Washing ropes

Stemar

Stemar

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SWMBO has decreed that our lines need a wash.

The mooring warps are just grubby, but the halyards are so stiff they're hard to cleat off, so I'm not going to complain if she says they have to go in the washing machine /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

They halyards are polyester and the warps are nylon, so what program should I use, and is fabric softener a no-no? If not, is a double dose likely to do better or worse?

Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom!
 
The hardened halyards probably wont soften much in a wash but its worth a try.

Often a good idea to enclose in a pillow case or similar. Then there's a chance you will have them untangled before the start of next season.

Use a synthetics programme for the wash just as you would for clothing. A soak in a Bio type detergent may be a good idea first but I would not use a fabric conditioner, but then SWMBO won't use it on anything. I predict though that before this thread dies ar least one person will say they always use one to good effect and without any problems. A good long soak followed by a gentle wash programme is probably a wise choice.

Some ropes with a braided outer sheath seem to suffer in a washing machine. I have had a couple where the core has burst through the cover in a number of places but they were probably due for replacement anyway.
 
This is a job I did recently for the first time. I put the first lot in pillow cases but there was still loads of gunge in them. A net bag would probably work OK though. For a second wash I coiled them normally and tied each one tightly (at one point)with a long white boot lace, this worked a lot better, but still ended with a bit of a 'bunch o' bug*ers' to sort out. (Still, it's something to do while half watching the telly!)
For the next lot, I gave them a long soak in the kitchen sink first and that made the first wash more effective. I used a 40º wash with a short spin BTW. For halyards I covered any thimbles/shackles in a double layer of old socks tied on with old shoe laces.
Finally, because they still looked a bit greyish I soaked them in a weak solution of bleach and then a couple of rinses. They look great now, but it was a bigger job than I had anticipated. I found it best to do no more than one halyard and a couple of reefing lines together so as not to overfill the washing machine. I dried them draped over the landing bannisters which caused my dog some confusion!
 
someone suggested tying them together with cable ties: that is what I am going to do next time. It soundslike a brilliant idea.
 
I just put them in the machine lose and cover any metal with an old sock held in place by a cable tie. I reduce the amount of detergent AND DO NOT use fabric conditioner. I also fill the machine to give a load, but the number of ropes does depend on size, length, etc.
 
SWMBO says use LUX flakes, if there are no hard eyes, put straight into the machine do not bag first and do not put too many in at once.
 
I use the cotton stockingette rolls used for polishing cars etc, for putting the ropes in. Just tie a knot in both ends - simple, no tangles and no rubbing against the drum !
 
Two comments on what has been said so far.

Chlorine bleach should not be used on synthetics, according to the label on the battle. An oxgen bleach such as Vanish is OK though.

Lux Flakes are soap so, although excellent in soft water, will produce loads of scum in hard water. In soft water they will produce too much lather for an automatic washing machine.
 
Wash as everyone else says with the longest wash programme on your machine and even repeat the process a couple of times BUT----------------------

In the final final rinse Use lots and lots of fabric softener it really makes the difference
___________________________

I have found through experience that the ropes are much softer and easier to work with if they have had fabric softener on them. Other people may disagree but my personal opinion is based on having tried both methods and the softener method worked a lot better.
 
Be VERY cautious about using cable ties! They can cut right into the rope and do expensive damage and I speak from making the same mistake many moons ago!!

FWIW we wash all our rope/halyards etc every year and just heave them in a few at a time. Sure there's a bl**dy great 'knot' when they come out, but they are spotlessly clean and soft, and it only takes a few minutes to sort out for final drying.

As a tip on the last, we drape ours over a couple doors, floor to floor either side. Dead easy and they dry within a couple of days or less.
 
IMHO fabric softener is a no-no. It works by 'roughing up' the surface of the fabric, giving a 'soft' feel. Softener is effectively an abrasive - probably not what you want to use on your ropes.
 
Is it abrasive?

I never thought of fabric softener as abrasive. Most products are just cationic surfactants which leave a trace coating on the fibres and help reduce electrostatic effects.
 
Our yacht club recently had a lecture on ropes from a rep from English Braids. He told us NEVER to wash any yacht ropes in a machine as it damages the structure of the rope. I suppose he knew what he was talking about
 
Most rope sizes on a boat are dictated by the need to be able to handle them easily, not the potential loads. In those cases the risk of failure from mistreatment in a washing machine seems rather remote to me, to put it mildly.
 
My simple solution to this, albeit much more time consuming, was to use the garden hose and a bucket full of plain water. The seaweed (mooring bridles) came off without too much trouble, and all the halyards & sheets went into the bucket dirty and stiff and have come out clean and flexible again, more or less like new. Hang them on the washing line for a day or so and bobs your uncle. If you can be bothered to do it, it should work, and can't damage the rope.
 
For mooring ropes and bridles (nylon 16 or 18 mm usually) I soak them for several days in industrial bleach, giving them a turn now and again. then a thorough rinse before going in the washing machine for a final clean. Seaweed and slimey goo just disolves away in the bleach. It doesn't seem to harm the rope though.
 
Bleach...

Bleach is generally considered to be damaging to nylon ropes - climbers certainly wouldn't use bleach on their ropes. Having said that, there's probably enough margin of safety in large-diameter mooring lines for some weakening not to be a problem.
 
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