Rope Washing

[WageSlave]

What methods or equipment do you folks use to srubadubdub a dirty rope? I've heard put it in a bath with mild soap and hand wash it. What does the collective hive mind of CC.com use for rope washing?

[ivan]

washed mine w/ just a garden hose in my drive last weekend and dried it on my truck - seemed to work just fine

[spotly]

I have not yet been assimilated into the hive but my method is to take it to the laundry and use a commercial front-loader with a SMALL amount of Woolite. I may be overly protective but I also run the washer without anything in it first, just to be sure there's no unwanted chemicals from the previous load. Costs more but gives me peace-of-mind. I've daisy chained it a few times but still wind up with tangles. I've heard some people place theirs into a pillow case but seems that would prevent a thorough wash and rinse to me...haven't tried that though.

[builder206]

You can use a mesh laundry bag to avoid your heartburn with the pillowcase fabric obstructing the flow of scrubby goodness particles. Fred Meyer has them but maybe not large enough for a rope. The military washes its skivvies in mesh bags that are pretty large. Maybe an Army-Navy store (check online) will have them.

[spotly]

Good suggestion. Here's one: http://www.laundrybagstoreonline.com/form2834-yel.htm

[builder206]

Laundry Bag Store Online. Is this a great country, or what?

[Blake]

Daisy chain it + Washing machine +

 

Woolite will help somewhat, but its mostly just coconut oil.

[McGinnis]

I wash mine in the tub.

[thelawgoddess]

I have not yet been assimilated into the hive but my method is to take it to the laundry and use a commercial front-loader with a SMALL amount of Woolite.

 

I second the commercial front loader. I think it's like $3.25 or something to do a wash. Then hang it at home to dry. Gets it super clean!

[pinner]

I had a guy show me a trick - he mountaineer-coiled half the rope length or so, then daisy chained the rest around the coils, holding them all together. This way the coils can be draped around the upright thingy in your washer without (too much) fear of getting the roap caught.

 

Personally I do it in the tub. Good shoulder/tricep work out!

 

Remember not to leave your rope out drying in the direct sun for 12 hours in July!

[bstach]

I wash mine in the tub or a Rubbermaid bin with a rope brush and just water. Occasionally i add a few drops of dish soap.

 

I take my super muddy caving ropes to the laundromat and wash in a mesh bag. Gets them super clean. I feel better about this as I don't lead on them...just jumaring/rappeling

[mike1]

MRA team I was on use to doughnut the ropes with daisy chain loops and throw in the wash with a dose of powdered Ivory Snow (recommended), then run it on gentle, pull out the chains and hang dry in the gear room. I’ve been doing it that way with my ropes for years.

[DavidHiers]

Daisy chain in a mesh bag, front load machine with pmi rope soap.

 

[snoboy]

Here's a radical suggestion, not sure what I think. Anybody got a pull tester?

 

http://www.onrope1.com/RopeWashing.htm

[spotly]

I've laid mine out on my walk and sprayed it down (with just a hose - not a pressure washer) when I got mud on it once. I think I'd avoid the drive due to chemicals though.

[pindude]

Anyone remember the old SMC rope washer? Not as harsh on your rope as a washer + detergent, and good for getting dirt out. I don't know if SMC makes it any more, as I don't see it on their website, but I can find it at various retailers like Mountain Tools .

[powdrx]

Couple ideas I found:

http://www.knick-knack.com/howto/climb/build-a-climbing-rope-washer.html

http://www.cragx.org/equest5.htm

Maybe a good idea to try and combine the two.

 

 

[Edlinger]

Beal makes a device like you show.

 

Cold-yes

Delicate- yes

hang dry- yes

Anything besides plain water or rope wash soap- no

[caroline]

Over in Germany all the climbers that I know either wash in the bath tub or wash in a frontloader (we have almost no toploaders over there) but without adding any soap.

 

[billbob]

We recommend using Baby Shampoo to clean rope and much of your high-end clothing / sleeping bags. It works well and costs way less than the products seen at gear stores.

[shapp]

mild liquid laundry soap in the tub.

Shapp

Edited April 20, 2009 by shapp

[billbob]

Try using a nice-smelling baby shampoo and offering free beer to the babes ?

[mike1]

mild liquid laundry soap in the tub.

Shapp

Roll up your pants and do a little dance...

[selkirk]

For front loaders, do most people worry about chemicals from the previous cycles? I've got one that's filthy with aluminum dust, but am a little sketched about throwing into a washer with out knowing what's gone through it previously.

TIA

[max]

Anyone remember the old SMC rope washer? Not as harsh on your rope as a washer + detergent, and good for getting dirt out. I don't know if SMC makes it any more, as I don't see it on their website, but I can find it at various retailers like Mountain Tools .

 

Also found on the cragx site:

If buying a chalk bag is a little bit too ritzy for you then heres an Idea... get your hands on your mums old oven mit, whack beaner through the little loop, hook it onto your harness...

 

Their rope washer looks pretty simpleand effective.