Rope Care: How to Look After Your Ropes

Your rope is a critical part of your kit. Whether you're climbing trees, working at height, or carrying out rope access work, taking care of it properly can help maintain its performance, extend its service life, and most importantly, help keep you safe.

We’ve teamed up with Marlow Ropes to share some practical advice on caring for your ropes, from everyday handling and storage to cleaning, inspection and knowing when it's time to retire them.

1. Store Your Rope Properly

Good rope care starts when your rope isn't being used.

Store ropes in a clean, dry place away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Avoid leaving them on dirty floors or in areas where they can be exposed to dirt, grit, oils, fuels or chemicals.

Dirt and grit can work their way between the fibres and cause internal abrasion, while prolonged exposure to UV radiation can affect synthetic fibres over time.

For long-term storage, Marlow recommends rinsing ropes with fresh water to remove dirt and salt before allowing them to dry thoroughly.

2. Handle and Coil Your Rope With Care

How you handle your rope can have a surprising impact on its condition

Incorrectly removing rope from a coil can introduce unwanted twists and kinks. With braided ropes, Marlow recommends hanking them in a figure-eight pattern to help prevent excessive twisting and ensure the rope runs freely when deployed.

If you're working with rope supplied on a reel, allow the reel to rotate freely as you draw the rope from the top layer rather than pulling it from a stationary reel on its side.

The aim is simple: avoid unnecessary twisting, kinking and distortion whenever you're handling your rope.

3. Keep an Eye on Abrasion

Abrasion is one of the biggest enemies of rope.

Sharp edges, rough surfaces, dirty ground, and poorly maintained hardware can all damage rope fibres. Even when the damage isn't immediately obvious on the outside, dirt and grit can work their way into the rope and cause internal abrasion.

Where your application requires it, use appropriate rope protection when working around edges or abrasive surfaces.

If your rope runs through pulleys, sheaves, or rollers, make sure they're clean, smooth, and able to rotate freely. Damaged or poorly maintained hardware can accelerate rope wear.

4. Protect Your Rope From Chemicals

Chemical exposure can seriously compromise rope strength, and the tricky part is that the damage isn't always visible.

Discolouration or a powdery appearance can be signs of chemical damage, but a rope can be significantly weakened without showing any obvious external changes.

Keep ropes away from chemicals, oils, fuels and other contaminants. If you suspect a rope has been exposed to a chemical that could cause damage, remove it from service and seek advice from the manufacturer or a competent person.

When it comes to life-safety equipment, it's not worth taking the risk.

5. Avoid Excessive Heat and UV Exposure

Heat can change the properties of synthetic rope fibres and, in many situations, reduce their strength.

Avoid exposing ropes to localised heat sources or excessive temperatures, both during use and while they're being stored.

UV exposure is another factor to consider. Synthetic fibres can be affected by prolonged exposure to sunlight, so where possible, keep ropes protected from unnecessary UV exposure when they're not in use.

And don't forget about your vehicle! Leaving rope sitting in a hot vehicle for extended periods isn't ideal for your equipment.

6. Keep Your Rope Clean

Ropes inevitably pick up dirt during use, particularly in arboriculture and outdoor work.

When cleaning is required, Marlow recommends washing rope in warm soapy water up to 30°C, allowing it to soak before thoroughly rinsing away any soap residue. Ropes should then be hung up and allowed to air dry naturally.

Avoid using elevated temperatures to dry rope, and don't use bleach or oxidising agents such as hydrogen peroxide, as these can severely damage certain rope fibres.

Cleaning should also be kept to what's necessary, as the mechanical action of washing can itself cause some degradation.

Always check the manufacturer's care instructions for your specific rope before cleaning or disinfecting it.

7. Pay Attention to Knots and Terminations

Knots, splices, and sewn terminations all affect the performance of a rope.

Knots can significantly reduce rope strength because of the tight bends and compression created within the knot. The amount of strength reduction depends on the knot, rope construction, and fibre type.

Splicing is often the preferred termination method for many Marlow ropes when carried out correctly using the recommended technique.

Regularly inspect splices, sewn eyes, knots and other terminations for signs of movement, damage or deterioration.

8. Inspect Your Rope Before Use

Regular inspection is one of the most important parts of rope care.

Inspect the entire length of the rope and look and feel for anything that has changed.

Things to look out for include:

• Excessive abrasion or a developing furry appearance
• Cuts, nicks or broken fibres
• Glazed or glossy sections that could indicate heat damage
• Discolouration or unusual changes in colour
• Lumps, flat sections or unusually thin areas
• Stiff or unusually soft sections
• Damage around splices, knots or terminations
• Signs of chemical contamination
• Evidence of internal damage when the rope is opened for inspection where appropriate

A change in the rope's appearance or feel shouldn't be ignored.

9. Know When to Retire Your Rope

There isn't one simple lifespan that applies to every rope.

A rope's service life depends on many factors, including how often it's used, the loads it experiences, bending and abrasion, environmental conditions, exposure to chemicals and UV, and how well it has been stored and maintained.

If you find damage or you're unsure whether a rope is still fit for service, take it out of use and have it assessed by a competent person or contact the manufacturer for advice.

For life-safety applications, never continue using a rope simply because it "looks okay". Some forms of damage can significantly reduce strength without obvious external signs.

Look After Your Rope, and Your Rope Will Look After You

Rope care doesn't need to be complicated. Keeping your rope clean, storing it correctly, protecting it from abrasion and contaminants, and taking the time to inspect it regularly can make a big difference to its performance and longevity.

Most importantly, make rope inspection part of your routine before, during, and after use.

At Look Up Gear, we're passionate about helping you choose the right equipment and look after it properly. That's why we're pleased to collaborate with Marlow Ropes to share practical advice that helps you get the most from your gear.

Need new rope? Explore the Marlow range available through Look Up Gear.

This article has been developed in collaboration with Marlow Ropes. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions and applicable standards for the specific rope, equipment, and application.