Brat Breakers Rope Conditioning And Care Guide

Your new rope comes unconditioned and although ready for use, will benefit highly from being conditioned!
The perfect conditioning process is a subjective matter and there are a plethora of ideals all around the world on what this looks like. The below guide is how we condition, clean and store our own personal rope and is a recommendation only.

 

How do I condition my rope?

De-Fuzzing (Removing loose strands/fluff)

There are a few methods you can use to remove some of the “fuzz” on natural fiber rope:
  • Pass the rope through a natural gas flame, near the nozzle (where the flame is blue); avoid using the flame from candles, wood, or other non-gas sources as the combustion temperature is higher and may scorch your rope. (Our Recommendation)
  • Twist the rope around a carabiner and run it back and forth through the twist
  • Tumble loose rope in a clothes dryer on the lowest heat setting for five minutes

Apply Oil

  • Add a small amount of Camellia Oil to the palm of your hand (we like to feel how much is being applied) or a clean cloth.
  • Pull the rope through your hand until you reach the end, turn it around and pull it back through.
  • If you prefer you rope on the wetter side, add a little more oil to your hand, start from the middle and work your way out to each end.

Apply Wax/Butter

  • The same Principe applies as used with oil.
  • Add a small amount of butter to the palm of your hand or a clean cloth.
  • Pull the rope through your hand until you reach the end, turn it around and pull it back through.
  • If you prefer you rope on the wetter side, add a little more butter to your hand, start from the middle and work your way out to each end.

Hanging/Settling

  • In order for your rope to absorb and 'dry' it is recommended to hang it for 24 hours out of direct sunlight prior to storing.

 

How do I clean my rope?

  • In general, the best practice is to avoid getting your rope dirty! Natural fibre rope is porous and not easily cleaned.
  • We also recommend partner-specific rope if there are any concerns about transmission of infection. (For example, if you use crotch rope on a partner, keep that rope for dedicated use with only that partner.)
  • For concerns about pathogens and STDs, using an anti-bacterial wipe (or 70% alcohol solution wipe) on your rope will generally kill all harmful pathogens.
  • Hanging your rope in direct sunlight for a period of time (1-2 days max) can kill viruses and bacteria to disinfect the rope. But note that UV rays also harm the rope over time, so keep the exposure limited.
  • If you must get natural-fiber rope wet in order to clean it, use cool water and a mild detergent, then air dry the rope under mild tension (see above for more notes on drying).

 

How do I store my rope?

In general, the longer you plan to store your rope, the less stress and folds you should have in your rope. This is particularly true of natural fibre rope, as it will retain the folds and kinks from how it was stored, making the rope more difficult to work with later. In particular, we recommend never storing natural fibre rope using the “daisy chain” method!
    We differentiate the way we store rope based on how long the rope will be there and how it will be used:
    • Long-term storage: When the rope will be somewhere for longer than a few days; we recommend hanging it over something with a relatively thick diameter (large padded carabiner, pole, bamboo, etc.) or keeping it in a large, loose coil
    • Short-term transport: When your rope is in a bag for travel or to/from a play space; we recommend loose rope hanks, like folded bundle options
    • Ready for play: When you’re getting your rope ready for use in an actual practice, play, or performance interaction; some people use the folded bundle approach, others prefer the tighter wrapping options
    • We also recommend that you store your ropes in a cool, dry, open location away from sunlight when possible. Rope likes to “breathe,” may be susceptible to mildew and/or dry rot, and most kinds of rope are susceptible to damage by UV rays.