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bobwasinki
Aug 6, 2008, 7:40 AM
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SO I have been climbing for a bit and invested in a rope 2 months ago. I have used it a good bit, probably on 7 outings or so. I am (usually) good with rope care. I decided to do research before cleaning my rope. I used a small amount detergent (about 1/4 of what I would use in a wash, but put in a big bathtub). let it sit in lukewarm water for about 15 min. little did i know that the unmarked bag of had color safe bleach in it. am i stressing too much about this? i rinsed it thoroughly when I found out soon afterwards about the detergent. is this something I should just keep in mind when determining when to retire my rope, or should I just toss it?
Thanks for the help everyone
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rocketsocks
Aug 6, 2008, 9:16 AM
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Color safe bleach is not bleach at all, it's typically just surfactants and enzymes (the same as many detergents). More than likely your rope is fine. But you should do enough research to determine that on your own, don't take my word for it. You might want to contact your rope manufacturer and tell them exactly what product you used to wash your rope and whether they think that would damage the rope (more than likely they'll say that they can't make recommendations about rope conditions when using anything other than the exact specified care instructions).
It might be helpful to post the exact product you used as well as the listed ingredients on the container.
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chossmonkey
Aug 6, 2008, 11:31 AM
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bobwasinki wrote: I decided to do research before cleaning my rope.
Whether it has bleach or not, "detergent" is pretty harsh. If you are going to use something designed to wash clothes use Woolite.
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chossmonkey
Aug 6, 2008, 11:57 AM
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I think Beal makes a similar product.
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mtselman
Aug 6, 2008, 2:13 PM
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bobwasinki wrote: SO I have been climbing for a bit and invested in a rope 2 months ago. I have used it a good bit, probably on 7 outings or so. I am (usually) good with rope care. I decided to do research before cleaning my rope. I used a small amount detergent (about 1/4 of what I would use in a wash, but put in a big bathtub). let it sit in lukewarm water for about 15 min. little did i know that the unmarked bag of had color safe bleach in it. am i stressing too much about this? i rinsed it thoroughly when I found out soon afterwards about the detergent. is this something I should just keep in mind when determining when to retire my rope, or should I just toss it? Thanks for the help everyone
What made you decide to wash a rope after just 7 outings? I have not ever washed any of my ropes and some of them are about 7-8 years old (those older ones are retired to a top-rope status only)
(I don't use rope-bag/tarp either...)
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markc
Aug 6, 2008, 2:27 PM
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chossmonkey wrote: bobwasinki wrote: I decided to do research before cleaning my rope. Doesn't really sound like it. Whether it has bleach or not, "detergent" is pretty harsh. If you are going to use something designed to wash clothes use Woolite.
I contacted Blue Water ages ago and asked if Woolite would be appropriate for washing my rope. (Like the OP, I washed before asking.) The rep said that's what she used for her ropes. I wouldn't use detergent, and I wouldn't climb on the rope until you get a definitive answer from the manufacturer. As others have said, give them very detailed product information.
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AlexCV
Aug 6, 2008, 2:32 PM
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mtselman wrote: What made you decide to wash a rope after just 7 outings? I have not ever washed any of my ropes and some of them are about 7-8 years old (those older ones are retired to a top-rope status only) (I don't use rope-bag/tarp either...)
I'm not the OP, but I got 3 ropes and I do wash one of them semi-regularly. My gym rope still looks new. My thin dry lead rope is dark and looks fairly clean/new. My cheap top-rope is fat non-dry, light orange and turns to a light brown after a few weeks of climbing (in the dirt, mud and slabs that are typical here). I wash it about twice a year in hot water only, it needs it.
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rtwilli4
Aug 6, 2008, 2:59 PM
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I can't give you a definitive answer about your rope but I can tell you what I would do:
Make a rug out of your rope, buy a new one, and next time think twice about dumping an "unmarked" bag of powder in the bathtub with your rope.
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dingus
Aug 6, 2008, 3:04 PM
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So what's the problem again? You got fake bleach on your rope?
Bleach itself doesn't harm nylon anyway, does it?
I think you can use any ole detergent on a nylon rope and it won't hurt it one friggin bit.
But I'm just a dude on the internet?
BTW, do you have a cleaning fetish or something?
DMT
ps. Bluewater says don't do it!
"Never use bleach or bleach substitutes when washing your ropes."
They don't say why though.
(This post was edited by dingus on Aug 6, 2008, 3:07 PM)
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angry
Aug 6, 2008, 3:06 PM
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dingus wrote: So what's the problem again? You got fake bleach on your rope? Bleach itself doesn't harm nylon anyway, does it? I think you can use any ole detergent on a nylon rope and it won't hurt it one friggin bit. But I'm just a dude on the internet? BTW, do you have a cleaning fetish or something? DMT
Ur gonna die!!11
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robbovius
Aug 6, 2008, 3:31 PM
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OMFG. a 15 minute soak in detergent isn't going to hurt a climbing rope appreiciably enough to give two shits. oh BTW, 7 times is NOT even close to alot of use. I recently just washed my lead rope after 4 years of use (with a gentle clothes soap called "Eco-ver" or something...same shit as woolite reading the bottle)
maybe if you poured full-strength chlorine bleach on the rope, or soaked it in gasoline, then I'd think twice about climbing on it...btu a 145 minute soak in lukewarm water and some small about of powdered detergnet? tell you what, send the rope to me, and I'll test it for you.
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billcoe_
Aug 6, 2008, 4:32 PM
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AlexCV wrote: I wash it about twice a year in hot water only, it needs it.
No rope needs to be washed in hot water. Cold water dude! Cold! Like the Mfgs say. Cold water with a small amount of Woolite, do an extra rinse if your concerned.
Did it shrink?
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AlexCV
Aug 6, 2008, 9:24 PM
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Nope, it still raps down a full 30m. I decided to use hot water based on this comment: http://www.rockclimbing.com/...post=1683255#1683255
I'll qualify the shrinkage by noting that I didn't measure it before or after. So it doesn't seem to be any shorter. Might be 1-3% shorter and I wouldn't really notice, with top-ropes it's either long enough or it's not and you can always extend the anchor if it's a tad short.
(This post was edited by AlexCV on Aug 6, 2008, 9:29 PM)
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gunkiemike
Aug 6, 2008, 9:25 PM
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Wow, so much inaccurate information here.
Woolite *is* detergent (check the MSDS). So is Ivory Snow. Soap is obsolete as a cleanser; it doesn't rinse out well and is incompatible with hard water. If you insist, buy a bar of Fels Naphtha and grate that into the water.
Color safe bleach *is* bleach. It's oxygen-based rather than chlorine-based. IIRC it is only effective in hot water, the claims for All Temperature Cheer notwithstanding. So maybe it wasn't active in your "lukewarm" exercise. Still, Bluewater's advice is troubling and if I were in your shoes, I'd probably downrate that rope to toproping only duty and treat my self to a new cord. And I'd let it get dirty. 
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majid_sabet
Aug 6, 2008, 9:29 PM
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I washed my ropes ( I got like 3000 feet of it) always with cold water without adding any other chemicals to it.
COLD
COLD
COLD WATTAAAA
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AlexCV
Aug 6, 2008, 9:30 PM
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majid_sabet wrote: I washed my ropes ( I got like 3000 feet of it) always with cold water without adding any other chemicals to it. COLD COLD COLD WATTAAAA
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the_climber
Aug 6, 2008, 10:12 PM
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Whatever happened to just washing a rope in the tub full or a bucket full of plain tap water with a rope brush?
That's done both my caving and climbing ropes just fine for almost 15 years, I'm sure nothing needs to be added to the water.
(This post was edited by the_climber on Aug 6, 2008, 10:14 PM)
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vegastradguy
Aug 6, 2008, 10:32 PM
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billcoe_ wrote: AlexCV wrote: I wash it about twice a year in hot water only, it needs it. No rope needs to be washed in hot water. Cold water dude! Cold! Like the Mfgs say. Cold water with a small amount of Woolite, do an extra rinse if your concerned. Did it shrink?
if sterlingjim says hot water is fine for washing ropes, i'll go ahead and take that advice.....
i've been washing my ropes in hot water with a touch of woolite for years now. i'm not dead yet! (at least, i think i'm not dead.....)
to the OP- definitely contact a rope mfg. for info. personally, i'd retire it, mostly because i have a personal rule of: if i find myself thinking about whether or not something is still safe, i retire it. i dont need the aggravation 1000' up....
(This post was edited by vegastradguy on Aug 6, 2008, 10:35 PM)
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MikeSaint
Aug 7, 2008, 3:20 AM
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Majid,
Having to wash 3000 feet of rope must be a real pain in the ass. What do you use- large water tank hand washed or top loading washers? Something similar?
(This post was edited by MikeSaint on Aug 7, 2008, 4:12 AM)
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robdotcalm
Aug 7, 2008, 3:24 AM
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Every time there's a thread on cleaning ropes mention is made of "gentle soap" vs. "harsh detergents". I've never seen any evidence introduced as to what this means in regard to cleaning ropes. In other words, is there any data supporting the use of one or the other.
Cheers,
Rob.calm
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markc
Aug 7, 2008, 3:49 AM
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The following is from Bluewater Ropes:
In reply to: A rope must be retired earlier if: •it has held a major fall approaching fall factor 2 or above. •manual inspection indicates damage to the core •the sheath is excessively abraded or badly glazed •it has been in contact with any chemicals containing acids,alkalies,oxidizing agents or bleaching compounds Do not allow the rope to contact chemical agents containing acids, alkalies, oxidizing agents or bleaching compounds which can destroy the fibers without visible evidence.(FIGURE9) Avoid unnecessary exposure to UV.Store the rope in a cool,shaded place away from dampness and direct heat.(FIGURE10) Wash dirty ropes in clear cold water. Mild soap can be used to remove oils. Particularly dirty areas may be scrubbed with a soft brush.(FIGURE11)
Emphasis is mine. Unfortunately, the manufacturers aren't getting more specific than we are. I don't know of formal studies with various detergents and the like. Admittedly, I haven't done much research.
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seatbeltpants
Aug 7, 2008, 5:40 AM
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what are ya'll getting on your ropes that requires soap / detergent to remove anyway? and how clean exactly do you need your ropes to be?
sminch
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curt
Aug 7, 2008, 6:12 AM
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billcoe_ wrote: ...No rope needs to be washed in hot water. Cold water dude! Cold! Like the Mfgs say. Cold water with a small amount of Woolite, do an extra rinse if your concerned. Did it shrink?
Hmmm, my rope always seems to shrink in cold water...
Curt
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dingus
Aug 7, 2008, 3:23 PM
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Do female climbers know about shrinkage?
DMT
(This post was edited by dingus on Aug 7, 2008, 3:23 PM)
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