Cleaning Ropes...

[EdEssery]

Many the sheets and halliards on my recently acquired boat are pretty dirty and in some cases green - the boat had spent nine months standing under trees.

I am proposing to put them through the washing machine.

Any tips based on past experience of the best approach and what works well would be much appreciated...i.e.
which detergent to use?
whether to use fabric conditioner?
how best to dry?

Thanks,

Ed

 

[byron]

Put them in a pillow case and then in the washing machine. Just use proprietory washing powder... works for me.

ô¿ô

 

[billmacfarlane]

I've never had a problem putting them in the washing machine using normal soap powder , likewise fabric conditioner.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I find using a pressure washer first gets most of the dirt out and the washing machine finishes the job.

 

[Guest]

If for any reason you don't want to use detergent on something (from the replies above, it appears there would be no problem with your ropes) try good old-fashioned soap flakes, still available in boxes from the supermarket.

I keep a box of these handy for things I don't want to entrust to detergent, such as sleeping bags and expensive breathable waterproofs. I find no problem using them with fabric conditioner.

Ooh, it's glamorous, this sailing business... :- )

 

[Guest]

So long as the sheets and halyards aren't nylon, you can use just about any detergent. You might consider using liquid non-chlorine bleach (in the US it's Clorox2) to pretreat the dirtiest of the ropes.

Since we rarely have access to a washing machine, Peter just puts them in a 5-gallon bucket and soaks them for a day, then uses a soft brush to scrub, then hangs them up to hose off to rinse. Loop them along to dry, or, if it's a calm day, hoist them up the mast on your main halyard to hang down and dry.

 

[steffen]

Hi Ed, Happy and saily 2002.

I usually soak the lines for several hours in a soaking detergent (in NL called Biotex green) to dissolve the worst dirt and then in the machine with them. Use a low temp (max. 40) in the machine for safety.
Have fun disentangling the resulting knot, specially with long lines.

Rgds Steffen

 

[steve_cronin]

Herniaisation can be a problem....

... yes just like a human Hernia the "innerds2 of a braided rope can come out through the outer if the ropes are subjected to a too vigorous wash programme in the washing machine. These can be almost impossible to push back in with out causing damage.

Clean ropes can make the whole boat look smart and washing them is worthwhile. We use the washing machine after initial soaking in Biotex or similar. The results are startling but remember that any "pre-stretch" previously held in the rope will dissappear as the binding salt will have gone. I cannot recommend using a tumble dryer as this tends to harden delicate polyesters. Also i have found pressure washing damages surface fibres and the cleaning is most uneven.

Should you only be able to manage an agitation in a bucket of detergent this will have a marked effect and is worthwhile.

Steve Cronin

 

[charles_reed]

I've used the washing machine on 40C wash for the last 10 years and the only cordage which hasn't been improved is/was kevlar.

I find a regular soak and 5 rinses, works wonders with genoa sheets in Med climate, now my access to a washing machine is limited.

 

[Gordonmc]

I found putting my plait mooring warps through a machine didn't do much to get rid of the green stuff. What I found by accident, however, was that a power washer did the trick very efficiently. Where a washing machine does help is to soften the fibres. I would not want to add detergent etc to the power washer for use on a pontoon.

 

[Guest]

We have always soaked them in biotex and then washed in the machine at 40C with Ariel... I normaly seek permission a week or two in advance from the normal operator but have failed to convince them that I cannot operate the machine!!!

Pete