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Sticky Rope

Original Post
chris7 · · Denver, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 10

The other day I washed my rope. I put it in the washing machine with a small amount of woolite as recommended by Mammut. I took it out to climb after it was dry and my belayer could tell it was sticky by the jerky lower of the grigri. I felt the rope which was sticky and he realized his hands were too. Thinking that maybe the detergent was still in it I put it in the rinse cycle 3 more times and it is better but still sticky. I have washed it like this before and it was fine. Any ideas as to why this happened or how to make it better?

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
chris7 wrote:The other day I washed my rope. I put it in the washing machine with a small amount of woolite as recommended by Mammut. I took it out to climb after it was dry and my belayer could tell it was sticky by the jerky lower of the grigri. I felt the rope which was sticky and he realized his hands were too. Thinking that maybe the detergent was still in it I put it in the rinse cycle 3 more times and it is better but still sticky. I have washed it like this before and it was fine. Any ideas as to why this happened or how to make it better?
I dont know the answer to your question, however you do not need to use soap, ever. Just water is fine. I have seen ropes coated in mud that came out looking new from the washer with water alone. Also use caution in washing a rope in a top loading machine, the agitator can accelerate wear as the rope can get tangled around it. A front loading washier is a much better option. If you must use a top loading washer, putting the rope in a pillow case will severally reduce any wear that could be caused by the agitator, but it wont get as clean, so your choice.
Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245

Did you make sure you run a cycle or two w/ nothing in the washer before hand to remove all residue? If not (or even if you did), you could have gotten anything on your rope. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think it's silly to put something you trust your life to in a machine that has held God knows how many different substances.

SKI Ski · · Portlandia, OR · Joined May 2010 · Points: 15
Ryan Williams wrote: I think it's silly to put something you trust your life to in a machine that has held God knows how many different substances.
That's what they told me when I was dating her... But man, I didn't listen.
Samo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 0

If a pillow case would prevent it getting washed as thoroughly, try a mesh bag.

kovacs69 · · Dallas, TX · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 1,025

I have been washing my ropes in washing machines for more than 20 years now and have never had a problem. Top load and front load. I do have to say the front load is way easier. I always run a couple of cycles with nothing in the washer just to clean it out first and I do not use any soap or detergent on the rope. They always come out great...not sticky.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
John Wilder wrote: and 20kn, there are occasions when soap is necessary when washing a rope- if you need to use soap, though, make sure to use a non-detergent based soap such as Woolite or Sterling's rope wash.
When have you needed soap? I suppose if you got oil or grease on the rope you would need soap, but your rope shouldent be around those type of items in the first place. :)
Aric Datesman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 145
20 kN wrote: When have you needed soap?
Pine sap and poison ivy come to mind.
Kevin Craig · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 325

If the entire rope is uniformly sticky, I'd be very worried that something that was in the washer has affected the nylon yarn that the rope is woven from. if you can wash the stickiness off, I'd be a little bit reassured. Otherwise, I think I'd retire it.

kovacs69 · · Dallas, TX · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 1,025
Aric Datesman wrote: Pine sap and poison ivy come to mind.
Both come off after a wash in just plain water. I get into both regularly in SE Oklahoma.

JB
RMT · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 0

It's not the machine. I just did the same thing (woolite and cold water), but by hand in a clean plastic tub and it too is now sticky. Has anyone used the Nikwax rope waterproofing treatment? I wonder if that would solve it.

Pine Sap · · Estes Park, CO · Joined Feb 2007 · Points: 7,190

A few years ago I had a Mammut Galaxy 10.2 dry treated rope that I began using for ice climbing. As my leading rope for rock climbing it had never gotten wet. One warm day I was rappelling down an icy gully with lots of melt water running. When the rope dried out at home, it had a sticky feel and a residue would come off on your hand. The next time I used it for rappelling, I could barely get the rope to feed through the descender under my body weight. EMS sent it back to Mammut for evaluation and they never did come up with an explanation. They did replace the rope. I think it had something to do with the dry treatment.

Aric Datesman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 145
kovacs69 wrote: Both come off after a wash in just plain water. I get into both regularly in SE Oklahoma. JB
Not doubting you, but urushiol (the poison ivy oil) is not water soluble so most likely all a water wash does is spread it around/dilute it. For that matter, I've never had much luck with using water on pine sap either. Perhaps my water has less chemicals in it? ;-)
chris7 · · Denver, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 10

I can't say what caused it for sure but I think the woolite didn't rinse all the way out. I put my rope in the gentle cycle in the washing machine(both wash and rinse) on WARM this time instead of cold. I can't say for sure but I felt it this morning and it was mostly dry and the stickiness seems to have gone away comletely as far as I could tell.

I feel confident that the rope is fine now. If it wasn't going away I would definitely retire it.

If in fact the stickiness comes back or I realize it is stil there I will post an update but I believe the problem is cured.

RMT · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 0

Chris - Let us know if it worked after it's completely dry. It took my rope days to dry and it really wasn't sticky until then.

chris7 · · Denver, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 10

My rope has had 2 full days to dry and is definitely not wet anymore. Soap in the rope could explain a longer drying time. As far as I can tell the stickiness is completely gone. I ran the whole rope through my hands when I put it away and my hands were not sticky afterward like they were before. I was slightly paranoid so I washed my hands to make sure I didn't see any difference from touching the rope and it appears to be the same. I am going to use the rope this weekend and I am sure I will be able to see if there is a difference after a day of belaying and climbing.

chris7 · · Denver, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 10

As for a final update- It seems fine. I climbed with it over the weekend and didn't have any problems. I completely forgot about the issue until I remebered I wanted to really test it. I even lowered myself with a grigri 2 and I belive any jerkiness came from me and not the rope. RMT, I would try warm water. Hope it works for you

Jamie M · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2023 · Points: 0

Have a modern outdoor chair that uses rope as it's weave and have the same problem. Think it indicates wear.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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