{"id":111482,"date":"2020-02-27T12:10:09","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T18:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=111482"},"modified":"2026-01-11T12:44:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T18:44:37","slug":"how-to-take-care-of-rope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/skills\/outdoors\/how-to-take-care-of-rope\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Care of Rope"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"comic<\/p>\n

In our introduction to rope<\/a>, we gave you the rundown on different rope materials and construction methods. <\/span><\/p>\n

Today we\u2019re going to discuss how to take care of your rope so your rope takes care of you. <\/span><\/p>\n

Do You Really Need to Worry About Taking Care of Your Rope?<\/h3>\n

Rope is rope. It\u2019s not a fine-tuned machine. So do you really need to worry about how to take care of it?<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, that depends on what kind of rope you\u2019re talking about, and what you\u2019re using it for.<\/span><\/p>\n

For everyday types of rope, for everyday kinds of uses, like rigging a tarp shelter, tying down equipment in your truck, or hanging your clothes out to dry, you don\u2019t need to worry about rope maintenance much because the type of rope you\u2019d use for this workaday stuff is usually incredibly cheap, and isn’t designed with strength in mind or used in safety-critical situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

For this kind of garden variety rope, feel free to beat it up with gusto. (Do check its integrity if you\u2019re using it for something like tying an item to the top of your car<\/a>.) When you feel like the rope is no longer serviceable for workaday activities, just get rid of it. <\/span><\/p>\n

With that said, you can extend the life of even everyday rope by following the basic maintenance guidelines that we\u2019ll discuss below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, if your rope is of the expensive, non-expendable variety, and used in safety-critical situations like climbing, rappelling, sailing, and rescue operations, you need to look after it and really pay attention to its maintenance. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Take Care of Rope<\/h3>\n

Keep your rope off the ground.<\/b> Keep your rope elevated so dirt, grease, chemicals, and various debris can\u2019t touch it. This stuff can damage the material\u2019s fibers and weaken the rope. For climbing ropes, when you\u2019re using them outdoors, you ideally want to put them on a tarp so they\u2019re kept off the ground. <\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping your rope off the ground when not in use also prevents people from stepping on it, which can create damage and grind dirt into the fibers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Store rope out of the sun and excessive heat.<\/b> While most modern, high-end ropes are treated to prevent UV damage, you still want to store your rope out of the sun\u2019s rays when not in use. Excessive heat can also weaken rope, so don\u2019t store it in a hot shed or attic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clean your rope as needed.<\/b> If your rope does get dirty, wash it in cold water with mild soap. Rinse with cold water to get the soap off. Hang up and let air dry. Don\u2019t put the rope in the sun to dry or use heaters to speed the process. Make sure rope is completely dry before you coil and hang it. <\/span><\/p>\n

Inspect rope occasionally for damage.<\/b> After you use your rope, do a quick inspection for damage. According to REI, you want to look for the following defects:<\/span><\/p>\n