Stiff dock lines

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I think there was a post a while ago about how to make stiff dock lines flexible again. I can't find it. Does anyone remember what the procedure was? Thanks>
 
I wash them in a duffle bag in the washer. Soak in a bucket with a liquid softener then hang dry outside.
 
Same idea only I don't use the washer, just the 5 gal bucket or plastic tub with hot or warm water, Downy or similar softener ( it doesn't take much), a little Dawn detergent and a couple/few oz. of chlorine bleach. Add the lines, agitate , let it soak, agitate again, drain, rinse & dry before storage. It really does work quite well for most lines, but effectiveness may vary according to age, amount of storm stress to which they've been subjected... and maybe type of line.
 
We use fabric softner also. Warm bucket of water with the fabeic softner added and a overnight soak.Then hang them to dry.This seems to keep the lines soft for maybe 3-4 months.
 
.......and they smell nice, too !

RWS
 
If you have a power washer, lay them out and blast them. You sill be surprised how dirty they are. Once they are clean, put the in a 5 gallon pail with fabric softener. Then rinse with hose.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sandy

Same idea only I don't use the washer, just the 5 gal bucket or plastic tub with hot or warm water, Downy or similar softener ( it doesn't take much), a little Dawn detergent and a couple/few oz. of chlorine bleach. Add the lines, agitate , let it soak, agitate again, drain, rinse & dry before storage. It really does work quite well for most lines, but effectiveness may vary according to age, amount of storm stress to which they've been subjected... and maybe type of line.

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I wouldn't use the bleach. No bueno for nylon lines.
 
I dunno, Mike. It hasn't noticeably harmed my lines most of which are close to 10 (!)yrs old, maybe more,without visible fiber-parting and it does prevent any residual weed smell in storage. Of course the Downy alone acts as an air freshener.

The only thing I could find at Dow re effect of bleach on Nylon is a report for effect of chemicals on Nylon brush bristles that mention sodium hypochlorite at 1% has no more effect on nylon than water. That is much higher concentrate than a couple oz of Clorox (~6% sodium hypochlorite)diluted in a 5 gal bucket or tub of water. There are however other ingredients in Clorox at lower %( other than water). I do rinse with strong spray.

But here is NE Ropes suggestion for cleaning lines: Just water , mild detergent , optional small amount of fabric softener. http://www.neropes.com/PR/RopeRetirementQuestions.pdf

Interesting to note that water may temporarily reduce strength of nylon rope/lines up to 20%.
 
I soak mine in detergent for a few days, then put them in a mesh bag and wash them in my washing machine with more detergent and fabric softener. I have a front loading washing machine and found that they didn't stay submerged long enough to do any good without the pre soak.

I would not use any form of bleach. Bleach can weaken the lines and a dirty, stiff line is preferable to a clean white supple line that fails under load.

Don't put them in the dryer, let them air dry.
 
Do not put them in the washer! But the softner ideas are good!
 
I always washed them along with some dirty rags or old towels in a washing machine with hat water and detergent. Then I would soak the clean lines in fabric softener overnight then run spread them out in the sun to thoroughly dry. I also did this with my anchor rode: remove from chain and proceed as above.

I did that for 30 yrs without ever having a problem; lines would last about 10 yrs.
 
I soak in my cooler with fabric softner and soap.
After Sandy all my lines were covered in oil, gas, dirt, etc.
Got them all nice.
 
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