Washing ropes

[Alexis]

I have bought a second hand cruiser last year.The halyards and reefing lines(rope allround, no exotic or hightech fibres)are filthy and green. I'd like to clean them. I have read somewhere that they could be put in the washing machine.
Is this correct ?
Do I use a normal washing powder ?
What would be the maximum temperature you'd use ?
I was also thinking of drying them in a tumbler so that they don't get stiff when drying out; what do you think ?

Many thanks,
Alexis

P.S: I have also posted this request to Andrew Hope form the panel of experts.

 

[Piers]

Put them in a pillow case to stop them damaging the washing machine, use a low(ish) temperature. No special powder needed, although a bio could be good.

Stiffening comes from the salt in the rope, so drying them in a tumbler won't help and may even damage them. Just "hang they out to dry" normally.

Piers du Pré
www.playdeau.com

 

[dickh]

Agree with Piers, in a washing machine, on a low temperature with a Biological powder, certainly for the first time - subsequent washes you can get away with a non-biological powder. Only need to put in a pillow case if snapshackles on ends or tie an old sock around snapshackles.
You'll spend a pleasant few minutes untangling them when they come out, and then hang them up to dry for a couple of days in your garage - or outside if sunny...
Oh, and make sure all ends are securely whipped or heatsealed - if not, they will all unravel!! They will come up like new.
Make sure you run mouse lines through so you can re-reeve the lines in the spring

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[LORDNELSON]

For what its worth I do spindry my ropes after washing but agree that tumble drying is not necessary. Spinning them does not seem to do any damage. Badly soiled ropes I soak and then scrub with a soft brush and weak detergent and then rinse before machine washing them.

 

[AndrewB]

I washing-machine mine regularly too, but think they do shrink slightly when washed. Fine for cruising, but I'd not do it with prestretched rope halyards on a racing yacht

 

[longjohnsilver]

I agree with the other posts but have pressure washed them before putting them in the washmachine if they are really dirty. This does get rid of a lot of muck, have the washer set on the widest spray.

 

[ccscott49]

Pressure washing them is a good idea, shifts lots of muck. I have net laundry bags, which I use for mine, in the washing machine, definitely bio powder and I kid you not, fabric conditioner, they come out lovely and soft, No I'm serious, try it! I have been doing so for years, I wash mine evry two years and they stay in excellent condition (scuse the pun)

 

[Alexis]

Dear ccscott,

Every one seems to insist on using bio washing powder. Except for ecological reasons, I can't figure out why. Do you have an idea ?

 

[BrendanS]

Bio degergents contain enzymes that break down biological dirt (in this case, green slime, bits of rotting weed etc). They work well at low temperatures ...you don't want to boil wash rope, especially not man made fibres

 

[Viking]

Re: Going Soft??

CC what next? Drinking 'Baby champ' (Pub) now using 'fabric softener' to wash your 'ropes' (might hurt his andy-pandies)
You oil rig men must be going soft!

 

[sailbadthesinner]

colin i think that was a confession too far.

Come on brain.get this over and i can go back to killing you with beer

 

[pugwash]

Mouselines?

I think I know what you mean. I'd like to take my green-hued rope haliards off the mast and wash them but the mast is staying up. How do you fix a mouseline to the end of the haliard so the join passes smoothly through the block at the masthead?

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Mouselines?

Sew the ends together (no overlap) with nylon twine, only 2 or 3 stitches needed, then bind with electrical tape.

 

[snowleopard]

fatal error...

heard of one guy who let the little lady wash his ropes... she used fabric conditioner and they fluffed up so much they wouldn't go through the fairleads any more!

 

[dickh]

Re: Mouselines?

My halliards have a whipped loop at the end to which you can tie a light line - there is a name for such a whipping but can't remember at the moment...

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Viking]

Re: Mouselines?

Yes It works for me to!
And dont forget! If you sew or bind and tape, a new mouseline with one of the hailyards, when you run it back through the mast. It will give you a permanent 'mouse', in position, should you need it.

 

[Viking]

Re: Mouselines?

Yes It works for me to!
And dont forget! If you sew or bind and tape, a new mouseline with one of the hailyards, when you run it back through the mast. It will give you a permanent 'mouse', in position, should you need it.

 

[tommojill]

It is fine to wash ropes we do it every year. 60' max they come out like new use a fabric softener. Never tumbled dried them they ususally dry over night and do not go hard again.

 

[ccscott49]

It tends to shiftbthe ingrained stains better. IMHO, not being an expert on this either from the technical side or the end user side!!

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Mouselines?

I think it's called a halyard whipping. But all mine have them on the ends, especialliy for that purpose. I put them on, when I saw a rigger doing it and thought "what a bloody good idea"