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Q. How do you prepare the Premium Wash?
A. Our Premium Wash includes a preparation designed to loosen dirt, remove particulate matter and the majority of hair, deodorize, and treat for any possibility of insects hiding in crevasses. We open the blanket and brush it down with a stiff brush. We then spray with a combination of deodorizer, an enzyme cleaner and permethrin (a commonly used organic insecticide that is sprayed directly onto horses, dogs, cats and other animals. The blanket is then folded into a plastic bin where the processing continues to loosen dirt and work its magic.
Q. What is the difference between the Premium and Standard Wash?
A. The Premium Wash includes a preparation process for brushing, deodorizing, and de-lousing. The enzyme deodorizer loosens the dirt during the process to remove organic stains and help with removal of ground in dirt. As with any ground in stain, there may or may not be a residual discoloration. Feedback thus far suggests the stains are removed the majority of the time.
The Standard Wash does not include any preparation. Your blanket goes from the bag into the machine. We recommend you use a stiff brush to remove any hair that is embedded in the blanket before sending it out for the Standard Washing. The Premium Wash will do this for you.
Q. Other services use commercial washers. How are yours different from others?
A. Most other services use the medium sized front loaders designed for 18# to 25# of laundry. This size is fine for sheets. Any blanket will not wash completely in these smaller machines.
We have 9 machines that hold 35# of laundry or 3 loads. Our self service customers use these machines for their large bedspreads. We wash only one heavy winter blanket at a time in the 35# machines. Blankets are waterproofed in the same machines.
We have 24 machines that hold 28# of laundry or 2 loads. Lighter sheets are washed one at a time in the #28 pound machines. We wash up to two saddle pads in a 28# machine. The waterproofing is completed in the same machine.
By having large machines and more machines we never crowd your blanket. You deserve a full washing.
Cross contamination is prevented by three standard practices. First, blankets are always washed alone. Overcrowded washing creates trouble with rinsing away all the materials leaving contaminants on your blanket and in the machines. Secondly, all of our machines use two rise cycles to carry away the contaminants. Thirdly, the EQyss Blanket Wash kills and removes any fungi spores that may have developed in the blanket during storage. If the Premium Wash is use, the Permethrin kills and removes any insects or their eggs that may be present.
If you are waterproofing your blanket the premium wash will do an excellent job of removing particle before the waterproofing process.
Q. How do you keep my blanket from getting mixed up with all the other blankets?
A. We use the same system laundromats use for Wash-Dry-Fold laundry. Every blanket is accompanied by an order form that our customers fill out. We enter the information on our tracking form and attach the form with a magnetic clip to the machine where your blanket is located. The form travels with your blanket through the process and ends up in the bag with your blanket. This system works very well for laundromats across the county.
Q. What if my blanket is damaged during the wash cycle?
A. We do everything possible to return your blanket in its best possible condition (hopefully better condition because that is what we do). We guarantee that we will follow our process with every blanket for washing and waterproofing. Compromised buckles and straps may break. Please keep in mind that a blanket that is damaged during our gentle wash cycle would have broken under the extreme stresses that come with blanketing a horse. We do not cover the replacement. We assume washing is preventative maintenance. Small tears could also lengthen. Repairs are at the owners expense.
Blankets fade under the best of conditions. We use cold water wash, water extraction and delicate heat(Our dryers are set at 110 degrees almost air dry temperatures). This minimizes the wear from any wash technique. We do not offer compensation in either case unless it is clearly beyond normal occurrences.
Q: How does the Nikwax system differ from Scotch Guard and other spray on processes?
A. Nikwax is a wash-in waterproofing instead of a spay on or wipe on process. After your blanket is washed a second wash cycle is completed using only the waterproofing compound. The waterproofing is absorbed on all surfaces to repel water. The liquid also follows the stitching into the blanket. This prevents or minimizes the wicking effect of the stitching that draws moisture into the blanket. The resulting breathable membrane is nontoxic to horses and humans.
If you read the application instructions for other spray-on waterproofing you will see warnings including “Use only in well ventilated areas”. The chemicals have toxic properties and continue to “out gas” long after the compound is dry. Outgasing in not good for either horse or human. Nikwax is safe for both horse and human.
Q. How long does it take for me to get my blanket back?
A Turn around depends on your location and the time of year. May through August is your longest wait. If you are showing and need a cooler or show sheet we will expedite your item. If you are in the Rochester Area, the turn around could be 1-2 weeks or as long as 10 weeks(May thru August). If you are out of our local area, we try to schedule the runs with as full a trailer going out and coming back as possible. We manage this within reason but will not leave you hanging with cold weather approaching.
Last year repairs slowed us down tremendously. We have rectified the situation with the purchase of 2 commercial sewing machines. We have a part time seamstresses available to manage the overflow. Thus far for the 2010 season, we are moving along nicely!!!
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