Cleaning Sheets / Lines

[morays]

Hi,

I have just finished a 16 day trip offshore and a lot of the lines and sheets are showing signs of discoloration and are stiff from salt water intrusion.
Can anyone give me guidance on the best way to bring them back to life?
Is a cold wash in a washing machine OK? Can I use a mild detergent like Woolite?
Unfortunately I have just taken ownership of the boat and so I am not sure who manufactures the lines/sheets on the boat so I cannot check their website for best practices.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Moray

[Carver406]

Try soaking them in fabric softener.

[Pete7]

Yes, though I chuck mine in on a low warm wash with normal clothes washing powder, bio something what ever Viv has bought that week.

Does it do any harm? haven't noticed any yet and it makes the sheets really soft and clean.

Pete

[theonecalledtom]

Same (gentle wash in a normal machine) worked great for us too, run better on the winches too used to ride over themselves with all the friction when we first got the boat!

[Blue Stocking]

My rigger suggests a double rinse if you use any detergent. The smallest residue can become slippery when wet.

[morays]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the quick responses. Low temp wash and Woolite it is and a double rinse

[Kefaa]

To keep yourself from untangling spaghetti - put each into a lingerie bag. I did as suggested - put them through the wash after soaking them in a 5 gallon bucket of warm water and simply green. Everything washed out and feels good.

[Sailmonkey]

whatever you do, don't put them in the washer with the agitator running!!!! I thought I'd outsmart the mainsheet on my catamaran and make it nice and soft.........the only thing I succeded in doing was making a 50' tightly wound bundle of mainsheet dreadlock.

[MarkJ]

Just go for another 16 day passage. A bit of spray'll clean em right up.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Kefaa

To keep yourself from untangling spaghetti - put each into a lingerie bag. I did as suggested - put them through the wash after soaking them in a 5 gallon bucket of warm water and simply green. Everything washed out and feels good.

Ice climbers have to wash ropes, they have to maintain strength, grip and safety, and they have to control the effects of moisture (to prevent frozen ropes). Fabric softener, IMHO, is a waste because it is DESIGNED to rinse out with the first rain. The softening is a false impression.

Try this, a product MADE for this purpose:
Sail Delmarva: Line Washing

Regarding tangles, simply daisy chain the rope. Works every time and helps reduce sheath slippage. Dry by laying it on the floor.

Note 1: Simple Green is too alkaline and may be dangerous; in any case it is a degreaser and your ropes are not greasy. Laundry detergent is better (Woolite is pointless - laundry detergents were developed for polyester).

Note 2: NEVER wash a rope within the first year. As strange as it seems, the core can come right through the sheath. Daisy chaining helps, but don't do it.

Note3: And avoid rotary agitators. Tumbling is OK and a bucket/plunger is OK.

Better yet, go for another sail and forget it. I wash my ice climbing ropes but NEVER the lines on my boat.

[bpappas]

Any one have experience with McNett ReviveX Rope Wash?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, bpappas.

I wouldn’t bother with any “specialised” product. Most manufacturers recommend a mild detergent.

[barnakiel]

water+soap+washing machine will do the trick

set for gentle fabrics, low temp

b.

[Gaucho Marino]

Use a front loader washer, it seems to work better.