Cotton ropes

[koukouvagia]

What’s the best way of cleaning cotton rope?

 

I’ve got a rather elaborate swan’s neck made from cotton line on the butty. I’d like to restore its pristine white look but I’m not sure how to go about it. I know that washing or scrubbing cotton line makes it go all furry. I’ve used plimsole whitener on the hose pipes on the cratch, but I’m reluctant to use this on decorative rope work. How did the old boatmen do it?

[Chris Pink]

What’s the best way of cleaning cotton rope?

 

I’ve got a rather elaborate swan’s neck made from cotton line on the butty. I’d like to restore its pristine white look but I’m not sure how to go about it. I know that washing or scrubbing cotton line makes it go all furry. I’ve used plimsole whitener on the hose pipes on the cratch, but I’m reluctant to use this on decorative rope work. How did the old boatmen do it?

 

Apparently solely scrubbing with water, but I don't think this is possible if they've gone green or have mildew. Mildew will never come out but the green will go if you scrub with clean water. It is said that they never used pipclay or any other whitener.

[Naughty Cal]

The stuff olds use for cleaning their false teeth. Works on anything white.

[alan_fincher]

The stuff olds use for cleaning their false teeth.

Why a distinction ? Do "youngs" unfortunate enough to have false teeth either use something different, or leave them uncleaned ?

[RLWP]

Why a distinction ? Do "youngs" unfortunate enough to have false teeth either use something different, or leave them uncleaned ?

 

Now I can see why you have decided not to run that "Alan Fincher Fan Club" thread Phylis.

 

Richard

[Naughty Cal]

Shall we try it a little more PC this time so as not to offend any youngs with false teeth.

 

The stuff folks with false teeth use to clean their teeth.

[blackrose]

What’s the best way of cleaning cotton rope?

 

I’ve got a rather elaborate swan’s neck made from cotton line on the butty. I’d like to restore its pristine white look but I’m not sure how to go about it. I know that washing or scrubbing cotton line makes it go all furry. I’ve used plimsole whitener on the hose pipes on the cratch, but I’m reluctant to use this on decorative rope work. How did the old boatmen do it?

 

I heard that putting rope into a pillow case and chucking it in the washing machine does it, but never tried it myself - my washing machine is too small!

[carlt]

The stuff folks with false teeth use to clean their teeth.

Brillo pads?

[Naughty Cal]

Brillo pads?

 

No the little tablet things

 

Also supposed to be good for net curtains

Edited July 15, 2009 by Phylis

[Graham_Robinson]

No the little tablet things

 

Also supposed to be good for net curtains

 

Glo White

[Naughty Cal]

Glo White

 

Dont know. I aint got false teeth

[Graham_Robinson]

I heard that putting rope into a pillow case and chucking it in the washing machine does it, but never tried it myself - my washing machine is too small!

 

Washing machine, hot wash, rope in cotton bag/pillowcase not essential but saves a lot of tangling, packet or two of glo white.

Then dry naturally, can take a day or two. No tumble dryers please.

 

Ropes come up like new. You don't want to do it too often as the fibres will start coming apart. A little bit of preventive maintenance now and again is best. I'd love to know how often they were cleaned and replaced in working times.Was the fancy work cut from old cotton towing lines?

 

Certain people I know are investigating a supply of 8/10mm cotton line in 100' lengths, maybe if the certain people are reading this post they might be able to let me know how their investigations are going, if indeed they are going. I hope that's diplomatic enough

 

 

 

Dont know. I aint got false teeth

 

You will have if you keep this up

 

Oops where's the edit button :lol:

Edited July 15, 2009 by sparky2

[dove]

 

 

Certain people I know are investigating a supply of 8/10mm cotton line in 100' lengths, maybe if the certain people are reading this post they might be able to let me know how their investigations are going, if indeed they are going. I hope that's diplomatic enough

 

 

 

http://www.mudfords.co.uk/products/rope-+-...on/Cotton-Rope/

 

Like this

 

Andrew

[Graham_Robinson]

Very much like that, only spun in the north in a mill near Stockport. Do you see where I'm coming from now :lol:

 

Have you tried Mudfords rope yerself Andy? Reason for sourcing an alternative supply to the 'regular suppliers' from the Midlands( diplomacy again, can't last with me!) is that the latest stuff falls apart quite quickly when cleaning, the fibres pull out of the yarn too easily.You end up with a scrubbing brush full of dog hairs!

So certain people having been trying to find somebody to knit rope for us. Could end up like the cans thread this. Please god no........................

Edited July 15, 2009 by sparky2

[dove]

Very much like that, only spun in the north in a mill near Stockport. Do you see where I'm coming from now :lol:

 

Have you tried Mudfords rope yerself Andy? Reason for sourcing an alternative supply to the 'regular suppliers' from the Midlands( diplomacy again, can't last with me!) is that the latest stuff falls apart quite quickly when cleaning, the fibres pull out of the yarn too easily.You end up with a scrubbing brush full of dog hairs!

So certain people having been trying to find somebody to knit rope for us. Could end up like the cans thread this. Please god no........................

 

I use them for sisal and manilla ropes but not cotton....yet. could get a smple and see what happens to it.

 

Andrew

[Naughty Cal]

You will have if you keep this up

 

Oops where's the edit button :lol:

 

Is that possible on-line

[Guest User]

Another vote for the washing machine .. my neighbour put his ropes through the washing machine and they came out all sparkly white.

 

Personally though, I'm happy with grey ropes ... hides the dirt better

[Naughty Cal]

Another vote for the washing machine .. my neighbour put his ropes through the washing machine and they came out all sparkly white.

 

Personally though, I'm happy with grey ropes ... hides the dirt better

 

Black ropes are even better

[LEO]

Hi KK,

 

Another set of 'brilliant' answers, a photo of the delicate ropework would help maybe and then posters could see the problem.

 

Leo

 

PS I would hang the item up, paint on some soft low temp washing powder, leave it for a while and then carefully rise it off and then air dry it well and store it carefully. Second mortgage job if you had a new one made.

[RLWP]

Second mortgage job if you had a new one made.

 

Is that true? I quite enjoy doing a bit of decorative ropework. Is there money in it?

 

Richard

[dove]

Have tried "Vanish crystal white plus" other half soaks our lace work in it. Depends how big your ropework is?

 

Andrew

[LEO]

Is that true? I quite enjoy doing a bit of decorative ropework. Is there money in it?

 

Richard

 

If KK posts a pic it will quickly become apparent that this comes under the heading of 'Advanced Dec. Ropework'. Really nice.

 

ATB

 

Leo.

[Graham_Robinson]

Is that possible on-line

 

 

:lol:

[Phil Ambrose]

What’s the best way of cleaning cotton rope?

 

I’ve got a rather elaborate swan’s neck made from cotton line on the butty. I’d like to restore its pristine white look but I’m not sure how to go about it. I know that washing or scrubbing cotton line makes it go all furry. I’ve used plimsole whitener on the hose pipes on the cratch, but I’m reluctant to use this on decorative rope work. How did the old boatmen do it?

 

 

What’s the best way of cleaning cotton rope?

 

I’ve got a rather elaborate swan’s neck made from cotton line on the butty. I’d like to restore its pristine white look but I’m not sure how to go about it. I know that washing or scrubbing cotton line makes it go all furry. I’ve used plimsole whitener on the hose pipes on the cratch, but I’m reluctant to use this on decorative rope work. How did the old boatmen do it?

 

 

Whoops!!!! not sure what happened there, oh as for rope,I mix up some vanish powder in a bucket and soak rope overnight, hose off in the morning.

[alan_fincher]

What’s the best way of cleaning cotton rope?

 

I’ve got a rather elaborate swan’s neck made from cotton line on the butty. I’d like to restore its pristine white look but I’m not sure how to go about it. I know that washing or scrubbing cotton line makes it go all furry. I’ve used plimsole whitener on the hose pipes on the cratch, but I’m reluctant to use this on decorative rope work. How did the old boatmen do it?

If it's any consolation, from the other side of the cut, it looks perfectly white! (Well with my eyesight, anyway).

 

 

What the hell were you attacking with power tools today - it looked like you were fighting half a steel barrel, (and losing! ......)