How to wash a rope?

ColinR said:
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.
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If you are nearby I'll come and help you to sort it out.


At the back of my mind is a recollection that ropes in washing machines can damage the machines (maybe someone can comment). The advise was not to wash the ropes when your wife is present - but that may have had other reasons.

Jonathan
 
I 'borrow' the Admiral's mesh washing bags. Originally designed for something more delicate I believe, but works brilliantly with one or two ropes in each, a little detergent ('color' type to avoid treating the dark blue ropes with whitening agents), gentle washing program (wool or thereabout), low speed spin then hang dry in the car port.

Several years now, no harm.
 
Curious about fabric softener use for ropes: most (all?) technical garments washing instructions clearly specify to never use softener, I do not know the exact reason but surely related to damage to fabric/fibers.
Ropes being sometimes made of specific technical fibers -not that I have a dyneema jacket- could softener damage them? Or conversely, to what extent does softener improve the washing?
 
oldgit said:
"do it in the dishwasher"

Can somebody try this one and let me know how they get on !
Asking for a friend.
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Choose your cycle, washing machine or dishwasher, with care.

Some dishwashers use quite high water pressure - see posts above about high pressure water washing.

Dishwashers use hot water - your ropes may not like hot water.

dishwashers actively dry the dishes - ropes do not like heat.

I have no data on the effects of hot water, as in dishwasher hot, nor what water pressures are used in dishwashers - simply urging caution

Jonathan
 
I wait until my wife has gone out for the day and bung them in the washing machine. Cool synthetics wash with a little powder and finish with a low speed spin. Thick socks tied over any shackles to keep the noise down.
 
Laysula said:
I heard that it was better to do it in the dishwasher rather than a washing machine.
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Hmm, I think I'll stick to the washing machine in the boatyard. I do have a friend who was stuck for how to cook a whole salmon once. No pan big enough. In the end she wrapped it in clingfilm and put it in the dishwasher. Apparently it worked. Perhaps some lemon in the soap compartment? Sorry, topic drift...
 
Neeves said:
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
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Of course you have to make you're own decisions. Manufacturers test results are not always published in the best interests of the end user. A properly designed experiment would compare a sample of the same aged unwashed rope wether relatively new or ancient with a washed sample taken from the same rope.

My experience is that synthetic ropes last far longer than generally believed. However if I'm climbing the mast or any other application involving people I use a dedicated static climbing rope normally stowed below deck.

Remember if you're not careful your rope could last you a lifetime.
 
Tried one in a dilute bucket of patio magic whilst on board and it seemed to work well. Sorts the green out, though if it is impregnated with dirt it still needs a good shoogle.
 
I'm a lazy slob. I clean ropes in situ. I hose the deck down. Then with a cleaner called Elbow Grease, use a green scouring pad rolled around a rope forwards and backwards. I rinse the pad in a bucket of water every now and then. When finished, I hose down again. That's it done for another year. Ropes inside the mast stay pretty clean.
 
Laysula said:
I heard that it was better to do it in the dishwasher rather than a washing machine.
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Dishwasher tablets are much more caustic than washing machine soap; they are strongly alkaline to remove grease, and I wouldn't use them on any rope I valued.

The traditional, effective and kindest way is to tow them. It has the side benefit of removing kinks and twists.

I don't see the point of washing ropes. If they are that badly discoloured, they are end of life and should be replaced, not washed and put back into use. You won't get grit and dirt out of the internal structure, where it will continue to damage fibres, and you'll just mask UV damage. If you examine a rope where part has been exposed and part concealed, the difference is readily seen - the exposed part will be stiffer. As others have said, in the scheme of things ropes are not expensive, so replacement makes sense
 
. As others have said, in the scheme of things ropes are not expensive, so replacement makes sense

no, individual ropes are not too expensive, but I have replaced all the other running rigging it does start to add up. The topping lift is not worn, it doesn't get much handling and if a wash will improve it cosmetically and also wash the salt out then it doesn't seem a bad option to keep it going for another year or two.
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KAM said:
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.
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I tried a gentle wash in pillow cases a couple of occasions and both times unobserved nicks in the outer braid led to hernias of the core poking through
 
ColinR said:
. As others have said, in the scheme of things ropes are not expensive, so replacement makes sense

no, individual ropes are not too expensive, but I have replaced all the other running rigging it does start to add up. The topping lift is not worn, it doesn't get much handling and if a wash will improve it cosmetically and also wash the salt out then it doesn't seem a bad option to keep it going for another year or two.
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Wear is not the only form of deterioration that ropes are subject to - UV damages the chemical structure of the polymers. shortening the polymer chains and hence reducing the strength. And salt, dust and dirt penetrate between the fibres and cause mechanical damage; goodness only knows what seagull droppings do! My halliards and topping lift all pass through the mast, and when I last replaced them there was a VAST difference in the properties of the exposed length as compared to the part sheltered within the mast. The exposed part was MUCH stiffer, to the extent that it was actually quite difficult to coil. I've kept some of the unexposed parts as spare lines, but the exposed parts went straight in the bin. They might have washed up to be superficially OK looking, but they had obviously lost a significant part of their strength.

It might be interesting if YBW did some tests of the change in the strength of rope with exposure to the elements. I'm sure that @vyv_cox could devise a suitable testing regime.
 
LONG_KEELER said:
I'm a lazy slob. I clean ropes in situ. I hose the deck down. Then with a cleaner called Elbow Grease, use a green scouring pad rolled around a rope forwards and backwards. I rinse the pad in a bucket of water every now and then. When finished, I hose down again. That's it done for another year. Ropes inside the mast stay pretty clean.
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I'm lazier. :)

I think it's completely pointless so I don't do it and have never had a problem. Bit like washing sails........:sneaky:
 
Definitely don't use bleach on nylon ropes. It yellows and hardens them. But I don't believe it does any significant harm to polyester ropes, and I use if for this occasionally when needed to get rid of green and salt. Similarly I use bleach on acrylic canvaswork that has polyester stitching.
 
Neeves said:
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
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Thanks for that.I have some flourescent orange line I have along the deck to use as life lines. being that colour they do not get confused with others. However, now you have pointed out the possibility of reduced strength I will consider changing. I do take them off the boat each season but I did wash in bleach with the MOB halyard. could be a problem. But the rope is polyester not nylon. I am unsure if that makes a difference
 
Daydream believer said:
Thanks for that.I have some flourescent orange line I have along the deck to use as life lines. being that colour they do not get confused with others. However, now you have pointed out the possibility of reduced strength I will consider changing. I do take them off the boat each season but I did wash in bleach with the MOB halyard. could be a problem. But the rope is polyester not nylon. I am unsure if that makes a difference
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I don't see why bleach should affect polyester rope as the bleach lasts for years in the polyester bottle you buy it in.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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