Cleaning ropes

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brians

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Some of my ropes are showing signs of needing cleaning. Generally dirt but particularly green staining from lack of regular use. They are braid on braid kicking straps etc. Is Biotex the one for this or is simple detergent in the washing machine better?
 
Depending on whether you have unrestricted access to your washing machine or not ;)

A short 30 deg C wash with bio powder did the trick. Draped round garden to dry off.
You can reduce the flak you get by putting the rope in an old pillowcase with a knot in it (or safety pins?) -particlarly if any rope has shackles etc built in.
Don't go for a long fast spin cycle, that's hard on the machine and the rope...
Graeme
 
brians said:
Some of my ropes are showing signs of needing cleaning. Generally dirt but particularly green staining from lack of regular use. They are braid on braid kicking straps etc. Is Biotex the one for this or is simple detergent in the washing machine better?
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Using a pressure washer on them is a very effective way of cleaning them - originally done in error in my case.

It's particularly effective with algal-green ropes.

Having used the washing machine in the past I'd rate the pressure washer quicker and more effective (especially for salt-stiffened ropes).
 
I really must spend some time checking whether any rope manufacturers offer any advice.

I've accidentally used a pressure washer on some control lines running across the deck I was pressure washing. It's very effective, but I suspect the pressure ages it by a season! Washing - I'm lazy. I put my halyards and sheets in the bath, warm soapy water (Fairy Snow) and slosh them around whenever I pop into the loo. After about a day, I want to use the bath, so they get rinsed and hung out on the line. Doesn't matter if it rains, the extra rinse will probably do them good, just remember to bring them in after you've had a fine day. I would be cautious about the long-term effects of detergents, bleach and fabric softeners.

Rob
 
Inflate dinghy, fill with water, pinch detergent from SWMBO, put detergent and ropes in dinghy, take off shoes and socks, roll up trousers and walk up and down on ropes for about 5 minutes. Drain dinghy. Fill with fresh water, do the walking bit again, drain and repeat until soap gone. Job done. Despite what was said by busonof, local advice is to use fabric conditioner with detergent, as this make ropes nice and soft to handle. All of the above keeps SWMBO happy as it doesn't involve her except for nicking detergent and conditioner. Also as a bonus cleans the inside of the dinghy before being deflated and stowed away for the winter.
 
I have tried a pressure washer before, but whilst it seemed to remove the surface green, it made the braid covering very rough and looked like it was doing long term damage to the braid covering. Probably OK on 3 strand nylon warps.
 
Cool wash in machine with soap powder does the job. Does no harm to machine if you pad any permanently attached metalwork.
 
Wish I'd read your post two hours ago Vic :eek:
Washing machine smells like the inside of my Fords' oil filler cap.


------ Currently undergoing a very hot wash all by itself in the hope swmbo doesn't notice :D
 
I can't believe you care so little about your ropes as to biological detergent. Non Bio is the only way to go.

(This repeats what SWIMBO told me about the babygrows when our children were young. Good enough for them, good enough for my ropes.)
 
brians said:
Some of my ropes are showing signs of needing cleaning. Generally dirt but particularly green staining from lack of regular use. They are braid on braid kicking straps etc. Is Biotex the one for this or is simple detergent in the washing machine better?
Click to expand...

Milton super-cleaned some very old green ropes for me after failing to get them clean with normal washing. Actually it probably just made the green disappear, but that was what I wanted.
 
Yep! - Think I might have got away with it, didn't think to put washer on again!
I owe you a beer if you're ever down this way :D

PS The manky old sheets and bits of rope came up a treat tho'.
 
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