Washing ropes - again.

[Kukri]

I spent forty years in and on gaff cutters reeking of Stockholm tar, and I am trying to modernise myself with a lump of 46 year old classic plastic.



This is my three year old mainsheet. Considered as a mainsheet, it’s excellent - renders through the blocks nicely, easy on the hands, and gets gripped by the self tailer readily. Full marks. But a long spell with it left rigged resulted in the bit that was outside the cockpit cover going a bit green.

It’s just been in the washing machine. Most of it is as white as the driven snow, but, whilst it is much better, there are still traces of green on the bit that runs through the blocks when close hauled.

Another wash? Dose of sodium percarbonate laundry bleach on the affected part? Dose of Patio Magic and then another wash? Give up, cut the splice off and end for end the line? Cut the affected five metres off?

What to do?

 

[thinwater]

Squint. I don't see anything.

If dark glasses or valium don't fix it for you, yes, percarbonate is the best bet. Standard concentration, agitate every hour, 6-hour minimum soak. Most comercial sail cleaners are percarbonate, so it will not damamge the rope.

 

[dunedin]

For the green paint on Patio Magic then leave for a few days. Then possibly out side on line in gentle rain.

Personally I wouldn’t put back in the washing machine, as presumably heavy and expensive ropes for that big boat. And I reckon washing machine can sometimes damage ropes (and/or machine).
I would then soak in a plastic crate, with a small does of fabric conditioner, then rinse, dry …. and go sailing

 

[Kukri]

Squint. I don't see anything.

If dark glasses or valium don't fix it for you, yes, percarbonate is the best bet. Standard concentration, agitate every hour, 6-hour minimum soak. Most comercial sail cleaners are percarbonate, so it will not damamge the rope.

Thank you; very valuable information… there’s a spot near the top of the otherwise snowy white mainsail where rain got under the cover and sat…

Incidentally I took your advice on rope before buying that mainsheet and I’d like to thank you for it. ?

 

[Kukri]

For the green paint on Patio Magic then leave for a few days. Then possibly out side on line in gentle rain.

Personally I wouldn’t put back in the washing machine, as presumably heavy and expensive ropes for that big boat. And I reckon washing machine can sometimes damage ropes (and/or machine).
I would then soak in a plastic crate, with a small does of fabric conditioner, then rinse, dry …. and go sailing

Just so; the mainsheet that came with the boat, which was deplorable, went back in the machine for a second cycle, and developed a nasty hernia, so it was retired.

Will combine Thinwater’s percarbonate on the affected parts with your recommendation of a subsequent soaking in Patio Magic.

 

[cherod]

Swarfega

 

[Roberto]

FWIW, a moderate amount of bleach can work wonders. I use it yearly on my ropes and canvas, they are often >10year old and have not lost any of their strength/colour, enough for me. Google will of course provide plenty of scientific references as to how destructive bleach can be, losing as much as 0.0000x% of whatever property per application, so just sharing my experience, by all means do what you feel safe to do.

 

[ashtead]

If you have specific spots to clean you might find deck cleaner or a spot cleaner spray helps -spray bleach you use in the kitchen also will do the trick if patio magic fails.

 

[thinwater]

Just so; the mainsheet that came with the boat, which was deplorable, went back in the machine for a second cycle, and developed a nasty hernia, so it was retired.

Will combine Thinwater’s percarbonate on the affected parts with your recommendation of a subsequent soaking in Patio Magic.

Just to be clear. I would NOT put it in the machine again. Soak and scrub the affected part just a little.

 

[Kukri]

Just to be clear. I would NOT put it in the machine again. Soak and scrub the affected part just a little.

Agreed. The deplorable old mainsheet was not only filthy, it was at the end of its life.