Washing ropes again but with a twist

[Halo]

I am going to wash various haliards etc in line with previous posts.
Main issue for me is that the boats lines on the N side of the pontoon go green as they stay wet for ages.
After great success with “Wet and Forget “ on the patio and the spray dodger and stack pack I am tempted to put some on the lines or in the washing machine
What do you think??

 

[ash2020]

I have had good results in the washing machine at 40°C. Gets rid of the green. If you don't want them fluffy it's a good idea to put them in a pillow case.

 

[johnalison]

I use leftover Patio Magic which I believe is much the same on bits of rope when I’ve finished with the deck. It is not a substitute for proper cleaning but it stops vulnerable bits, such as knots, from going mouldy.

 

[KevO]

We normally wash them cool temp in a pillow case to get all the salt and crud out then dry them naturally. A good dunk in patio magic solution, allow to dry again then store away for the winter. When they go back up in the spring we will have no green for the rest of the year.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

I'm not keen on messenger lines as two of my mate's got them stuck in sheaves . I normally place the halyards in a builder's bucket of suds still connected to the mast. The rest I take home and use the bath. Have tried the washing machine but they get rather knocked about.

The Patio Magic treatment is tempting.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Just wondering if any folks have tried those brush gadgets that you slide up and down the rope.

 

[Daydream believer]

In the summer months ropes do not normally go green. So I tie old rope to the halyards & hoist them to the top. That means that ropes normally exposed are now inside the mast. I wait until the ropes that are now exposed are dry, then put them, coiled, into black bin liner bags. These are inverted to stop water entering. I tie them to the mast. Reef lines are bagged & tied to the boom. Any ropes that can be removed - vang, backstay adjuster etc- are removed & stored at home.
This way none of the ropes suffer from green mould, or the effects of UV over the winter.

 

[Stemar]

Being a lazy git, I just leave my mooring lines and anchor rode out in the rain for a few days

 

[dunedin]

I'm not keen on messenger lines as two of my mate's got them stuck in sheaves . I normally place the halyards in a builder's bucket of suds still connected to the mast. The rest I take home and use the bath. Have tried the washing machine but they get rather knocked about.

The Patio Magic treatment is tempting.

What thickness of messenger lines were they using. We bought a cheap 100m reel of something like 5mm line for halyard messengers. If that gets stuck the sheaves are in seriously bad condition and need replaced ASAP.

 

[johnalison]

Just wondering if any folks have tried those brush gadgets that you slide up and down the rope.

Dunno but I knew someone who had a T-shaped attachment for a pressure washer that you fed the rope through, which sounds like a great way to wreck your ropes.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

What thickness of messenger lines were they using. We bought a cheap 100m reel of something like 5mm line for halyard messengers. If that gets stuck the sheaves are in seriously bad condition and need replaced ASAP.

Agreed about the required mm for messenger lines.
If memory serves me, they were using 2mm /2.5mm burgee line.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Dunno but I knew someone who had a T-shaped attachment for a pressure washer that you fed the rope through, which sounds like a great way to wreck your ropes.

Probably , a soapy microfibre cloth in the direction of the lay would do a good job.

 

[dunedin]

Agreed about the required mm for messenger lines.
If memory serves me, they were using 2mm /2.5mm burgee line.

False economy

 

[Keith 66]

Just washed ours. Messenger lines sent up with 6mm polyprop rope. Soaked in flash & a bit of bleach in the shower tray overnight repeated twice. Then on the last rinse got distracted while shower tray was filling up. A minor flood occurred & there was a degree of panic. Fortunately no lasting damage.
Halyards had a sock folded & tied over the snap shackles & a 30 degree wash & rinse in the machine.
It was then half an hour to untie the gordian knot!
They are nice & clean now!

 

[Momac]

I soak ropes in a bucket with water and biological laundry liquid.
This can work overnight although the worst one I left in soak for a week.

 

[jdc]

I've found that the best thing is to put the rope in a bucket containing diluted Patio Magic - a minute or two is long enough, just long enough to soak it. Then pull it out and hang it up to dry (on the clothes airer at home is what we do). The green will fade within a couple of days once it's dry, and then it can go in the machine at 30°C on a gentle cycle.

I think this is preferable to bleach or more aggressive washing.

 

[Daydream believer]

I find that it is better not to let them get green in the first place

 

[Momac]

I find that it is better not to let them get green in the first place

Yes of course .
But how do you do that ?

 

[Daydream believer]

Yes of course .
But how do you do that ?

Well for starters, put them away in the winter.
Do not leave sheets laying in the shaded side of the boat on the wet decks where green mould collects
Wash them off regularly & hang loose ends in coils. Do not leave them laying on the deck.
A clean boat does not attract so much mould .