Washing the Rope
The polyester rope washes easily in luke warm soapy water using a hand wash (recommended) or in a clothes wash bag preferably in a front load washing machine (do not wash with other clothes especially if the rope is custom coloured to avoid unwanted colour runs), rinsing off with warm water before air drying inside under a fan for approximately 24 hours or place in a clothes bag into a dryer on low (iron) heat for 20 minutes before air drying under a fan for approximately 4-6 hours. When using a dryer, it is sometimes possible to dry the ropes for longer periods however we recommend only doing this with the custom coloured rope to avoid blow-outs as this rope has been subjected to extended periods in boiling water and is better conditioned to handle the heat from the dryer. It will also help bind the custom colour to the rope fibres.
General Rope Maintenance & Repairs
Always check the rope before and after use for damage especially when used over sharp or rough edges or in conjunction with other implements such as candles, knives, scissors and even long finger nails. Broken ends and most blow-outs can be fixed easily with minimal to no damaged caused to the rope however should there be any broken threads/braids, it is recommended to discard the rope or not use it for suspension work. Blow-outs generally only occur when the rope is dried at prolonged high temperatures.
Fixing Broken Ends
If you are unsure about the following process, we are happy to assist and even do it for you. Broken ends can happen through general use as well as during washing and drying processes. Generally you just need a flame (we recommend a BBQ lighter to save your fingers and maintain a constant flame) applied for about 10 to 15 seconds slowly rotating the end through the flame to avoid overheating or causing blackening (soot or burning the rope end will discolour it, usually to a darker or black colour which does not clear after washing and occurs very easily if the rope is left stationary in the flame or the blue section of the flame is used). Remove the flame and with wet finger tips (thumb and pointer finger), gently and quickly (use caution as the ends will be hot but cools quick) smooth the ends to remove any sharp or pointed sections. This process may take a couple of times to complete for each end. If the end does not melt easily without burning, rotate the rope end over heat for approximately 1cm from the rope end. This will help bind the outer sheath to the core and with a pair of sharp scissors or your safety cutters, trim the rope just beneath the existing end but still on the area you have just heated. Doing this while the rope end is still hot from the flame makes cutting much quicker with a neater finish then repeat the original steps for fixing the broken rope ends.
Fixing Most Blow-outs
Blow-outs cause the rope’s core to push out through the outer sheath’s braiding. If you are unsure about the following process, we are happy to assist and even do it for you. The quickest and easiest method to fix this is to cut the rope end off (do not use heat) nearest to the blow-out and holding on the opposite side of the blow-out to the end you have removed, gently pull the core out a couple of centimetres. Hold the rope end and exposed core tightly, move the outer sheath back towards the blow-out. This should help pull most of the blow-out back into place. Work the sheath back towards the end starting from the opposite side of the blow-out. You will more than likely have excess core still exposed and this is perfectly normal. If you have more than 1 blow-out, work backwards from the rope end you removed using the same method. It maybe necessary to remove the other end if your rope length is too long or the remaining blow-outs are close to the other end. When you have finished with fixing the blow-outs, do the process of maintaining broken rope ends as shown above starting with heating the outer sheath 1cm from the end. If the end has frayed, heat the area where the braiding is still intact and then trim the rope at that point. If you need to remove both ends to fix the blow-outs, it is recommended to completely repair one end first to avoid unwanted fraying and too much unnecessary movement when the outer sheath is worked back and forward.
For some blow-outs, the outer braiding may not return to normal and you will possibly still see some of the core through the outer sheath. The rope is still safe to use although we recommend not using it for main up-lines or weight bearing in this case. Rope that leaves a lump or does not lay flat without noticeable kinks or bumps, should not be used for suspensions of any kind. Large loosened braids/threads on the outer sheath will often catch, become damaged much easier and look unsightly. Where rope appears damaged or unfit for purpose within the first 12 months, we will replace that length. All we ask for is a photo of the rope before and after maintenance so that we can confirm the rope was not damaged through use on a sharp or rough surface. Other than that, we will not ask any further questions, we will simply replace the rope length for you.