FAQ Friday #32 - My mooring lines are looking really grubby – how is best to wash them?

There's a popular myth in the boating world that chucking your ropes in the washing machine is the best way, but our friends at English Braids think otherwise. 

It's much better to hand wash them in a warm dilute soap solution, but this should be rinsed out thoroughly. It’s also possible to wipe ropes with a gentle soap and water solution by running the rope through a cloth. You could even do this a few times over.

Washing the ropes on your boat is best done while there’s still some warmth about to make the drying process easier. Not that I’m suggesting using a length of clothes line to moor up your RIB or bailer twine to secure your dinghy whilst you clean your mooring lines mid summer season!