Page 76 - Bob Holtzman "The Field Guide to Knots How to Identify.."

Washing Rope

Rope that’s good enough to keep should be washed when it gets dirty. Rope that
is used in salt water should be soaked in fresh water at least annually to remove
salts, even if it appears clean.

To hand-wash rope, soak it for about 30 minutes in water with liquid dish soap,
then use a scrub brush to remove surface dirt. Soak again and rinse to remove the
soap, then hang it to dry.

Rope can be machine-washed, but do it separately, not in the same load with
your best cocktail dress. Use only a small amount of mild detergent and a small
dose of fabric softener. Set the machine to pre-soak for 30 minutes, or do the
pre-soak in a bucket before placing the rope in the machine. Top-loading
washing machines are your best bet. Some smaller ropes will be okay in a front-
loading washing machine, but large heavy ones will drop and pound alarmingly
in front-loaders.

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