hey everyone,
I have a nice black key chain, but it got a bit greasy through the time, I know I can just throw it into washing machine and wait for results, but this one is too nice to make experiments…
What should I do to prevent my knotwork from getting loose or fluffy? Any special treatment for synthetic rope?
one more question for the near future…
What about cleaning (bleaching) knotboard knots that are of cotton rope?
thanx
Hi
Tepid ( 30° 35° C) distilled water with what is called here in France “savon noir” litterally “black soap” ( it is, rather was, the “old”, rather “ancient” soap used by our great-grand mothers and grand-mothers .
Let it “steep” 12h. Then gently stir for some minutes.
Thoroughfully rinse with tap water ( tepid) and one last thorough rinsing with demineralized water.
Try it with a bit of rope of the same “sort” and you will see : no damage possible in my experience.
Beware of all “chemicals”.
Other “recipes” : use “talc”, talcum, lycopod powder, or much better what is call “terre de sommières” ( in fact fossilized siliced-body micro-organisms “sand” ( used on the most fragile of substance : silk), to “absorb” greasy matter. Rinse thoroughfully with non mineralized water if necessary. Do not rub but sponge as with a blotter.
These substances are chemicaly “inert” and cause no damage ( even use for cleasing works of art)
thanx for such informative answer Nautile,
I think I still have some “black soap” (here it is called “farmers”) and its not so acient as it still can be found in almost every shop.
Hi JK,
Here is an answer from a chemist (sorry Charles, I know you will cringe).
Go to your local Sainsbury store and buy a bottle of their bathroom cleaner.
Spray it onto a piece of test cord and leave it for a few minutes (overnight if the grime is bad). Then rinse the cord under running water, squeezing out the cord frequently to release the grime and the residual cleaner but don’t ‘scrub’ as this will pick out the fibres.
The good thing about this cleaner is that it is not a caustic corrosive which some of the older soaps tend to be. The bad thing about this cleaner is that it can strip all of the oils out of natural fibres, so you might like to consider replenishment after this thouough cleansing.
Since some of us live where there is no Sainsbury, can you tell us a little more about the (chemical) make of the bathroom cleaner, so we can select the nearest one in our stores?
Willeke
A page of useful info. Re diatomaceous earth and some suppliers.
http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html?gclid=CIjIxeGrv4cCFR8YMAod7QGmNg
I tied a macreme stole (see vestment) in white cotton line, and when it needed to be cleaned it went in the wash with everything else. When it came out we had to iron it to flatten it out, but it was clean.
Pat
Hi all,
for the Dutch knot tyers amongst us : savon noir or black soap is called groene zeep here (green soap) It is soft soap originally made from, believe it or not, hemp oil. This oil was used because there was enough of it since it was a by product of the ropewalks. It is a soft soap because the oil was saponified with potassiumhydroxide in stead of sodiumhydroxide. This also means the soap is a bit caustic so care should be taken when using it on ropework. Today this type of soap is made from other cheap vegetable oils like soy oil.
It can still be bought easily as well.
Another (famous) soap which can be used is Sunlight soap (which happens to be a hard soap)
hope this helps
regards
André
Hi Willeke, Sorry about that, I should think most countries will have a product of similar sorts.
Attached is the ingredients declaration on the cleaner. It is a powerful degreaser so mind out not to let it dry your hands out, but it is not corrosive, so it is safe to use on cordage. The inclusion of Isopropanol, Propylene glycol and EDTA is a bit special and allow it to dissolve or release a wide range of contaminants which a simple surfactant would miss.
Good luck finding an equivalent.
