quality of the application.

Prolonged or heavy rain will eventually overwhelm any water repellent treatment. A brief shower and a six hour downpour are very different tests.

Older blankets with worn or abraded fabric don't hold DWR as effectively as newer ones. The treatment bonds to the fibers and worn fibers hold less.

Fit matters. A blanket that pulls, sags, or bunches creates low spots where water collects rather than runs off.

What your horse does while wearing the blanket, rolling, lying in wet grass, pressing against a wet fence, affects performance in ways we have no control over once it leaves our shop.

These are industry wide realities that apply to every waterproofing product and every service provider working with breathable fabrics.

How to get the best results

Proper cleaning before treatment is what allows DWR to bond correctly to the fabric. This is where a lot of DIY treatments fall short. We always wash before we waterproof, so bring them to us dirty. That's what we're here for. Having blankets treated annually also gives you the best baseline going into each wet season.

Repairs are the most important thing to fill out correctly on your service ticket. How you fill out that one line determines how smoothly your blankets move through our process, and whether we have to stop and contact you. Here's exactly what each option means so there's no ambiguity.

"As Needed" This is our favorite thing to see. It means we take care of whatever we find that needs attention, you see the itemized charges at pickup, and nobody has to play phone tag. If you want a spending limit, "as needed up to $50" works perfectly. You know better than anyone how much you like a particular blanket and whether it's worth putting money into.

A specific list of repairs If you know exactly what you want done, list it out. This is great for clients who want everything addressed, even smaller cosmetic issues we might otherwise leave alone. Just know that we generally don't repair minor blemish level damage that won't affect how the blanket performs, so if you want the small stuff done too, tell us.

A specific dollar amount per blanket Also great. We work within your limit and make the repairs needed most.

"No" This means do not repair this blanket under any circumstances. We will wash it and return it as-is. If we find something significant we may reach out, but please understand that writing "no" means we will take that at face value and move on. Your blanket will come back clean but unrepaired.

If you're unsure whether a repair is worth it, "as needed up to $X" is almost always a better choice than "no" because it gives us something to work with without surprising you with a big bill.

What we can do

Easy yes repairs that we handle all the time:

Hardware replacement: snaphooks, surcingles, leg straps, chest straps, all of it. We can also swap hardware types if you have a preference, just note it on your ticket.

Outer fabric tears on blankets that are otherwise in good shape

Large single tears in the liner or outer fabric including around the gussets, these are simpler than most people expect

Where it gets complicated

When a blanket has multiple issues, six or seven tears, liner problems, worn fabric throughout, time and cost start to add up. This is where your input on the service ticket matters most because only you know what the blanket is worth to you.

The bottom line

The more clearly you fill out the repair line on your service ticket, the faster your blankets move through our process. "As needed" or "as needed up to $X" gives us everything we need to do our job well without interruptions.

We appreciate your business and want to make sure every season runs smoothly for both of us. Please take a moment to review our policies.

Service Ticket
All blankets dropped off or picked up must be listed on a service ticket. The service ticket follows your blankets through our entire process and ensures everything that comes in goes back to the right person. Service tickets are available at luckyhorsecleaners.com.

Cleaning Requirements
All blankets must be dry before drop off. Wet blankets can sit in storage for weeks or months before they are opened and will mold, making them unsafe to handle and very difficult to clean. Please do not send wet blankets.

Washing Before Repairs
All blankets must be washed by Luckyhorse before any repairs are made. We do not perform repairs on blankets that have not been cleaned by us first. This ensures we can properly assess the blanket and make lasting repairs.

Repairs
Routine repairs will be made where necessary unless you indicate otherwise on your service ticket. If you do not want your blanket repaired, write "no" in the repairs section and we will return it clean and unrepaired. See our repairs guide for more information on how to fill out the repairs section of your service ticket.

Payment Methods
We invoice through QuickBooks. You will receive your invoice by email and can pay online using credit card, debit card, check, or electronic transfer. We do not accept cash or Venmo. Payment is due upon receipt of invoice.

Late Fees
A late fee will be applied after 30 days of nonpayment.

Payment Deadline for Delivery
For clients on our seasonal pick up and delivery program, payment must be received at least 48 hours before your scheduled delivery date. Blankets will not be delivered until payment is received. If payment is not made by the deadline, blankets will be held at the shop for client pick up.

Pick Up Deadline
Blankets dropped off at the shop should be picked up within 30 days of receiving your invoice. Failure to do so may result in storage fees.

Unclaimed Blankets
Blankets that remain unclaimed or unpaid for more than 60 days after the pick up deadline will be considered abandoned and may be donated or disposed of at our discretion.

Email and Contact
Email is our primary method of contact. Please ensure we have your current email address on file. If you are not receiving invoices or correspondence from us, check your junk folder or reach out at inquiries@luckyhorsecleaners.com. Our phone is not always monitored and email will always get you a faster response.

Privacy Policy
We respect your privacy and use your personal information only to provide our services. We do not share or sell your information to third parties.