Washing Rescue Rope

I'm looking for suggestions on the best way I can/should wash my rescue rope.

It's 2 person rated 1/2 inch New England
KM III, low stretch, kermantle construction, the core is 100% nylon, the sheath is 100% braided polyester, 2 over - 2 under, half Z twists and half S twists.

A salesman wants to sell me:

a) his $50.00 rope washer. It hooks on the end of a garden hose and you pass the rope through it, or

b) his $75.00 rope washer. It works the same way, except it has tiny brushes inside, or

c) his "BEST BUY" a $350.00 "rope cleaning system" that includes a washer (like in B above) that screws onto a garden hose, but has a small hose attached that goes into a bottle of cleaner. (It comes with 3 one gallon jugs of the cleaner).

Some firefighters told me I should just throw it in a washing machine down at the local laundromat.

How do I wash it - how do I dry it?

As far as I know, you can throw it in a washing machine with a mild detergent (I've heard some rope manufactures recomend woolite) on the gentle cycle. Then let air dry in a cool dry area out of direct sunlight.

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Be safe everyone!

We soak ours in a sink of warm water and agitate it first, then run it thru the "astroturf" lined rope washer...I would imagine the washer may cause some major knots..no?

e33:
Where did you get your"astrturf" rope washer from? Does it work good? Is it the "BOKAT" brand?
Thanks,
Al

And if you decide a rope washer is a good idea.....truck on down to the local hardware store and buy the pieces and parts for about $15.00 (including the $5.00 can of pvc glue) and make your own. (minus the brushes)

[This message has been edited by mtnfireguy (edited November 09, 1999).]

The PVC washer does a nice job of rinsing after you soak in in the tub with a little mild detergent. The front loading washer works great if you daisy chain the rope first.. no knots or kinks.

I believe it is from the CMC rescue catalog. It is a green plastic unit which attaches to the garden hose.

e33:

I found the "astroturf" gizmo on CMC's website for $36. I like mtnfireguy's idea too.

Thanks!

Al

IFSTA recommends...."Front-loading washing machines without plastic windows are the best type to use for washing synthetic rope. Front-loaders that have a plastic window are not recommended because the plastic can cause enough friction with the rope during the spin cycle to damage the rope. Top-loaders may also damage the rope during agitation. The washer should be set on the coolest wash/rinse temp. available, and only a small amount of mild soap, if anything, added. The rope can be further protected by putting it in a cloth bag, or it can be coiled into a bird's-nest coil."

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Learn all the jobs, at some point you'll have to do them

Our dept. weaves the rope before washing in the same style as the 1" rescue webbing we carry and we use a mild soap and air dry. The weaving keeps the rope from knotting up in the wash machine. Works great.

I've found the large front loading machine with the rope doubled and then chained (bird nest)
Also, new rope is manufactured with a lubricant to allow fibers to move without causing excess friction within the rope. Washing can remove this lubricant. PMI and other manufacturers recommend the addition of fabric softner (Woolite or others) to replace that lubricant. I use it every time.
The plastic or pcv washers are great for removing caked on mud or surface dirt, but a proper washing through several cycles of wash and rinse is really needed to get the grit out.

Good Luck.....

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Lt. Tom Finch
Union Colony Fire/Rescue Authority Greeley, CO

I have washed as much as 200' of 1/2" in a top loading machine. I double and braid the rope, I add a small amount of detergent to cool water and then add the rope. I stand there as the machine agitates for no more than 5 minutes and then stop the machine so that the rope can soak. I let it soak for about 30 minutes. I then run it through the rinse and drain cyle (not the spin cycle) and then fill it up and agitate again to try and get as much soap off. It's amazing how much "dirt" comes off the second time. Then I take it out and hang it in my garage so it's out of the sun. (tip: do this while your wife is out of town !! )

I've never used the "woolite" but I remeber reading somewhere about the lubricants in the rope needing to be replaced. I will be adding the woolite in the future ! Thanks !

I agree w/ the "commercial rope washers" that are on the market being a good thing for mud and such. I like the hardware store idea though. I can tell you that will work as well as the commercial stuff....

Be safe out there ....
Ron

[This message has been edited by Thumpr (edited December 07, 1999).]