Safety ropes and harnesses spend their working life in mud, dust, sand and oil. Dirt is not just cosmetic: contamination affects how the equipment feels, gets in the way of routine inspection, and fine grit can act like sandpaper on the fibres when the gear is loaded. But washing them the wrong way damages load-bearing nylon just as badly. The rules below are the ones worth following.
1. First decide: can this item be washed at all?
Before washing, do a full visual inspection: check webbing for cuts, abrasion, glazing or hardening, and broken stitching; check metal parts for deformation, corrosion or a stiff gate.
Do not wash — retire the item instead — in these three cases:
- The stain looks like oil or a chemical (unusual colour, localised bleaching, hardening, smell). Suspected chemical contact is itself a reason to retire the equipment: washing it does not make it safe again.
- It is past its service life, or it has already taken a fall arrest or an abnormal load.
- Webbing or stitching already shows clear damage.
2. What to use: only one option is allowed
| Acceptable | Not acceptable |
|---|---|
| Household neutral soap (face or body soap) | Laundry powder or liquid, dish soap, stain removers, degreasers, solvents, bleach (too aggressive and incompatible with nylon) |
| Warm water below 30 °C, neutral pH | Hot or boiling water |
| Soft brush for stubborn dirt | Stiff brushes or steel wool |
| Thorough rinsing with clean water | Pressure washers (they force dirt into the fibres and damage the structure) |
3. Hand washing (recommended, especially for ropes)
- Use water below 30 °C with a neutral pH and neutral soap; soak for 10–15 minutes.
- Wash gently. Do not scrub hard and do not wring or twist the equipment, and do not use a stiff brush.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water until there is no foam left and the water runs clear.
4. Machine washing (harnesses only — not ropes)
- Use a 30 °C delicate or synthetic cycle with the spin cycle switched off.
- A harness must be placed inside a thick fabric bag (or an old pillowcase) first — metal parts can damage the drum and knock against each other.
- Machine washing is not recommended for ropes: they are long, tangle easily and the sheath suffers. Hand washing is safer.
5. How to dry
- Air dry in a well-ventilated, shaded place. Keep out of direct sunlight (UV accelerates nylon ageing) and away from any heat source — radiators, tumble dryers, hair dryers.
- Ropes should be loosely spread out, not coiled into a ball or knotted. Lay harnesses flat or hang them.
- Store only when completely dry — storing damp equipment causes mildew and odours.
6. Extra care for ropes
Ropes of different materials tolerate washing differently — static and dynamic ropes differ in construction and sheath. After washing, a rope may be slightly shorter than before. So: measure the rope before washing, re-mark the length if necessary, and check afterwards that the marks are still clearly legible.
Do not write on the sheath with an ordinary marker pen. After washing, re-inspect the sheath for fuzzing and the core for any exposure.
7. Common mistakes: many items are destroyed by the washing itself
- Laundry powder or liquid (containing bleach, optical brighteners, enzymes) — fibre strength drops.
- Hot water — shrinkage and hardening.
- Machine washing with a spin cycle — high-speed centrifugation deforms the rope core.
- Sun drying or tumble drying — UV and heat age the equipment twice over.
- Not rinsed and not fully dry before storage — residual soap attracts moisture and causes mildew.
- Degreasers, machine oil or petrol — that is chemical contact, and means immediate retirement.
8. How often should you wash, and how to look after the equipment day to day
There is no fixed interval: wash when the equipment is clearly dirty or when dirt affects handling or inspection. Do not wash frequently “just to keep it clean”.
Three habits for everyday care:
- Do not store the equipment with oils, acids, alkalis or solvents.
- Do not stand on it, drag it over sharp edges or let it touch hot surfaces.
- Store ropes separately from metal hardware; use a rope protector or rope bag. Inspect visually before and after every use, and carry out the scheduled periodic inspections, keeping the records.
Closing note
The above is general guidance for cleaning and maintaining ropes and harnesses. Different manufacturers and models may specify stricter requirements for detergent, water temperature and drying. Always follow the instructions supplied with the product and the corresponding test reports. After cleaning, carry out a full visual inspection again before returning the equipment to service.
Prepared by REICIO (Taizhou Anto Protective Equipment Co., Ltd.), a manufacturer of CE-certified fall protection and height safety equipment.
