Its best not to whisper to them while you're washing, "Ooooh, you've been a dirty, dirty rope," it tends to make them stiff.
I've wanted to check out the hook it up to the hose widget, but have always wound up with Bill Coe's "just toss it in the washer" method, seems to work fine. Last time around I think I didn't rinse the woolite out enough, made for an unpleasant feel for awhile.