With the start of the season comes the time for a major clean-up. In addition to the hull, deck and interior, it's also time to take care of your ropes. Bad weather, sand, seaweed and periods in the water can make ropes very dirty. Most boaters simply change them after a few years. However, it's easy to extend their lifespan and save a little money by cleaning them regularly. Follow the guide!
1 - Soak them
Start by soaking the rope(s) in a bucket of soapy water. Soaking time depends on the condition of the rope. For a very dirty rope, soak for at least 24 hours, stirring occasionally. To avoid damaging the rope, use only soapy water.
2 - Rub the rope with your hands
After soaking for a few hours, rub the rope with your hands and turn it over to rub it from different sides. This should help loosen the grime.
3 - Empty the dirty water
Shake everything up, then drain off the dirty water and assess the condition of the rope. If the rope is very dirty, you may need to soak it again.
4 - Use a string cleaner
To clean the rope properly, you can use a rope cleaner, a very popular accessory in climbing circles. It's a kind of cylinder with a brush inside that costs a few dollars. Pass the brush through the middle and pull. If necessary, repeat the operation.
5 - Rinse ropes thoroughly
Once the rope has been partially cleaned, rinse thoroughly with clean water. If necessary, change the water two or three times. At this stage, you should already be able to see the difference.
6 - Put them in the washing machine
For a real clean, it's now time to put the rope in the washing machine. To avoid damaging it, put it in a delicate laundry bag.
Then set your machine to a slow cycle and a fairly low temperature. Don't exceed 140° F (60° C), as a high temperature could damage the rope fibers.
7 - Add fabric softener
Add fabric softener at the right moment during the cycle. As well as making your rope smell better, it will soften it and make it easier to use.
8 - Don't use a dryer
WARNING: never use a dryer. Here again, the heat of the dryer could damage the rope fibers, and simply spinning without water in the drum is also dangerous for the rope.
9 - Dry in the sun
Opt for slow drying, on a line, if possible in the sun. You'll probably have to wait 24 hours before your ropes are dry.
10 - Enjoy « almost » new ropes
And there you have it. If you've followed the steps correctly, you should have virtually new lines. For our example, we've chosen a very dirty string that's been abandoned for many years. In the case of a rope that's not in such a dramatic state, this works perfectly and will save you having to change your mooring line or halyard every two or three years.
