Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
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Post by Brian Roebuck on Feb 11, 2007 19:10:03 GMT -5
Well cavers - I have been reading the latest on cleaning cave ropes etc and the thought occurred to me "What is the best method to get cave mud etc off cave clothes?". This is also important for knee pads, cave suits (nylon etc), and other cave gear made from various fabrics.
Some cavers use old washing machines (or go to a suitable laundramat) while others use pressure washers, garden hoses, and what-not.
I usually use the garden hose (that's called a "hose pipe" here in Tennessee ;D ), a plastic tub, and some detergent to clean most of the crud off. What about the rest of you?
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Post by Sharon Faulkner on Feb 12, 2007 9:34:53 GMT -5
I use the rinse off with a water hose and then wash in the washer method, most of the time. However, late Saturday afternoon I took my dirty cave clothes, including wetsuit, to the laundromat after rinsing off. They had a lot of fine sand in them and I've found the more powerful washers at the laundromat do a better job of getting that out.
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Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Feb 12, 2007 19:01:29 GMT -5
Yep - sand is tough to get out alright. I also find that mud gets packed into velcro and ruins it if you don't clean it out well. I guess the commercial machines have more oomph than home units. Also Lynn would frown on me putting nasty cave clothes in her good washing machine at home! I don't blame her either!  |
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L Roebuck
Technical Support
Caving
^V^ Just a caver
Posts: 2,023
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Post by L Roebuck on Feb 12, 2007 19:22:16 GMT -5
Also Lynn would frown on me putting nasty cave clothes in her good washing machine at home! I don't blame her either! Oh Beaner, that's the new virgin washing machine! I recall that the last washing machine died a most honorable death in this caving household. As it had washed so many cave clothes for so many years that you could even hear the mooooooooaning and grooooaning from the the grit and sand as it trudged through the cycles. But my dear Dr. Beaner you are always welcome to try out the washboard.  ;D |
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Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Feb 12, 2007 19:47:24 GMT -5
Also Lynn would frown on me putting nasty cave clothes in her good washing machine at home! I don't blame her either! Oh Beaner, that's the new virgin washing machine! I recall that the last washing machine died a most honorable death in this caving household. As it had washed so many cave clothes for so many years that you could even hear the mooooooooaning and grooooaning from the the grit and sand as it trudged through the cycles. But my dear Dr. Beaner you are always welcome to try out the washboard. ;D Alas my dear Pretzlgirl - I don't know where the coin slot is located on the washboard!  |
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Post by Azurerana on Feb 12, 2007 20:23:58 GMT -5
Hose 'em off during the summer. During the winter, you can freeze dry them on the deck, and beat most of the mud off before washing. Same deal with boots. Let them dry, knock off the clods, use a screwdriver on the tread, and then hose 'em off. Also, aren't cave clothes what washing machine draintubs were made for?? (not really--my mom used to save the rinsewater in ours, and then pump it back in for the next load. to save water. ). Actually , I lent my helmet to some *guy* a couple of weeks ago, and just got it clean again by soaking in bucket and then washing off. How do you get mud on the chinstrap, and *inside* the suspension of the helmet?  Seriously, in the case of phreatic cave clay in dolomite caves, I NEVER wash in warm or hot water--that sets the clay stains sure as shooting. Wash in plain cold water first, either with the hose or by soaking in a tub. Then wash in cold water with soap. The main reason not to use cotton is the clay stains NEVER come out entirely. Whoo-Hoo--caving underwear!! Yeah, I wear conventional cotton to part cotton standard underwear beneath the longjohns. So let the cave gurus sue me, cause *they AIN'T checking my underwear!* |
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L Roebuck
Technical Support
Caving
^V^ Just a caver
Posts: 2,023
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Post by L Roebuck on Feb 12, 2007 20:27:40 GMT -5
Alas my dear Pretzlgirl - I don't know where the coin slot is located on the washboard! Dr. Beaner that's easy -- just write me a check....cash if you prefer. ;D Don't miss out on the Cavers Valentine Special! For just three easy payments of just $19.95 you can have your very own Dr. Beaner Wash-O-Matic!!! Supplies are limited -- order today! |
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Post by Azurerana on Feb 12, 2007 21:39:38 GMT -5
Lynn vs Dr. Beaner-- airing dirty laundry in public, are we??? ;D Actually, when my husband and were married, we had a total of 3 washing machines between us. (and two dryers). We got rid of one of each--kept two of the washing machines. One (the good one) bit the dust in a couple of years doing only normal clothes. The cave clothes one just seems to keep going and going and going. |
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L Roebuck
Technical Support
Caving
^V^ Just a caver
Posts: 2,023
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Post by L Roebuck on Feb 13, 2007 10:02:10 GMT -5
Lynn vs Dr. Beaner-- airing dirty laundry in public, are we??? ;D Na, we were just kidding around in public. ;D ;D All in good fun!  |
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Post by gillip on Apr 20, 2007 20:16:42 GMT -5
I have found that letting the mud dry is a good method. Let the mud dry, give them a good beating, and then wash them. That reminds me I have some very muddy coveralls.
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