washing machines and ropes

I've done it with braided rope on just a rinse programme. No damage but it took ages to untangle them!
Now we just wash them in the bath.
 
Don't know if it's a good idea.. but i do it most years.. cleans the rope and softens it up.... but do put the rope in a pillow case first then tie it up. for some reason it stops the rope damaging..... if you have a shackle on the end of a halyard just tie a thick sock round it to stop it banging around.
 
No problem at all ... in fact it's good because it should take out all the grit, sand etc. from the lay.

Forget pillow cases - there's a much better way.

Coil the rope neatly to suitable size loops for machine. Take eletrical tie-wraps and strap the coils at least three places ( trapping any hard eyes etc. inside coils). Do not cut the excess plastic end - leave it. (Cut ends are jagged and sharp).

Wash on 40C, low spin cycle so that rope comes out washed, rinsed and still wet. Hang up after releasing tie-wraps to drip dry in fresh air.

You will be amazed at the difference !

Using the above method stops the coils from getting tangled.
 
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I've done it with braided rope on just a rinse programme. No damage but it took ages to untangle them!
Now we just wash them in the bath.

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Coil and fix with tie-wraps ... you'll be fine ...
 
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I don't bother with the pillow case or tie-wraps (cable ties) ... how long does it take to untangle a length of rope?
Always come out like new.

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Entirely agree, no need to tie at all. Several friends of mine reported a fair bit of damage done to their ropes when using cable ties (pillow cases were much better) and none now use them.

As kittern suggests, it takes no time at all to untangle to 'bundles that usually comes out of the machine. The only time I used cable ties the sheathing was 'forced' open where the tie was fixed and a bit of the core was poking through. The rope was still useable, but the damage could have been prevented.
 
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I don't bother with the pillow case or tie-wraps (cable ties) ... how long does it take to untangle a length of rope?
Always come out like new.

[/ QUOTE ]

Entirely agree, no need to tie at all. Several friends of mine reported a fair bit of damage done to their ropes when using cable ties (pillow cases were much better) and none now use them.

As kittern suggests, it takes no time at all to untangle to 'bundles that usually comes out of the machine. The only time I used cable ties the sheathing was 'forced' open where the tie was fixed and a bit of the core was poking through. The rope was still useable, but the damage could have been prevented.

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I do my ropes most winters with ties and have never had any damage at all - I make sure they are tight and as I said before I do not snip the loose end - I leave it as is then it's not ragged edge to do damage.
 
Hi All
Go with the pillow case it works well and the lady of the house won't ban you from using the machine if she see's metal bits flying around on the end's of the ropes in her machine
 
I machine washed several ropes of different types that had been sitting, unused, gathering dirt and growing green stuff in the cockpit of my restoration project for years before I bought it. The transformation was amazing.
I seem to remember (on Yachting TV) a bloke from Marlows, I think, saying that you shouldn't do it.
But there again, he would wouldn't he!
 
I have used the pillow case method for many years, except I actually use an old sail bag which you can tie the neck off tight. The lines all come out very clean and flexible again, not been any apparent deterioration. They do get a bit tangled, but don't long to sort, and hey, you only do it once a year.
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Actually it is twice as we have 2 boats now. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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