Conditioning your ropes makes them easier to work with and friendlier to the hands of the rigger and the skin of the model. Jute ropes are the ones which need most treatment, though hemp and linen hemp sometimes benefits from some, too. Synthetic ropes don’t require conditioning.
If you’re working on “raw” rope which hasn’t been conditioned before, you might wish to do the following:
Step 1. Attach a carabiner to something secure. You can also use a big eye bolt, and you can hold it down with your feet or knees, if you don’t have anywhere to attach it to. Put your rope through it and twist it around itself once. Put tension on the rope, and pull on one end, then the other, and repeat. Do this a few times to every section of the rope. This will “break in” the rope making it softer and easier to handle and bend. It will also create a lot of fluff, so you might want to do this outside!
Step 2. Run your rope very quickly and gently over a flame – the hotter the better, ideally you’re looking for a blue flame. You’re aiming to burn off the remaining fluff on the surface of your rope, but without scorching it. Err on the side of caution!
Step 3. Wipe your ropes with a damp cloth to remove any soot.
Step 4. Condition your rope. This is done with wax or oil, or a mixture of both. For wax, you can use beeswax, soy or paraffin wax. Any oil which will not go rancid is suitable, but jojoba, camelia and baby oil are most popular. You can also add a few drops of an essential oil to your mixture for fragrance. Depending on the consistency of your conditioning substance, you might want to apply a little bit directly to the rope with your fingers, and then wipe down with a microfibre cloth, or apply a little to the cloth and use it to apply to the ropes. Be careful not to put too much on, as you might end up with greasy ropes. If you are using just wax or mostly wax, you might want to put your ropes in the oven for 10-20mins on a low temperature (below 100°C) to melt the wax and allow it to soak in – but be very careful so you don’t burn your ropes!
Note: Most unconditioned Jute rope will contain Jute Batching Oil, which will give your rope a petroleum-like chemical smell, and has been identified as a carcinogen. Washing your rope with detergent before Step 1 can remove some of this, but it is worth noting that soaking can affect your rope’s strength in some unpredictable ways. For instructions on washing rope, see below.
If you’re working on pre-conditioned rope which has been used for a while and just needs a bit of TLC:
Step 1. Inspect each section of each piece very carefully for any areas of damage. If the rope appears damaged, mark it in some way so you know not to use it for anything where it might break and cause injury, such as suspension lines.
Step 2. If during your inspection you noticed any dirt, give your rope a wipe with a damp cloth. If this is not sufficient, see below for washing your rope.
Step 3. Condition your rope. See step 4 above.
Washing your rope:
Jute and hemp don’t take too well to being washed, so try not to get them so dirty that a wipe with a damp cloth won’t clean them up. If you want to do outdoor play in mud or play in water, consider using nylon or a synthetic imitation of natural rope, such as POSH or hempex. But if you did get your lovely jute set all muddy, here’s what to do – though be aware that washing might weaken your rope.
Step 1. Wash your rope. You can either hand wash it or put it in the washing machine. We recommend a short cycle at 40°C, if you think that will get the gunk out. You can use detergent, but skip the fabric conditioner.
Step 2. Dry your rope under tension. This is very important, otherwise your rope will not set properly and might be unusable. You can use a bamboo (or broom handle) suspended from the ceiling, a second bamboo down below with a weight attached to it and the rope looping around it, stair rails, bed posts, anything you have available, as long as there is tension applied to all of the rope. While wet, it is likely that the rope will be very stiff and difficult to handle, so this step can require a lot of work.
Step 3. Condition your rope. It might need a little extra, as a lot of the oil will have been stripped in the wash. See above for details on conditioning.
Last updated 05/07/2022