Cleaning Sheets and Lines

[Ken Prichard]

Cleaning lines

I put mine in the washing machine with Tide and Downy.I don't use bleach and I don't use the dryer. They look and feel great.

 

[BarryL]

Hello,The sheets and lines on my 'new to me' boat appear tobe in good condition, but are very dirty. Is there asimply way of cleaning them to make them look better?I don't think I should use bleach on them. Will someTide mixed with water and a bucket do anything, or isthat just a waste of time?Thanks,Barry

 

[Seattle Scott]

Dirty Sheets

Other have reported putting the lines in a mesh bag and running them through the washing machine with whatever soap your better half has stocked the laundry room with, then line dry(pun).

 

[swampjack]

cleaning lines

I use automatic dishawasher detergent, enough for one load and a 1/2 cup of Oxy clean in enough warm water to cover lines. Agitate evrytime tou remember, soak for 24 hours and rinse. they will be like new!

 

[Steve Z]

Try your pressure washer

I accidently discoverd that my pressure washer cleans my lines and lifeline cushions very effectively. I use it at about 20" distance, and notice no damage to the materials. Very fast!

 

[John Andre]

Cleaning Sheets

I have simply cleaned my sheets in the washing machine, gentle cycle, using All Oxi-Active. It seperates the grime perfectly. But the machine will not be able to rinse the sludge away. Simply lay out the sheet and spray away sludge with a garden hose.

 

[John Andre]

Buy new lines

buy new lines

 

[Andy26M]

A piece of trivia ...

Salt water itself can work to brighten/whiten soiled materials. Back in the day, sailors' white clothes would tend to get grey and dingy looking from the ship's laundry during long cruises (inferior detergent along with washing everything together at the wrong temperatures...).One solution was to put the whites in a mesh bag and tow it over the stern for an hour or so, then rinse out the salt with fresh water. It worked! This method would also take a thoroughly soiled deck swab and make it ready for another round of heavy use.The same trick could be used for big mooring lines and such, but they would just be towed along - and the pilot house had to be in full concurrence and kept abreast of the process, as backing down over your own mooring lines is considered rather un-seamanlike!

 

[Rick Webb]

Camping Solution

I've used a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and a whole drilled in the lid that allows a plunger to be inserted and used as an agitator. Run them through three times, once with detergent and bleach, then with plain water the last with fabric softner. I like the washing machine better but my wife won't let me use it for lines.

 

[Gilligan17279]

Pickle them!

When I was a young lad on the Miami River, we were tought to use a vinegar and fresh water solution on sheets and canvas. This prevented mildew,usually mixed one cup vinegar per gallon of water. Then put into a hand pump sprayer. It wont hurt to try it!