DanielHarro Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 I heard that washing your climbing rope and adding Downy or any fabric softener is a good thing, gives that rope some added lubricant. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billcoe Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 I heard that washing your climbing rope and adding Downy or any fabric softener is a good thing, gives that rope some added lubricant. Any thoughts? Your wife will love that flowery smell! I stick with Woolite and that alone, and haven't heard any rope mfg recommend Downy as safe: but you'd think it would be ok as it doesn't ruin other fabrics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bstach Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 It seems to be a bad idea. Here is a quote from "On Rope", Padgett and Smith, 1992, published by the National Speleological Society. I consider this a reliable source as this book is the equivalent of "Freedom of the Hills" in caving circles. "All indications point to the fact that fabric softeners are not a good idea. Fabric softeners have from time to time been recommended as a way of softening well used stiff ropes. Instead, recent tests on aging rope indicate fabric softeners substantially weaken rope. It is proposed that this weakening is due to bonding of free hydrogen molecules from the softener to the nylon polymer, actually changing the molecular structure of the rope's nylon." pg. 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counterfeitfake Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 How often does "softer" == "stronger"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRep Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 stick with the McNet rope wash!!!! works great and is designed specifically for ropes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielHarro Posted August 22, 2007 Author Share Posted August 22, 2007 I took a high angle rescue class at work from a guy who test different systems, ropes, hardgoods and soft goods and he said that he soked a rope in various downy like softeners and then drop tested the ropes and in his test / tests showed that there was no streangth loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielHarro Posted August 22, 2007 Author Share Posted August 22, 2007 How often does "softer" == "stronger"? lubricant decreases friction between the fibers and thus decreases heat when the rope is loaded reducing the possability for weakening fibers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counterfeitfake Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 And you think the mechanism by which fabric softener "softens" fabric is lubrication? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielHarro Posted August 22, 2007 Author Share Posted August 22, 2007 I dont really know too much about it, its just what I was told / heard. I guess it makes sense with lubication and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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