Cleaning lines

[Stuart 28-2]

Asking for best way to clean lines. Any and all lines really but currently working on running rigging lines. Currently putting lines in a bucket with warm water and Dawn, letting it soak a while, and just working it by hand. Of course, it's slow and labor intensive hence the request for advice.

 

[Loren Beach]

I like my lazy plan -- put the line(s) into a mesh "laundry bag" and wash in cool water with mild soap in our front-loader machine. Air dry them. No bleach, I should note, out of concern for harming the line material. There are likely several "best" ways to accomplish this, BTW.

One of many threads found by Searching on 'washing halyards' : https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/messenger-line-how-tos.11794/#post-179843

 

[JSM]

Doing mine as we speak. Soaking in hot water and Oxy clean for 24hrs. and then in the wash machine on delicate with detergent and more Oxy Clean. They come out of the spin cycle almost dry.
Very happy with results.

 

[ky ed]

Oxi clean is my recommendation also

 

[KS Dave]

I also had good success cleaning lines with my front load washer using a "free" detergent+oxi clean. I put each line by itself in a larger mesh bag and that helped avoid tangles.

Be sure to run a cleaning cycle on the washing machine after you're done, or the Admiral might have something to say about the funky smell...

 

[Kenneth K]

Just ran a load of 5 dock lines in the washing machine. Pre-soaked each in oxy-clean for 24 hours first. Then coiled each line separately and put a zip-tie around each coil to keep it from unraveling. Came out of the washer clean, coiled, and with no kinks or twists.

 

[Angel D.]

I'll have to agree too. Washer or bucket, it's all good.
All of this methods seem efficient. Although I may add fabric softener, had no negative issues with softener till the present. And ended up with more manageable lines.

 

[frick]

I always did the bucket on the deck with dawn. I sailed in salt water, so getting the salt out was the prime goal