Rope Washing

Time to wash my 10 mm semi-static, non-dry. What methods do people prefer to wash and dry?

(I’m leaning toward daisy chaining and throwing it in my regular front loading washing machine with some Sterling rope wash then just hanging up to dry).

Washing a rope is a waste of time.

https://www.mountainproject.com/search?q=rope+washing&type=forums

Tone Locwrote:

 then just hanging up to dry).

Usually manufacturers recommend against hanging up. Just lay it out on the floor in a dry and shady place. 

FrankPSwrote:

Washing a rope is a waste of time.

Most, including me, would disagree. 

Marc801 Cwrote:

Most, including me, would disagree. 

Good to know.

FrankPSwrote:

Washing a rope is a waste of time.

I rap on it a lot and it’s turning my hands black every time I touch it.

Biggi Elwrote:

Usually manufacturers recommend against hanging up. Just lay it out on the floor in a dry and shady place. 

I’ve never heard this. It’s not like he’s hanging it out in the sun for days.

Flaked over a door is how I do it.

Laying on the floor, unless it’s an extremely dry spot, seems like a way to get mildew.

Tone Locwrote:

I’m leaning toward daisy chaining and throwing it in my regular front loading washing machine with some Sterling rope wash then just hanging up to dry.

This is what I did. Hung it on the fence to dry. Worked fine.

Supposedly it’s better to flake it out flat to dry. Not sure why. 

there are some horror stories for washing down specifically of lingering bleach/detergent damaging nice puffies, so I’d be very leery of using a non dedicated washing machine for a rope. And who has one of those? IMHO the risk of residual stain remover/bleach/heavy duty detergent is too high for me, so I’ve just used my bathtub after rinsing extensively. Also however there’s very little information if rope actually will be affected by even dunking it in strong detergent so there’s that. All the usual MP TLAs apply: YMMV & YGD and all that. 

Climbing Weaselwrote:

there are some horror stories for washing down specifically of lingering bleach/detergent damaging nice puffies, so I’d be very leery of using a non dedicated washing machine for a rope. 

I have been washing my ropes forever.  Never had a problem, but I never wash it after a load with bleach (I wait at least 2 non-bleach cycles and I rinse the bleach compartment, and I do my regular laundry with a pretty mild detergent - All Free & Clear - and I always do a second rinse for my regular laundry. So I'm pretty comfortable that my washing machine is contaminant free.

OP - I wash in front loader on delicate/cold cycle with nikwax tech wash with low spin. I don't bother with daisy chain. To dry I loop over towel racks in a bathroom to dry.  It usually takes a couple of days to dry completely.  I've never noticed any stretching, ropes usually shrink a bit when you wash them.

Thank you all who responded. Very helpful!

phylp phylpwrote:

I have been washing my ropes forever.  Never had a problem, but I never wash it after a load with bleach (I wait at least 2 non-bleach cycles and I rinse the bleach compartment, and I do my regular laundry with a pretty mild detergent - All Free & Clear - and I always do a second rinse for my regular laundry. So I'm pretty comfortable that my washing machine is contaminant free.

OP - I wash in front loader on delicate/cold cycle with nikwax tech wash with low spin. I don't bother with daisy chain. To dry I loop over towel racks in a bathroom to dry.  It usually takes a couple of days to dry completely.  I've never noticed any stretching, ropes usually shrink a bit when you wash them.

Washing your ropes is not a waste of time—that’s objectively bad advice from Frank.

I agree with Phylp here on ensuring no contaminants and disagree on daisy chaining. I find that I end up with a tangled kinky mess if I don’t daisy chain. I’ve used sterling, and it works well but I hate the single use packets.  I’ve used the Beal rope wash too which comes in a liter jug or something. More often, I use nothing. Just water and agitation leaves me with a rope that looks practically new.

I use a front loading washer, delicate cycle with a medium or high spin cycle. I find that my ropes dry in a day or so laid out on a tarp on the ground. 

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsionwrote:

I’ve never heard this. It’s not like he’s hanging it out in the sun for days.

Flaked over a door is how I do it.

Laying on the floor, unless it’s an extremely dry spot, seems like a way to get mildew.

Copied straight from the Edelrid rope care knowledge base:

To dry your rope – don't hang it up and avoid direct sunlight. The best way to dry it is to spread it out on the ground in a cool, dark place.

Slim Pickenswrote:

 disagree on daisy chaining. I find that I end up with a tangled kinky mess if I don’t daisy chain.

You are of course completely correct, but I find it strangely satisfying, even meditative, to untangle all the knots and kinks.  I find the process of unweaving the mess is quite pleasurable.

FrankPSwrote:

Washing a rope is a waste of time.

You seem to specialize in being confidently incorrect. 

I daisy chain mine, put it in a big mesh laundry bag, and wash it in cold water in the washer. Front or top loading, same deal. Even with just water only it's amazing what a difference in makes. If the rope is really, really filthy I'll fill a tub with cold water and a very small amount of dish soap and go over it a few times with a rope brush to loosen up things better. Rinse and repeat until the water isn't so dark and dirty anymore. Then, I run it through the washer with cold water only and hang it to dry still daisy chained.

phylp phylpwrote:

You are of course completely correct, but I find it strangely satisfying, even meditative, to untangle all the knots and kinks.  I find the process of unweaving the mess is quite pleasurable.

Love that for you. No sarcasm. 

Cosmic Hotdogwrote:

You seem to specialize in being confidently incorrect. 

I daisy chain mine, put it in a big mesh laundry bag, and wash it in cold water in the washer. Front or top loading, same deal. Even with just water only it's amazing what a difference in makes. If the rope is really, really filthy I'll fill a tub with cold water and a very small amount of dish soap and go over it a few times with a rope brush to loosen up things better. Rinse and repeat until the water isn't so dark and dirty anymore. Then, I run it through the washer with cold water only and hang it to dry still daisy chained.

Not rope related but holy cow that’s got to be one of the best insults I’ve heard on this app.