SimonX
Well-Known Member
I have a friend who lives in Cowes and has ferries at the bottom of his garden
Soaking green off ropes - Patio Magic, Vanish, and/or biological powder?
- Thread starter Babylon
- Start date
RunAgroundHard
Well-Known Member
Washed all mine last year and tried a few things: -
1. Renovo Marine Rope Cleaner worked okay, soaked for a few days then rinsed in the washing machine on rinse only cycle.
2. Washed in the washing machine with biological soap powder on quick wash cycle.
3. Renovo then followed by wash in the machine with biological soap powder on quick wash cycle.
There was no real difference between the three options, including leaving one of the lines for a prolonged 4 day soak in Renovo.
Key point, don't put a line in the machine with a damaged sheath as the washing machine will pull the inner line out.
My advise is just use the washing machine with soap powder.
Typical Dirt Before Washing
After Washing (Any Method)
Inner Core Pulled Out in Washing Machine
1. Renovo Marine Rope Cleaner worked okay, soaked for a few days then rinsed in the washing machine on rinse only cycle.
2. Washed in the washing machine with biological soap powder on quick wash cycle.
3. Renovo then followed by wash in the machine with biological soap powder on quick wash cycle.
There was no real difference between the three options, including leaving one of the lines for a prolonged 4 day soak in Renovo.
Key point, don't put a line in the machine with a damaged sheath as the washing machine will pull the inner line out.
My advise is just use the washing machine with soap powder.
Typical Dirt Before Washing
After Washing (Any Method)
Inner Core Pulled Out in Washing Machine
thinwater
Well-Known Member
Acid cleaners, in general, are bad for nylon fibers. A pH of below ~ 4.5 is a problem, getting much worse below 3.5. Battery acid will eat through a rope in minutes. Polyester or Dyneema, no problem.
Oxiclean (peroxide) would be another option. Follow the instructions, long soak.
In my experience, a long soak in hot water with laundry detergent is about all you need. Then run them through the machine in a bag. (Skip the bag and shed yarns can break the water pump. The motion can also milk the core through the cover with new rope.)
Last edited:
thinwater
Well-Known Member
Washed all mine last year and tried a few things: -
1. Renovo Marine Rope Cleaner worked okay, soaked for a few days then rinsed in the washing machine on rinse only cycle.
2. Washed in the washing machine with biological soap powder on quick wash cycle.
3. Renovo then followed by wash in the machine with biological soap powder on quick wash cycle.
There was no real difference between the three options, including leaving one of the lines for a prolonged 4 day soak in Renovo.
Key point, don't put a line in the machine with a damaged sheath as the washing machine will pull the inner line out.
My advise is just use the washing machine with soap powder.
Typical Dirt Before Washing
After Washing (Any Method)
Inner Core Pulled Out in Washing Machine
Newer ropes in general are vulnerable unless bagged.
RunAgroundHard
Well-Known Member
It was an old halyard, about 8 years old, and the outer sheath was damaged where it had rubbed on the spreader, and no bag used in the machine.
Next time I will probably just soak in warm water and washing up powder over night, then rinse in a bucket of fresh water.
ducked
Well-Known Member
Pillow case. .Or (and?) that Parachute line chained loop thing that I cant remember the name of. IiRC acids are contraindicated, especially for nylon. Likewise chlorine based bleach.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
If the issue is green then I would suggest Patio Magic first and only put in washing machine if really necessary. The green normally disappears like - well magic. A soak and rinse in a bucket of fresh water helps remove salt.
Washing machine risks damage to machine and rope.
Washing machine risks damage to machine and rope.
Roberto
Well-Known Member
Not sure what lengths of rope people generally have, I have a 40' and should I wash all ropes in the washing machine it would probably take 2-3 days, halyards sheets topping lifts etc total amount of rope must be a few hundred meters 
Also, all rope sections which are inside the mast during wintering are usually clean, it s just the exposed sections which turn to green, I personally take all these green moulded ''tails'' on the boat and plunge into a big bucket with water/benzalkonium chloride, no need for 20 temporary messengers lines, leave for one two days, then take off and dry without rinsing, they loose the green colour and seem as good as new. If the chemical deteriorates the fiber, it surely does not quicker than the normal usage, year over year ropes really do not seem to suffer I just replace them after excessive mechanical wear.
Also, all rope sections which are inside the mast during wintering are usually clean, it s just the exposed sections which turn to green, I personally take all these green moulded ''tails'' on the boat and plunge into a big bucket with water/benzalkonium chloride, no need for 20 temporary messengers lines, leave for one two days, then take off and dry without rinsing, they loose the green colour and seem as good as new. If the chemical deteriorates the fiber, it surely does not quicker than the normal usage, year over year ropes really do not seem to suffer I just replace them after excessive mechanical wear.
RunAgroundHard
Well-Known Member
Your method sounds good, and certainly time saving. I may do that in future. In my case, 41'yacht, 5 x halyards, 1 x topping lift, 2 sets of sheets, 2 x pole up hauls it took about a morning on 30 minute cycles, with multiple lines in the machine at a time. It wasn't that big a deal and the mast was down last year anyway. With the increase in franchise DIY laundry machines, I would consider bagging the lines and doing in one batch in the large machine. I do my sail cover in such a machine every few years, very easy and quick.
Babylon
Well-Known Member
Now done a couple of loads in the washing machine at 40deg using just Persil biological plus a dose of Vanish, and everything coming up clean and bright.
I'll use the Patio Magic on the decks.
I'll use the Patio Magic on the decks.
sigma38dave
Well-Known Member
I took a set of halyards off the boat and washed them when I first got it, probably about 20 years ago.
I’d just bought a Miele washing machine for home and as the halyards had spliced on snap shackles I decided to go to the local laundrette in down town Gillingham rather than use my home facilities.
I chucked them all in a machine and sat back. After a couple of minutes the shackles were banging about quite loudly on the glass in the door, the assistant came out from the back room to see what was going on. I can’t remember how I smoothed that over but managed somehow…
I thought the spin cycle would be a major problem but this just pinned the metal fittings against the drum and surprisingly quietened it all down.
Not sure what happened to that machine but my home one still works perfectly
I’d just bought a Miele washing machine for home and as the halyards had spliced on snap shackles I decided to go to the local laundrette in down town Gillingham rather than use my home facilities.
I chucked them all in a machine and sat back. After a couple of minutes the shackles were banging about quite loudly on the glass in the door, the assistant came out from the back room to see what was going on. I can’t remember how I smoothed that over but managed somehow…
I thought the spin cycle would be a major problem but this just pinned the metal fittings against the drum and surprisingly quietened it all down.
Not sure what happened to that machine but my home one still works perfectly