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Machine wash harness

Original Post
TradLad 5life · · California · Joined Dec 2015 · Points: 40

Have a harness, about 4 years old -- smells like ass because of all the trips i've done: jungle climbing malaysia, hot index washington climbing, it's so gross and I was thinking of machine washing it with no detergent, gentle, and cold --- bad idea?

Kory Gill · · Duvall, WA · Joined Jul 2021 · Points: 23

from the Black Diamond Harness Instructions:

Care and Maintenance :

  • Machine wash your harness in warm water on a gentle cycle. No bleach. Anytime your harness gets wet, allow it to drip dry away from direct sunlight before storing.
  • Harnesses must not come into contact with corrosive materials such as battery acid, solvents, gasoline or chlorine bleach.
  • Do not allow your harness to be exposed to temperatures above 140° F (60° C) or below -80° F (-62° C).
  • Do not sew, resew, burn or singe loose threads, bleach the webbing, file a buckle, modify, or change a harness in any way.
Nick Goldsmith · · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 460

Been climbing about 40 years. never washed a harness. occasionally get a new harness... 

Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450

Just FYI you can usually obtain a pdf of the manufacturer's instructions for pretty much any product via a web search. I use this approach a lot with tools and electronics I wasn't clever enough to save directions for... 

Kieran Hunt · · Philadelphia, PA · Joined Sep 2021 · Points: 5

The important bits of your harness that are supporting your life are most likely made of nylon. It’s ok for nylon to get wet as long as you hang it up to dry before climbing in it again. Machine washing it gentle, cold with no detergent is fine. I’ve done it before.


4 years of regular climbing is a decent amount of use and sun exposure. Why not just get a new harness and start fresh? 

bernard wolfe · · birmingham, al · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 300

Machine washing of any soft gear? - no



Kieran Hunt · · Philadelphia, PA · Joined Sep 2021 · Points: 5
bernard wolfe wrote:

Machine washing of any soft gear? - no



There are manufacturers who literally recommend this. Mammut, for instance. 

Nick Goldsmith · · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 460

Probably  because  washing your stuff wears it out  faster and then you have to buy  more stuff. 

Kieran Hunt · · Philadelphia, PA · Joined Sep 2021 · Points: 5

Could be. I’ll take a little less rope life over leaving a bunch of RRG sand in my rope wearing all my hard goods. 

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
bernard wolfe wrote:

Machine washing of any soft gear? - no

On what do you base that? People wash their ropes all the time with zero issues. Nylon and related products aren't harmed in the least by washing, even in a machine (but there are better and worse ways to machine wash soft gear, esp. ropes).

Wictor Dahlström · · Stockholm · Joined Oct 2021 · Points: 0
Nick Goldsmith wrote:

Probably  because  washing your stuff wears it out  faster and then you have to buy  more stuff. 

Mammut recommends machine washing of their ropes to make them last longer. 

Nick Goldsmith · · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 460

this thread is about harness not ropes.... and they tell you to wash the rope saying it will make it last longer while knowing full well it will make it wear faster so you will have to buy a new rope. 

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Nick Goldsmith wrote:

... and they tell you to wash the rope… knowing full well it will make it wear faster so you will have to buy a new rope. 

What is the evidence that supports your assertion?

Nick Goldsmith · · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 460

a lifetime of doing laundry and knowing how corporations think and do business... 

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Nick Goldsmith wrote:

a lifetime of doing laundry and knowing how corporations think and do business... 

So IOW, just your unfounded opinion.

Kieran Hunt · · Philadelphia, PA · Joined Sep 2021 · Points: 5

It’s safe to machine wash your harness as long as you throw a totem in with it

Nick Goldsmith · · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 460

naturally. 

but heck if you want to waste your time doing extra laundry go for it.  Personally I retire harnesses when they get abraded from movement over rock, sitting on ledges and groveling through chimnys etc. and they also get sun faded. about every 5 years i just get a new one. ropes get core shots and excesive fuzzy spots or have too many falls on them. dirt has never been a huge concern.. some of my half ropes that get used mostly for ice last a decade. some of my single ropes that are used for developing last a season or two..   but again if you are more concerned with a pretty looking rope than a functioning rope by all means do some more laundry.... 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Trad Climbing
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