ROPES

[ray275]

An old salt ambled up as I was taking off fittings from both masts -"argh lad " ( I am 65 so what his age is nobody knows)
but his advice on the various ropes that are on both masts was "stick em in her washing machine". My question is should I take his advice ( he may be a washing machine salesman and wants to drum up extra business) OR hand wash them in fairy snow. Good advice sought.

 

[BrendanS]

Same question has been asked many many times. Yes, it's fine, just use a cool rather than hot wash if you have man made fibres in the rope

 

[Salty John]

No problem. Put them in a pillow case to avoid tangling. If the ropes are stiff and unmanageable, soaking overnight in fabric softener does wonders.

 

[Casey]

You could go over them with a power washer - same effect as using a washing machine with no chance of earache from 'er indoors!

 

[BrendanS]

Power washers are often powerful enough to take the surface off paving slabs. If you use them on ropes you stand a good change of damaging the fibres.

Washing machines are designed to clean delicate fabrics, power washers aren't

 

[Chrissie]

Washed mine in machine, came out soft and clean, well worth doing

 

[Kristal]

Biological/Non Biological?

Coo, I was only thinking about posing the "ropes in the Servis" question last week. Something for me to do in October, then. Bet it makes a hell of a racket, though...

 

[grumpydog]

Brendan! If you're going to say that there are no grammatical or spelling errors in your posts, make sure there aren't! "A good change of damaging the fibres"? "Man made"? 'Man-made' and 'good chance' would be better. I'll be watching you!

 

[Vara]

Re: Biological/Non Biological?

Having gone down this path many times,I go along with the benefits of a machine wash for ropes assorted,I always use Dreft or Ivory snow as they don't have all the additives that other wash products have.Low temp 30/40 and minimal spin usually the wool prog on most machines.Not used Fabric Conditioner as I have read that it makes the ropes slippy when damp.
However having seen it's cleaning power on W/proofs I will use Nikwax Tech Wash in future.
Ropes are relatively quiet in the washing machine,jibs with piston hanks however do tend to sow the seeds of domestic disharmony,as does cleaning gungy grease and oil ridden tools in the dish washer(brings them up lovely though!).

 

[BrendanS]

You obviously didn't read the second sentence of my tagline. You are taking the first sentence out of context of the whole.