The right rope care depends on the material: Clean jute only on the surface where possible, treat flax ropes gently, and care for POSH-Rope without oil or wax. Allow all ropes to dry completely before storing them and check them regularly for changes.
| Material | Cleaning and care |
|---|---|
| jute | Clean only the surface where possible; use a suitable care product sparingly if needed. |
| Flax (Leinenhanf) | Remove light dirt with a damp cloth; a full wash is not routine care. |
| POSH-Rope (polyester) | Gentle hand washing if needed; no oil, no wax and no flame treatment. |
Details and limits of cleaning can be found below. If your rope is damaged, see our guide When does a bondage rope need replacing?
This text is deliberately written with a wink. The care tips are serious; most of the comments in between are rather less so. 😉
Our flax rope is made from flax fibres. It is not a rope made from true hemp. The differences compared with jute are explained in the material comparison.
Our ropes arrive already prepared and finished. They are soft, or become soft very quickly, feel pleasant in the hand and can be used straight away. Even so, a natural fibre rope continues to develop over time. With use, it becomes more supple, runs more smoothly through your hands and acquires its own character.
That is why I like to say:
A bondage rope is created step by step.
First at the ropeworks, then during finishing, and finally it is up to you.
Movement, friction and ordinary use change your rope. Over time, you learn exactly how it runs, how it behaves and how it feels in your hands.
At some point, it is no longer just a rope.
It is your rope.
And no, you still do not have to give it a name. But if you want to, I certainly will not stop you. 😉
You do not need to spend hours caring for your ropes after every use. A little attention certainly does them no harm.
I recommend letting the rope run loosely through your hands once after a session. This allows it to relax a little and helps you notice any changes very quickly.
Does any area feel different? Is there heavier abrasion? Have individual fibres come loose? Are the end knots still sitting as they should?
With natural fibre ropes in particular, what you feel with your hands is often just as important as what you see.
You should not leave strong twist in the rope permanently either. Run it loosely through your hands a few times. If necessary, twist it slightly in one direction and then untwist it cleanly again.
It does not take long, and this usually covers a large part of routine care.
If the rope has become slightly damp after a more intense session, let it dry completely before storing it.
Putting damp natural fibre rope straight into a closed bag is about as clever as putting wet hiking boots in a plastic bag and finding them again a week later.
You can do that. But you really do not have to. 😉
With increasing use, natural fibre rope can become drier. A small amount of suitable care oil or wax can then help keep the fibres supple and improve how the rope runs.
That does not mean your rope needs to be oiled constantly.
A good rope should feel like a rope, not like a dressed salad. 😉
With oil, the rule is clear: less is more.
Simply put a few drops of care oil on a lint-free cloth and slowly pull the rope through it. This distributes the oil evenly and prevents individual areas from receiving too much.
Then allow the care product to soak in and pull the rope through a clean cloth once more to remove excess oil.
If your rope then shines like a freshly polished frying pan, you probably used a little too much. 😉
The rope can then rest for a while. I like to leave treated natural fibre ropes for one or several days so the care product can spread evenly and soak in.
The Rope Care Cream is applied a little differently.
Take roughly a small hazelnut-sized amount and first spread it between your hands. The warmth of your hands softens the Cream, allowing it to be worked very evenly into the rope.
Then slowly run the rope through your hands, massaging the Cream into it section by section.
You do not need large amounts here either. A thin, even application is perfectly sufficient.
But do not massage too intensely, or it might end up enjoying it. 😉
Afterwards, you should also give the rope some time so the care product can distribute evenly.
This question could probably be debated just as long as which Bondage rope is the best. 😉
One reads about jojoba oil, camellia oil, beeswax, berry wax, carnauba wax, baby oil, gun oil, saddle oil and several other possibilities.
I don't want to claim that there's only one right solution. My recommendation is to use suitable natural care oils and waxes that can be applied sparingly and evenly.
That's exactly why we also offer our Rope Care Oil and our Rope Care Cream – both versions are also available in a vegan version.
We particularly recommend Rope Care Oil for flax ropes. Rope Care Cream has a higher wax content and is particularly recommended for jute ropes.
And if you've ever wondered what you could still learn today:
Although jojoba oil is called oil, chemically speaking it is actually a liquid wax.
Learned something new again. 😉
I would advise against using regular cooking oils. Olive oil, sunflower oil, and similar oils can oxidize or become rancid over time.
And as wonderful as good food is:
Your Bondage rope shouldn't smell like last Sunday's kitchen. 😉
Our care products for bondage ropes can be found in the shop with the relevant instructions for use.
Of course, there is a very simple solution:
Buy a new one from me straight away. 😊
Okay... perhaps we do not need to be quite so drastic straight away. 😉
Sooner or later, it simply happens. A rope gets stained, lands on the floor or eventually no longer looks quite as fresh as it did on day one.
My basic rule for natural fibre ropes is:
As much cleaning as necessary, but as little as possible.
Light dirt can usually be removed easily with a damp cloth and, if necessary, a little mild soapy water.
What matters here, however, is which material you are dealing with.
Jute and water are not particularly good friends.
Jute ropes should not be completely soaked or washed where possible. Too much water can affect the fibres and change the rope's properties. I therefore recommend cleaning only the surface of jute wherever possible.
If a jute rope has had to be heavily soaked or even fully washed, I would not then use it again as a load-bearing rope for suspension without further assessment.
With suspension bondage in particular, you should not cut corners in the wrong place.
A new rope is usually cheaper than a bad experience.
With flax, the situation is a little more relaxed. Flax generally tolerates moisture better than jute. Even so, full washing should not be part of routine care here either.
If a damp cloth is enough, that is usually the better solution. A full wash can affect both the rope's properties and its load-bearing capacity.
If a flax rope gets wet, it should then dry as straight as possible, or under slight tension, in a well-ventilated place.
And give it time.
Natural fibre ropes do not dry to a timetable. Depending on their thickness and moisture level, they may take several days to dry completely.
Our POSH-Ropes are made from polyester and therefore require completely different care from jute or flax.
POSH-Rope can be washed when needed. I recommend gentle hand washing with cold or lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly afterwards and allow it to air-dry completely.
What POSH does not need at all, however, is oil or wax.
And please do not flame-treat it either.
Blowtorches and polyester are not friends! 😉
Oiling, waxing and flame treatment are exclusively for suitable natural fibre ropes.
Just because something works for jute does not mean POSH will enjoy it too. 😉
When people talk about rope care, many first think of oil, wax and various care products.
For me, however, something else is much more important:
Inspect your ropes regularly.
Every now and then, take a few minutes and slowly run the entire rope through your hands.
You will often feel changes that a quick visual check would never reveal. Look out for damaged fibres, unusually thin areas, heavy abrasion, hard or noticeably soft sections and, of course, the end knots.
This check should be standard practice, especially for ropes used in suspension.
A bondage rope is an item that gets used, and such items do not last forever.
How long a rope can be used depends greatly on how often and how intensively you use it. A rope used occasionally for floor ties is naturally subjected to different stresses from one regularly used for suspension.
That is why my rule, especially for load-bearing ropes, is:
Better to retire a rope once too early than once too late.
That does not automatically mean a retired rope has to go straight in the bin.
Depending on its condition, you may still be able to use it for knot practice, decoration or other applications without load.
Just not where you truly need to rely on it.
Natural fibre ropes like to be kept dry, clean and reasonably well ventilated.
If you untwist your ropes properly and then store them in a dry place, there is no need to make a science of it.
I would avoid damp basements, strong direct sunlight, intense heat sources and, above all, closed containers while the rope still contains residual moisture.
After a more intense session, your rope can have a little rest.
Sometimes the participants are not the only ones who need a little recovery. 😉
And perhaps as a small reminder:
Anything that became damp during the session does not want to be put in solitary confinement afterwards. 😉
Bondage ropes inevitably come into contact with skin and sweat.
With your own ropes and a regular partner, this is usually easier to manage than with different people, workshops or events.
Because of their structure, natural fibre ropes are not as easy to clean as synthetic materials. It is therefore worth considering in advance how and by whom a rope will be used.
If washability and hygiene are particularly important, a synthetic rope such as our POSH-Rope may be the more practical choice.
There is no single perfect solution for every situation.
What matters is handling the material thoughtfully and being a little more cautious when in doubt.
Be kind to your rope and care for it a little like you care for your shoes.
Let it relax after use, inspect it regularly and give it a small amount of suitable care product when needed.
A good natural fibre rope develops over time. It becomes more supple, runs more smoothly through the hands and acquires exactly the character many people value in a well-used rope.
Of course, even the best bondage rope does not last forever.
Depending on how often and intensively you use it, the time will eventually come when it should be replaced.
Until then, it can work, age, become softer and develop a little personality.
Because in the end, as so often:
Those who tie well should care well too. 😉
Yours, Andreas
