Bondage Rope Care

Just like any bondage participant requires aftercare, bondage ropes require special care too. The way that bondage ropes are cleaned and stored all affect the longevity of the bondage rope, and if done improperly, can cause your ropes to weaken, fray, or break.  Depending on the rigger's level of experience, use in suspension, and the amount of use a specific rope gets the wear and tear can create safety issues if the quality of the rope is not maintained.  Our favorite ropes can remind us of our favorite pair of jeans so, what can be done to make sure that our beloved rope will last for years to come? 

Washing Bondage Ropes

 When do you clean bondage ropes, how often, and what is the best practice for cleaning them when they do need to be cleaned?  

All of these questions might run through your mind when you are learning to care for your new toys.   When deciding to clean ropes, there are a few different things that need to be looked at before deciding how or if a bondage rope needs to be cleaned. Ropes should only be cleaned when they come into contact with bodily fluids. Over-cleaning ropes will cause unnecessary wear that will greatly reduce the amount of time a bondage rope will last.  Not to mention, bondage ropes absorb natural oils from the skin of the rope bunny and from the hands of the rigger that increase their lifespan and keep them soft and supple.  

Crazy BDSM Scene -- This Rope is a MESS!

So, there was a wild scene, and you will dream about it for months!  But your poor rope definitely got a little messy and now it needs to be washed.  How a rope is washed or cleaned depends on the material the rope is made of.  While some -- like Knotty Desires Twisted Cotton Bondage Ropes -- are machine-washable, others require a different kind of care.  

How to Clean Each Material of Bondage Rope

Twisted Cotton Bondage Rope

1. Untangle or uncoil the bondage ropes.
2. Using a soft, wet cloth wipe away any messes on the rope that are visible.
3. Place the uncoiled ropes in a pillow case or lingerie bag and tie of the bag to keep the rope confined inside. This will make sure your bondage rope fibers are protected from fraying or breaking and eliminate the knots that could be caused by washing freely. 
4. Use the delicate setting with cold water and a mild detergent.
5. Remove from the washing machine and hang to dry without any kinks or knots.
6. Do not store a bondage rope while it is wet.  Air dry completely before storing.  

Polypropylene Bondage Rope

1. Untangle or uncoil the bondage ropes.
2. Wipe away any messes that are visible with a nylon brush to remove all debris.
3. Using a bucket or basin filled with water and a mild detergent soak the bondage ropes for 5 minutes and using a soft cloth wash from one end to the other and rinse away all detergent.  
4. Make sure the bondage ropes has no kinks or knots.  
5. Hang the ropes in a shaded place to avoid fading from UV rays and allow them to air dry completely before storing them.

Nylon Bondage Ropes

1. Untangle or uncoil the bondage ropes.
2. Using a soft, wet cloth clean away any visible messes.
3. Using a bucket or basin filled with water and a mild detergent soak the bondage ropes for 5 minutes and using a soft cloth wash from one end to the other and rinse away all detergent. 
4. Make sure the bondage ropes has no kinks or knots.
5. Hang the ropes in a shaded place and allow them to air dry completely before storing them.  UV rays can fade the colors of Nylon Ropes so make sure when these toys are seeing the light of day, it’s because they are being played with.

Manilla, Hemp, or Jute Ropes

1. Untangle or uncoil the bondage ropes.
2. Wipe away any messes that are visible with a nylon brush to remove all debris.
3. Using a bucket or basin filled with water and a mild detergent soak the bondage ropes for 5 minutes and using a soft cloth wash from one end to the other and rinse away all detergent.  
4. Make sure the bondage ropes has no kinks or knots.  
5. Hang the ropes in a shaded place to avoid fading from UV rays and allow them to air dry completely.
6. Oil your manila rope to return the oils that are washed away.  Hemp rope has natural oils that are stripped during the cleaning process.  To care for these types of bondage ropes it is important to restore the natural oils to keep them from drying and breaking.  Hempseed oil, jojoba oil, oil coconut oil are great natural ways to moisturize your natural fiber ropes and keep them strong and ready for play for a years to come.  
7. Using your hand, a soft microfiber cloth, or even a paper bag, pour a tablespoon (or two for very long or large diameter ropes) and work the oil back into the rope.  
8. Hang and allow the oil to be absorbed by the rope.  If there is excess oil, use a microfiber cloth to remove it before storing your hemp bondage ropes.
   
   Tip:  Manila ropes should only be oiled after being cleaned or if they have not been used in a long time.  While the oil is important for the rope to maintain its durability, it isn’t necessary to oil a rope that is played with often.  A well loved rope receives love from BDSM and bondage play too.  

Clean and Dry -- What now?

The absolute best way to store bondage ropes is to hang them in a dark, cool, dry place like a closet, or a red room if you are so lucky!  But while this is the best way to store ropes, it probably isn’t the most practical since most of us don’t have Christian Gray style money for a red room stocked with all of our wildest fantasies bondage and BDSM gear.  So, if you can’t find room in your closet for your rigger’s kit, what can you do to properly store your vivid collection of sparkling clean bondage ropes?

The Chain Link

One of the options for storing your ropes that takes up a little less space, is the chain link.  Not only does it condense your stash to a more manageable size, it also looks amazing!  

Chain Link a Bondage Rope

1. Holding the bite end of the rope, wrap the running end around your hand once.
2. Reaching through the loop around your hand, pull an equal sized loop from the back through the front creating another loop.
3. Continue to create loops of equal sizes until you do not have enough space before the running end of the rope.
4. Pull the running end of the rope through the last loop and tighten to secure.

Release and Play

To release the rope, pull the running end back through the last chain link and hold it firmly.  The chain links will fall right back out leaving a graceful length of rope around your feet ready to get wrapped up in some fun.  

How Long Can Bondage Ropes Stay Chain Linked?

While this is a great option for rope storage short-term, it isn’t the best option for long-term storage.  So, if you're storing a rope that isn't used often, you should probably choose a different storage method.  But for the well loved and played with ropes, this is a great option.  Continuous play means that natural oils are being added to the rope and being set free gives the rope time to relax and unkink -- while you kink. 

Coiling Bondage Rope for Storage

For a rope that is going to be stored for a long period of time the best storage method would be to coil the rope.  Unlink the chain link, the loops are looser and less likely to cause a kink that creates weak spots in stored bondage ropes.  Of course, this method can be used for short-term storage as well because it definitely reduces the space necessary to accommodate your bondage ropes.  Using a carabiner you can hook the loops and hang the bondage ropes in a closet as well.  

To Coil a Bondage Rope

1.  Holding the running end of the rope, make even loops over your hand.
2.  Leave enough of the bite end to wrap around the loops 2 or 3 times.
3. Thread the bite end through the loops to the back.
4. Wrap the bite around the top of the loops to secure.  

Unleash the Fury

To uncoil a bondage rope, pull the bite end back over the top and through the loop.  Hold the bite end and the rope will make a statement unraveling to reveal its impressive size. 

Storing Bondage Ropes

One could use a mix of all three methods of storage for bondage ropes as well.  Different methods could be used to signify a rope that is ready for play, a rope that needs to be cleaned, or maybe a rope that you want to hang on to for sentimentality, but definitely is retired from play.  Deciding what method works for you and the space you have is great way for your kit to stay organized so when the mood strikes, you can be ready for action!

The More You Know

Bringing fantasies into fruition takes more than just throwing some rope around a person you love.  These fantasies like everything else take time to learn and practice.  Make sure to care for bondage ropes properly so that all your knotty desires can be satiated through bondage and BDSM play.