Some boat chores are seasonal, and that includes washing mooring lines for me.
This may seem like yet another manufactured OCD activity of mine, but there are functional benefits to doing this:
* It maintains flexibility and prevents hard spots
* Your lines don’t stink
* It’s a perfect time to inspect for frays and other imperfections
There are probably 100 ways to wash mooring lines, but here’s what I do:
* Uncoil them; they should be as loose as a goose
* Add laundry soap and liquid fabric softener to a bucket; fill 1/2 way with water
* Put in the lines and then fill the rest of the way with water so they are covered
Let them soak for an hour or two, and move them around every 15 minutes or so. This changes the fiber tension so the dirt can be released.
Next, drain the bucket and hold the lines inside; then, dump the bucket of lines into the washing machine.
(Note that lines may release fuel and oil into the washing liquid, so make sure you’re not killing the dolphins when you drain the bucket and dispose of oil waste properly.)
Run them through a washing machine cycle, and then when done, lay them out to dry.
When you eventually coil them up, be sure to check for damage, frays, or anything that could inadvertently free your boat.
And when your next crew member says, “wow, your lines don’t smell like a dirty, wet sock,” you can thank me.
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