Washing ropes

[MedMan]

If you do not have access to a washing machine the time-honoured way used by live-aboards the world over is to wash them in your dinghy. Deflate your dinghy slightly so you do not put too much weight on the bottom, fill to just below the valves and pop in some mild detergent. We use Stergene or similar liquid designed for hand-washing clothes. Leave to soak for an hour or so giving a good swoosh around each time you pass the dinghy. Coil loosly, hang up and rinse off with a hose and leave to dry. Not as thorough as a washing machine, perhaps, but gets the salt out a treat.

David.

P.S. I too have used a pressure washer on badly soiled ropes. It works well.

 

[Idlerboat]

Ive just done mine,
whiter then white,
brighter than bright,
with new enzyme cleaning power!

Now if only I could remember to clean the fluf out of the bloody washing machine before I get sprung again.

marty_dean@yahoo
Idler

 

[Alexis]

Many thanks to all of you for your (sometimes hard earned and coslty) experience.

By the way, excuse my ignorance, but what exactly does SWMHO, (or something along those lines) stand for ? from what I gathered, this is the way you refer to your better half.

Thank you,
Alexis

 

[byron]

SWMBO = she who must be obeyed
IMHO = in my humble opinion
FWI = for what its worth
IANALBIKSWI = I am not a lawyer but I know someone who is
BTW = by the way

You will find a full list here:-
http://www.freeware.mcmail.com/435.htm

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk</A>

 

[miket]

No bio!!

Spoke to knowledgeable fellow on English Braids stand at SBS, this year.

He is not keen on washing of ropes, and certainly not with bio powder.
If you must, use non bio and preferably no washing powder.

Apparently ropes have an oil included in manufacture, which aids strength. Wash and wash out oil. Apparently looses huge %'ge of strength.

Ring English Braids for full details.

 

[Guest]

Re: No bio!!

Hi

Marlow ropes recommend washing in warm water.... No additives as they reckon the key thing to do is to get rid of the salt. I'd never use a ppressure washer having seen someone cut through a shoe while trying to clean it (don't ask!) Washing machines can ruin your ropes in no time, foring the core through the outer braiding.

Gentle scrubbing is probably OK but safest option is a gentle prolonged soak with lots of rinses to get all the salt out.


Regards



Fred

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

 

[Guest]

Re: No bio!!

My son who has spent some time working on a "little 32", (they measure them in meters in the superyacht market) tells me that fabric softener, in the dinghy towed behind with some fresh water in it (straight from the osmotic water maker of course) for half a day works wonders for cleaning ropes. It seems to me that if you can steal a used plastic container/paint drum with a tight sealing top, then putting in the ropes, with water and fabric softener and keeping the drum in the boot of your car for a week of general commuting should give at least as much cleaning agitaion as a washing machine would give in an hour, without the need to explain to management why the washing machine has been used for nautical purposes.