The best way to clean lines and jack stays?

[Nostrodamus]

What is the best way to clean the grime of the various lines?

I remember being told once not to use hot water as it can effect some lines but is it an old wife’s tale ( can some of you ask your old wife?)

Should you use any detergent?

Finally jack stays. Mine have faded over the year and is it best to renew them or is there a dye you can use that won’t run all over the decks when next they get wet?

Thanks

 

[AliM]

We wash ours in the washing machine. Cool wash (30 C) normal washing powder. A hand wash should be fine, too. Opinions differ on whether to use a conditioner, so we don't, just in case it makes any difference.

Jackstays - if they've faded, are you confident that they have not deteriorated due to UV? The stitching is particularly vulnerable, and you do not want to find out that they have weakened at the point when you use them in anger!
I don't know the answer, but you may be more confident of their strength if you replace them.

 

[davidej]

Put in the washing machine- cool wash and biological powder

 

[TiggerToo]

What is the best way to clean the grime of the various lines?

I remember being told once not to use hot water as it can effect some lines but is it an old wife’s tale ( can some of you ask your old wife?)

Should you use any detergent?

Finally jack stays. Mine have faded over the year and is it best to renew them or is there a dye you can use that won’t run all over the decks when next they get wet?

Thanks

washing machine, on a synthetic (cool) programme.

Webbing jack-stays will be degraded by UV when left on deck. "Renewing" them by dyeing is not really a good idea. Once they start showing evidence of degradation (e.g. fibres fraying), I'd consider getting new ones.

 

[Nostrodamus]

We don't have a washing machine!

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I don't use the washing machine. Soak them well in a tub of fresh water, swirling them round so as to get rid of much of the accumulated salt. Do this over a couple of days. Lift them out and hang them to drip. Meanwhile refill the tub with fresh water and add washing powder (a couple of handfuls dissolved completely). Immerse the lines, swirling them as before and leave soaking for several days. The water will go black if your mooring is anywhere near traffic. Rinse well and hang out to dry.

In the case of sheets I do a further 'cycle' this time using conditioner instead of the washing powder, obtaining clean sheets that are soft to handle.

 

[prv]

We don't have a washing machine!

Fill the dinghy on the quayside, with fresh water and detergent? Then swill everything around in it like your granny on wash day.

Pete

 

[charles_reed]

Washing machine - cool wash.

No washing machine, either a power washer or in the dinghy with a dose of detergent and about 12 rinses.

The last gives one clean, wrinkly hands and a bad back - therefore not recommended as the best solution.

 

[ukmctc]

in a washing machine inside a pillow case.(so no damage)
Water temp, just warm.
Most washing powders and liquids have conditioner built in, so yes to that.
Thanks for the reminder, need to get mine done this month.

 

[Tranona]

Answer for jackstays is to remove them when not at sea - which even for the most avid sailor is the majority of the time. Not only does it save them from UV by removes one of the sources of dirt on the deck.

 

[KellysEye]

>Mine have faded over the year and is it best to renew them or is there a dye you can use

If they are faded the thread and material will be damaged by UV and the jackstays will have lost strength. I'd suggest replacing them, that's what we do.

 

[rob2]

I wash my ropes in the bath - warm water with washing powder. Leaving them overnight forces me to deal with them in the morning or I start to smell! Ideally rinse a couple of times and hang outside on the line in the rain. Fetch them in on a nice dry day.

Rob.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Bung them in the washing machine with normal detergent at 40C. Done if for 20 years and only once had a slight problem when I did it too hot and shrank my reefing lines a bit.

 

[stownsend]

Washing machine on 30 degree wash using natural soap flakes. Normal washing power and detergents will cause havoc to any lines and reduce their strength etc..

Cheers

Stu

 

[VO5]

Additionall as a footnote to all the above posts:~

Stranded rope can also be washed in the washing machine with detergent and warm water etc., but don't forget to inspect the ends before you do so.

Make doubly sure the whippings / splices at the ends are absolutely secure, otherwise they WILL unravel. This is irrespective of whether you choose to put them in a pillowcas or not.

 

[Tintin]

We don't have a washing machine!

Put your tender in the sea, tied on. Fill with water and washing powder. Put the ropes in. Leave overnight. Should be fine. Or if only a few ropes put them in a bucket on your tender.

 

[ffiill]

washing machine, on a synthetic (cool) programme.

Webbing jack-stays will be degraded by UV when left on deck. "Renewing" them by dyeing is not really a good idea. Once they start showing evidence of degradation (e.g. fibres fraying), I'd consider getting new ones.

Yes take it from me webbing disintegrates!

 

[ffiill]

Beware with acrylic sail covers and like-often get mouldy and I once had a go with some zip in side screens-turned the heat up and they came out spotless and about and inch smaller-I had to remove and resew all the zips!

 

[mcframe]

Soak them well in a tub of fresh water, swirling them round so as to get rid of much of the accumulated salt. Do this over a couple of days. Lift them out and hang them to drip. Meanwhile refill the tub with fresh water and add washing powder (a couple of handfuls dissolved completely). Immerse the lines, swirling them as before and leave soaking for several days. The water will go black if your mooring is anywhere near traffic. Rinse well and hang out to dry.

<ahem>
Chuck 'em in the bottom of the bath (also used as domestic shower) for a couple of days, leaving the plug in betweentimes ;->

 

[DanTribe]

Fill the dinghy on the quayside, with fresh water and detergent? Then swill everything around in it like your granny on wash day.

Pete

We bought our granny a shower.
It's not very kind to swill her about in a dinghy in full view of the passers by.