Cleaning boats ropes

[sailorman]

Just revived this thread to add my support to the pressure wash method. I tied one end of my kicking strap to to the bottom rung of a twelve foot ladder, ran it tightly up, down, and up again on one side and tied it off on a rung, then laid the ladder down propped by a couple of bits of 4x2 either end, washed one side then turned the ladder over to do the other, worked a treat.

swmbos w/m is much easier & no effort

 

[gjbentley]

Just sit in the bath

I like to sit in the bath with my ropes.

Great chance to practice those more tricky knots and inspect for damage.

Then after I get out of the bath I put the shower spray on to hose the ropes down before hanging them out to dry.

 

[iandwall]

I've used the w/m method on the braid on braid halyards etc on the lines on the boat I bought last summer. Some were v.green from long disuse. It did the job, up to a point - but some of the older lines have become very fluffy - the coloured flecks seem to be the culprits. The w/m filter needed a good clean and the kitchen had a high pink fluff content for a few days.

 

[Mrs FG]

We have a "trainer bag" lined with foam strips which to some extent protects the machine from knocks from the whipped-in blocks. It was bought from Kleeneze or Lakeland or some such. The zip doesn't hold the block in place - you need to thread the rope through the elasticated bit at the end.
As a SWMBO myself, however, I would recommend asking her advice, if you have a woman in your life - if your beloved has any empathy with what's important to you, she'll take it on as a personal challenge, rather than criticising you for damaging her washing machine!

 

[mcframe]

Try the pressure washer on those badly soiled areas, you know, when the red wine was splashed about on that bumpy sail, before putting your rope in the washing machine.

Ah yes.

<Hope you've had your dinner>

SWMBO was once seasick and didn't quite make the lee rail and chucked up over the lazy genoa sheet.
You can imagine what happened when we tacked and said sheet took strain round the winch :-(

Funnily enough, she had no complaints about me sticking the sheet in the WM after that....

 

[KREW2]

swmbos w/m is much easier & no effort

No effort!!! I'd have to do a lot of running if I knack*red the wife's washing machine.
Note... it's her machine not mine.

 

[sailorman]

No effort!!! I'd have to do a lot of running if I knack*red the wife's washing machine.
Note... it's her machine not mine.

her machine but i service it new bearings last summer

 

[Watson47]

By way of an uptate to using 'Milton' for heavy soiling and the many subsequent cunning & detailed experiments, together with furtive usage of washing machines, Plan B has produced some good results ....

Coloured wash cycle, with pre-wash, 30 degrees, 400 spin, using Brand X (Bold 2-in-1 'Lavender & Camomile flavour ) ....

Before & After comparison ....

 

[peteK]

Hi,

Anyone have any good tips on cleaning yours boats ropes?

Have heards about people putting them in the washing machine but I might have imagined that!

Thanks.

Tried washing machine tried bleach still white rope looked yellow.Tried the stuff used for hull cleaning,oxilic acid ended up brilliant white.