How to clean pine pitch from ropes?

[NebClimber]

Simple question:

My flipline and ropes got full of pine pitch today. The flipline is so gummed-up the prusik adjuster will not budge. How do I clean these items?

Steven

 

[MasterBlaster]

 

[MasterBlaster]

Or, if yur REAL fancy...

 

[NebClimber]

Butch:

Should I add some Woolite, or will warm water alone do the trick?

I can hardly get the stuff off of myself, so I just assumed the washing machine wouldn't do the trick.

 

[okietreedude1]

to get the pitch off yourself you can use gas (HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED!!!), or gojo, fast orange, etc. (gritty hand cleanser-works great).

As for ropes, good luck! The best way ive found is to keep it off to start with. Using a false crotch (friction saver) is a great way and the way I use.

Im not sure of the washing machine. Seems to me that soap/water only take off the outer dirt and my hands are still sticky. You could start there though. It couldn't hurt.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yes Neb, Woolite is best. No tide or bleach, and no dryer.
Let the rope soak for a couple of hours.

 

[a_lopa]

depends how much you like your wash machine if its a good one soak the ropes hot soapy water drain rinse then put in wash in chain like roll up if crap washer just throw it in

 

[MasterBlaster]

I wouldn't use hot water.

 

[a_lopa]

why no hot water mb???just to rinse

 

[MasterBlaster]

For the same reason you don't wash your clothes in hot water; it wears the fibers out prematurely

I also think I read it somewhere in an article about rope care.