How to clean from oil

R055

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
579
Hey guys as some of you may have known, my engine leaked oil and I had a bilge full of oil, I had my wakeboard ropes and tow ropes in the ski locker which are now all slimy and oily from the oil, with what/how should I clean them
 

oldjeep

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
6,455
Personally I would toss them, but if you want to clean - pressure washer and simple green.
 

R055

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
579
Personally I would toss them, but if you want to clean - pressure washer and simple green.

I thought about tossing them but I searched them up and they're the expensive ones( both of the wakeboarding you're ropes about 100$ each). What do you think about putting them in the washing machine? I don't have a pressure washer.
 

jbcurt00

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
25,236
My Admiral would beat me mercilessly if I washed oily rope inside, let alone in the washing machine..
 

R055

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
579
DAWN DISH LIQUID

I've soaked it into a bucket with dish soap and it got rid of the surface oil but the rope is still slippery and the rainbow puddles still happen when I put it into a new bucket of water.
 

pckeen

Commander
Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
2,067
Blue Dawn, more specifically. You may have to do it many times. The rope will have soaked up the oil like a sponge.
 

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
13,834
I would get a 2.5 gallon jug of Super Clean put the rope in a 5 gallon bucket and pour it in. Agitate and let sit... repeat a few times and then rinse in another bucket with hot water to rinse them off. Super Clean is really amazing and you can get it at Wal Mart.

"SuperClean Tough Task Cleaner-Degreaser quickly and easily removes grease, oil, wax, tar and dirt with its concentrated, industrial-strength formula."


k2-_597e836a-d55c-4b1f-a0f6-662b7a73580c.v1.jpg-6c73aadf8895a7f36de2c4de790b914650473e16-webp-450x450.webp
 

R055

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
579
I'll give the washing machine a shot after hosing off the ropes, if it doesn't work I'll soak into degreaser, thanks for the replies guys!
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,752
I would only do it if it was a front loader. Be prepared for a major untangling job.
 

R055

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
579
I would only do it if it was a front loader. Be prepared for a major untangling job.

My washer is a front loader and I'd rather untangle than pay 100$ for new wakeboard rope, especially cause these are in almost new condition.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
51,873
if it was me, I would get a bucket of go-jo or goop hand cleaner, grab a fist full, then work it into the rope. once you have the rope full of the hand cleaner, then let sit for about an hour. meanwhile, get a 5-gallon bucket of the hottest water you can get, pour an entire bottle of blue dawn dish soap in it, then put the ropes in the hot soapy water and aggitate the crap out of them for about 20 minutes. then cold water rinse, inspect, and repeat as required.

if it works on clothes, it should work on your rope
 

oldjeep

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
6,455
Take them to the self serve car wash, there is your pressure washer. I wouldn't trust a ski rope that had been soaked in anything but water. I would think the grips are completely messed up too after soaking in oil. In any event, ask yourself why you are storing $100 ropes in the bilge;)
 
Last edited:

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,549
Super Clean and its generic form (Purple Stuff) are real good degreasers. As was mentioned, use a 5G bucket with a gal of Superclean and some water to soak 'em. I doub't there will be any damage to the lines.
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,752
From now on, store your boat with the bow up. If your spot doesn't allow you to, find another spot.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,357
My washer is a front loader and I'd rather untangle than pay 100$ for new wakeboard rope, especially cause these are in almost new condition.

Ayuh,.... Put the ropes in a cotton pillow case 1st, before ya wash 'em in a machine,...

No untanglin' if ya do,....
 

R055

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
579
Take them to the self serve car wash, there is your pressure washer. I wouldn't trust a ski rope that had been soaked in anything but water. I would think the grips are completely messed up too after soaking in oil. In any event, ask yourself why you are storing $100 ropes in the bilge;)

Yeah from now on I'm going to store them in the bow seats.
 

R055

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
579
From now on, store your boat with the bow up. If your spot doesn't allow you to, find another spot.

Is it that bad for the boat if the boat has a full cover on it? I've gotten some quotes for boat storage and any place that your outdrive wouldn't get stolen the first night is pretty expensive.

I can get my trailer leveled but the bilge floor is still at a small decline
 
Last edited:
Top