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What is the best detergent for climbing shoes/ ropes/ tech wear?

Original Post
saguaro sandy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 140

I am trying to find out what is best on the market.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Detergent for climbing shoes?

Jake, would you like the honor?

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790

I think the best deterrent for climbing shoes/ ropes/and tech wear is to not shop for these items in the first place.

I am often wrong though.

saguaro sandy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 140
FrankPS wrote:Detergent for climbing shoes? Jake, would you like the honor?
Who is Jake and why not? You got to wash them somehow?!
Rocks and Snow · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 0

I like Woolite for ropes, harness, and technical clothing, with a few extra rinse cycles.

Bill Czajkowski · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 20
saguaro sandy wrote: Who is Jake and why not? You got to wash them somehow?!
No, you don't.
I've never washed a pair of climbing shoes including the ones I've had for years with 3 and 4 resoles. Sometimes I will spray them with Lysol or something like that if they start to smell. Generally I stick to leather shoes and it isn't much of a problem.
FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Thanks Jake. I think you've cleared it up. For now.

saguaro sandy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 140

Wool ite does nothing for odors , I used a little tide but I think it's harsh.

susan peplow · · Joshua Tree · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 2,756

For those not trolling......... and people (likely not the OP) actually interested in the answer you can't go wrong with Nikwax. Excellent company, gives back to the community by sponsoring tons of events, specifically designed for cleaning, waterproofing and preserving your tech gear. Available through dealers or easily ordered online. Seems expensive on the front-end but the bottles last forever.

Extensive product line, stinky sandals and all....

nikwax-usa.com/en-us/produc…

Mark Paulson · · Raleigh, NC · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 141

For ropes, Woolite.

For shoes, just dilute a little laundry or dish soap with hot water, and use an old toothbrush to scrub the insides of your shoes with it. It's worked great for me.

As far as Nikwax, the only product that would apply would be Tech Wash, which is for washing technical outerwear with waterproof membranes or sealants. It might work to keep more dry treatment on your rope, but I've never had a problem with just Woolite.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
Jake Jones wrote:Why is it that you never see tupperware in the recycling bin- anywhere? If one simply takes into account the law of averages, you should at least see one piece in someone's recycling bin at some point and time. I mean, everyone has them, and they don't last forever, especially the cheaply made ones. Sooo... what the fuck? I mean, they get burned in the dishwasher, melt, get stained with tomato sauce from being used with spaghetti time and time again (who doesn't have leftovers when they make spaghetti, am I right?), and they lose their seal after a while. Where in the FUCK is all the discarded tupperware going? I find myself consumed by not only the mystery, but the search. It's maddening. More and more I'm realizing that I am hanging on by the thinnest of threads. No pun intended.
Best warranty on the planet- just send the fragments in and you'll get new Tupperware in return. I thought everybody knew.
Brandon Bogardus 1 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 0

I haven't been on this site for about 8 years. I'm glad I stopped by. Thanks Jake.

Woolite for rope. Don't wash shoes.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
saguaro sandy wrote:I am trying to find out what is best on the market.
Hey Ellenor, maybe you should take your shoes down to the river bank and pound them clean with heavy rocks? Pretty sure that's what Ondra does.
susan peplow · · Joshua Tree · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 2,756
Jake Jones wrote:Try Troll ite. I would assume you have several tractor trailers full of the shit.
Troll ite that's some funny stuff and not just my cocktails typin'!!
FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

How should I launder my harness or do you guys just get them dry cleaned?

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974
FrankPS wrote:How should I launder my harness or do you guys just get them dry cleaned?
You could send it to Wired Bliss and they'll replace the webbing for $5.
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
Rocks and Snow wrote:I like Woolite for ropes, harness, and technical clothing, with a few extra rinse cycles.
I would not use Woolite as it contains a small amount of sulfuric acid (no idea why). In testing, Black Diamond found that pouring Woolite on the nylon stitching of an Electric harness reduced the strength by 9% after 30 minutes of exposure.

blackdiamondequipment.com/e…

OP: Water is sufficient. You dont need detergent. If you really want detergent, there is a rope wash (Beal I think). You can use the rope wash to wash any of your gear. Also, Black Diamond found that Arm & Hammer Oxi-Clean does not reduce the strength of nylon, so that might be a viable option for a commercial product available at Wal-Mart.
Marc H · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 265

Since I know you're so solid, Elenor, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Bleach will clean your ropes like no other substance. Just test it before you climb above anyone else.

P.S. NO ONE else should listen to my advice. It is only for the arrogant, ignorant and delusional. Everyone else should use common sense.

Good luck "Sandy."

Marc H · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 265
saguaro sandy wrote:Wool ite does nothing for odors , I used a little tide but I think it's harsh.
What did you put your rope through to make it smell so bad? Why are you smelling your rope? <<<Questions you should really consider in light of your most recent troll.

I know I shouldn't tell you this because you won't believe it but I don't give a fuck. But anyway, detergents are terrible for soft goods (ropes, slings, etc). Use non-detergents like Woolite, Doctor Bronner's, or Blue Water's Rope Wash only when you absolutely have to wash your rope.
FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

I like to iron my rope to get the wrinkles out of it. A couple of questions for you rope-savvy people:

Do you run the iron down the 200' of rope, or do you "fix" the iron and pull the rope under it?

Also, I was thinking of doubling my rope over at the middle mark, and then ironing both strands at the same time, thereby reducing a 100 feet of movement. Is that a good and efficient method?

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790

^^^In theory fixed irons should work better than a free iron with less likelihood of scorching one's fingers.
Should we debate the ethics of sporty teflon coated irons v.s. old school traditional iron-mongery?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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