Rope cleaning tips?

[Phill]

I spent a good few hour cleaning my old fenders today.
Then got out my ropes and they're all looking a bit green. I am intending to replace them but want to keep them as spares. I nearly put them in a pillow case and chucked them in the washing machine, but I wasn't sure when my wife was due back and didn't want to get into trouble.(Wimp or what?)
Does anyone have any tips for cleaning them up?
Thanks.

Phill

 

[TheoSr]

Try a launderette?
Theo.

 

[Salty John]

The best way I've found is to do exactly what you whimped out of doing! If you soak the lines in fabric softener in a bucket overnight it does wonders for their pliability. Then, when SWMBO is out, perhaps exercising some retail therapy, you bung them in the washing machine in a pillow case. You end up with nice clean lines, and a super clean pillow case to boot.

 

[jimi]

I wash my climbing ropes in the washing machhine, lowest heat setting and use lux flakes

 

[Abigail]

Additional tips having washed ropes in machine for years:

don't overload it - if you've got big 18ml warps and they're really long, take them to the laundrette. And I find one main mast halyard at a time is enough!

Pillow case is good, but can be small to really fasten closed - a single duvet cover is good. This is especially important if you are brave/determined/whatever enough to put ropes with metal shackles spliced into them through your machine

The best thing for washing them in is an army kit bag - made of strong nylon mesh with a good drawstring. Fab for washing ropes in!

You can tumble dry them too if you need to. Alternatively festoon over bannisters, which is good for checking them for chafe.

 

[jerryat]

Exactly!! Except we do the softener/washing the other way round.

 

[SvenglishTommy]

What a handy post, I was just sitting here today trying to figure out how to tie the imfamous swivel hithc/blood-knot and thinking 'My word these sheets are stiff'.

So I'll soak them in some fabric softener, and then take SWMBO out for dinner leaving the machine on a timer switch /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[geoffatstanpit]

What's the pillow case for? I put mine in just as they come and not more than half full. The spliced-on shackles clatter a bit but I've never had any damage.

Geoff

 

[Gordonmc]

I just bung in the bits of string with a sock ties onto thimbles. That reduces the clatter.
Pre-soak in a wheely bin with bio powder.

 

[charles_reed]

Different methods

Soaking in buckets with bio and then thoroughly rinsing in fresh water, with drip periods between, about 10 times. Frequently the only method in marinas and ideal for sheets to get out the salt.

Using a pressure washer on lengths laid out on a pontoon, ideal for warps.

Putting, as secure coils, into a washing machine using low temperature and non-bio detergent. Take off any shackles, this is best for plait low-hysterisis halyards such as dyneema or kevlar. Hang up to dry for about 96 hours in a dry secure area.

 

[starboard]

[ QUOTE ]
The spliced-on shackles clatter a bit but I've never had any damage.

Geoff

[/ QUOTE ]
I wrap a rag tight around the shackle then fix it to the rope with a cable tie...hey presto no clatter and no damage to machine.

Paul.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Good idea!

Next question.... anyone got a link to a URL that shows how to tie a loop to the end of the halyard (with whipping twine?) for a mousing line?

 

[bobgoode]

Re: Different methods

Try bringing at least one rope back from each trip and washing during the summer months, I get less hassle from my beloved when the ropes dry outside rather than in the airing cupboard during winter months.