How to wash a rope?

[ColinR]

My topping lift has ben up the mast for years and is looking stained and sad but is not chafed or damaged. How to spruce it up? Will putting it in a bucket of diluted bleach be ok? Or I heard about putting ropes inside a pillow case and in the washing machine. Sounds like a good way to get a real tangle. Its three ply synthetic. Not sure if its nylon or polyester. Thanks

 

[Daydream believer]

I jet washed mine & then left in a bucket of diluted bleach for a week ( forgot them). Came out OK but I am not entirely sure that this is the way to go. I flushed in fresh water afterwards.
If washing then I suggest doing several ropes at a time at the local launderette, rather than one's own machine. Put them in bags to hide the contents. I doubt that tangles are much of an issue. Just a relaxing half hour on the patio with a coffee to one side would sort that.

 

[ash2020]

I have made a net bag from some gardening mesh and I put maybe 3 or 4 ropes in at a time. The bag is good because it stops any fittings smashing against the door. I then do a 45 minute wash at 40 C with non-bio powder. They come up beautifully and, you're right, completely tangled! It's quite zen though, untangling them, you really get to know your ropes very well! I rather enjoy it and it's a great excuse not to do other jobs.
Yesterday was a huge success, I have one very long, white octoplait rope which is a real favourite but it had quite a lost of rust stains and marks on it. I made up a solution of oxalic acid (crystals available on eBay) 100g per litre of warm water and soaked it for about an hour. Then washed it and it came up with all the stains gone, pure white!
The one no no I have found is do not tumble dry. They go all fluffy. I destroyed some that way. Good luck.

 

[Boathook]

I use my washing machine. Cold short wash using a small amount of liquid soap. Any ends with thimbles have old socks put over them held in place with cable ties. I can normally fit in about 40 to 50m's of 12mm diameter rope at a time. Untangling the resultant 'mess' only takes a few minutes.

 

[Sandy]

A washing machine using BIOLOGICAL washing powder.

 

[Stemar]

I just put some old ropes in the washing machine. They were all "end of life" but even an old spare has its uses. They survived a dose of detergent and a double dose of fabric softener and are now usable. I reckon any line that doesn't survive probably did you a favour by dying in the washing machine rather than when you really don't want it to.

I doubt that tangles are much of an issue. Just a relaxing half hour on the patio with a coffee to one side would sort that.

Can confirm, though a nice single malt might be preferable to coffee

 

[Neeves]

If you use bleach - it will lose strength - how much you lose, depends on concentration, temperature and time.

If the rope is important

Do not do it!

Your rope has, possibly already been degraded - simply as a result of being used. It may also have been further degraded by UV

Live with the discolouration or buy a new rope (in the grand scheme of things they really don't cost much - and if appearance is important to you a new rope will make you and yours happier than a rope you have degraded.

Jonathan

 

[awol]

Soaking in Boracol then letting dry naturally gets rid of green algae if that is your problem.

 

[KAM]

Absolutely don't use a power washer. I tried it once and the rope finished up looking like barbed wire. I tried a washing machine a couple of times as recommended in this forum. Both times the rope was written off despite using a gentle programme. This was due to a very small unnoticed nick in the sheath. At the end of washing the core had been extruded through the sheath and the rope was useless. I now use a large bucket one of those used for garden waste with a mixture of dilute bleach and washing powder. Soak for a day or two agitating now and again with scrubbing brush for stubborn bits maybe change the water to get all the green stuff out then a rinse in fresh water. It's a bit labour intensive but if like me you like to maximise the life of your ropes it seems to be the safest way.

 

[Daydream believer]

If you use bleach - it will lose strength - how much you lose, depends on concentration, temperature and time.
If the rope is important
Do not do it!

You have me concerned now. I see some saying wash in bleach, & you saying it is wrong. Do you have anything to support your claim that it damages the rope. I only have my experience that it cleans it.
But I have not had to use it in anger yet& it is the rope I have for hauling a MOB aboard

 

[TiggerToo]

I use the domestic washing machine. I weigh ~5Kg at a time (the machine is theoretically OK with 9kg). Normal washing detergent, plus a whitener (Oxygel or some similar). Spin at 400rpm (it does not matter if they are still a bit wet - I dry them on the radiators).

The trick I have found works best against tangles is: loop them and tie TWO electrical ties (tight). There will still be some tangles, but the time taken to undo the whole caboodle is much reduced.

I remove shackles, but live with the thimbles.

As the others have said: don't use bleach.

 

[capnsensible]

I don't wash ropes.

 

[Neeves]

I don't make things up and seldom post unless I can back things up

See post 11

Don't use bleach, it does make white things white - so your experience that far is correct

but

Bleach Significantly Reduces Ultimate Breaking Strength - Practical Sailor

Jonathan

 

[ctva]

KISS.

We daisy chain the rope, washing machine on a cold wash with simple (Costco) detergent and then a rince. No effort.

And NEVER a pressure washer which will force dirt into the core and leaves a horrible surface.

 

[Mudisox]

Have you tried towing them behind when underway i salt water?

 

[KAM]

I don't make things up and seldom post unless I can back things up

See post 11

Don't use bleach, it does make white things white - so your experience that far is correct

but

Bleach Significantly Reduces Ultimate Breaking Strength - Practical Sailor

Jonathan

Those strength reductions are hardly worth worrying about on an old rope. The comparison should be with an old mildewed salty rope not new rope. There are big benefits from not letting green algae get a hold on ropes then spreading to canvas work and woodwork.

 

[Neeves]

Have you tried towing them behind when underway i salt water?

Valuable in removing hockles

Jonathan

 

[garymalmgren]

Laundromat!

 

[ColinR]

thank you for these interesting suggestions. Based on this wealth of experience I think I will try a washing machine with cable ties to stop it tangling, not bleach. If it does get in a tangle I'll opt for single malt over coffee while I sort it out.

 

[Neeves]

Those strength reductions are hardly worth worrying about on an old rope. There are big benefits from not letting green algae get a hold on ropes then spreading to canvas work and woodwork.

Daydream was not asking about an old rope - he was asking about a rope he uses for MOB. We don't know how strong Daydream's rope was (or now is) - its maybe aged a bit. If its a safety device - don't take a risk and make it weaker. We don't know how much bleach Daydream might use nor how long he will leave it to soak, nor at what temperature - and though he seems a very sensible sort of guy .......

Why would you bother, or worry, about the cleanliness of an old rope - what would you use an old rope for - its lost much of its strength already.

We don't know what people use their ropes for - if strength is important then maintaining strength seems like a sensible focus.

Jonathan