Cleaning Sheets

[Gary L.]

Well, the Red Witch III has survived her first season with a new skipper, and is in the process of being refurbished. The mast is ready to be taken off and stored, sails taken and ready for refurbishing at SailCare, and yes folks, I am seriously contemplating putting "Cetol" on the teak.

However, in viewing my sheets, I find them to be in good condition, but gray and mildewed in spots. I believe I could wash them, but has anyone done this? If so, are there any precautions to take?

Thanks,

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339



dory26@attbi.com

[Joe Sankey]

Well, the Red Witch III has survived her first season with a new skipper, and is in the process of being refurbished. The mast is ready to be taken off and stored, sails taken and ready for refurbishing at SailCare, and yes folks, I am seriously contemplating putting "Cetol" on the teak.

However, in viewing my sheets, I find them to be in good condition, but gray and mildewed in spots. I believe I could wash them, but has anyone done this? If so, are there any precautions to take?

Thanks,

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339

Gary, most of what I've read says that bleach and detergent are not recommended for cleaning dacron. Having said that, I have used both as a soak on sheets with good success. It is important, I suppose,to rinse well. I create a soapy solution with some bleach in a bucket and soak them for a while. Then soak in a series of clean water rinses and finally use a hose. It may harm them, but I've not had a line fail and it prolongs the usefulness of the line if replacing is the alternative to dirty sheets.
Joe Sankey
CD 30 Slow Dance



sankey@gulftel.com

[Gerry]

I usually place the sheets(mooring lines on a separate batch)in the bath tub in warm to hot water 1/2 cup of bleach and 1/2 cup of Wisk or similar laundry detergent slosh around 20 minutes let set over night rinse in cool water 30 minutes. This not only rinses out the dirt and mold but also the salt(for those who sail in saltwater) some even say include fabric softener. An easy way is also to put them in two pillow cases amd wash in the washer. Hang out to dry on your deck or even the living room(condo or apartment dwellers) for a few days to make sure they are thoroughly dry. I have even washed my sails in the bathtub. Goodluck and have fun.

Gerry
s/v Barracuda
Upper Machodoc Creek
Potomac River

[Al Levesque]

... However, in viewing my sheets, I find them to be in good condition, but gray and mildewed in spots. I believe I could wash them, but has anyone done this? If so, are there any precautions to take?

I always remove any metal and put them in the washing machine. I use the same settings and detergent, no bleach, as I use for shirts and jeans etc. I always use cold water for washing. Don't know if that makes a difference.

I loop the lines over the clothesline to dry.



albertlevesque@cove.com

[Ken Coit]

... However, in viewing my sheets, I find them to be in good condition, but gray and mildewed in spots. I believe I could wash them, but has anyone done this? If so, are there any precautions to take?

I always remove any metal and put them in the washing machine. I use the same settings and detergent, no bleach, as I use for shirts and jeans etc. I always use cold water for washing. Don't know if that makes a difference.

I loop the lines over the clothesline to dry.

parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[Gary L.]

... However, in viewing my sheets, I find them to be in good condition, but gray and mildewed in spots. I believe I could wash them, but has anyone done this? If so, are there any precautions to take?

I always remove any metal and put them in the washing machine. I use the same settings and detergent, no bleach, as I use for shirts and jeans etc. I always use cold water for washing. Don't know if that makes a difference.

I loop the lines over the clothesline to dry.

Maybe I could start a new nautical trend.



dory26@attbi.com

[Mike Wainfeld]

Gary-When I had my sails done by Sailcare they also did my jibsheets. I don't know their formula, but the sheets came out much better than any of my washing machine efforts at home. Shiny, smooth, very nice!
I don't remember the added cost.

Mike Wainfeld
CD Ty "Regalo"



wainfeld@optonline.net

[Ken Coit]

Sail Care gets $5 a sheet for boats 30 ft LOA and under; $7 a sheet for the rest. I don't know what happens if you use a one-piece sheet.

I hope the photo doesn't drive too many people crazy. I thought it was rather pretty and you shouldn't miss it just 'cause you don't go to the SailCare web site.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Gary-When I had my sails done by Sailcare they also did my jibsheets. I don't know their formula, but the sheets came out much better than any of my washing machine efforts at home. Shiny, smooth, very nice!
I don't remember the added cost.

Mike Wainfeld
CD Ty "Regalo"

SailCare Link
[img]http://www.sailcare.com/topImage.jpg[/img]
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[Gary L.]

Sail Care gets $5 a sheet for boats 30 ft LOA and under; $7 a sheet for the rest. I don't know what happens if you use a one-piece sheet.

I hope the photo doesn't drive too many people crazy. I thought it was rather pretty and you shouldn't miss it just 'cause you don't go to the SailCare web site.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Gary-When I had my sails done by Sailcare they also did my jibsheets. I don't know their formula, but the sheets came out much better than any of my washing machine efforts at home. Shiny, smooth, very nice!
I don't remember the added cost.

Mike Wainfeld
CD Ty "Regalo"

Thanks Ken and Mike,

I do remember that SailCare does Sheets, it's just that with a main, staysail, yankee and storm jib going in for cleaning, that the added weight of sheets would call for a private TT unit to bring them all down. I confess! I was trying to cheap out!

Thanks again,

Gary



dory26@attbi.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

Gary,

I wash all of my lines in my washing machine. If shackles can be removed, they are, but if they're spliced to the line, they stay put. Each line is placed in a lingerie bag. (This both protects the line and helps prevent it from getting too tangled.) The line is first coiled so that it's the length of the bag, about 2 feet long, then placed neatly in the bag. I wash 3 or 4 lines at a time, depending on their size, each in its own bag. I use the gentle wash cycle with cold water, regular laundry detergent and bleach. I don't let them agitate from more than 10 minutes.

I use two methods of drying, depending on the lines.

My dryer has a shelf so I can lay out the line neatly on the shelf (this takes awhile) then set the shelf in the dryer and set the dryer on its lowest setting (that's air dry on mine) or on low for about half an hour. Then I removed the line and hang it to dry the rest of the way. Or I will skip the dryer completely and just hang it. It'll take a couple of days to dry completely if it doesn't first go in the dryer.

I have followed the above procedure every year with good results.

By the way, if you decided to wash your lines in your washing machine it's important to use the gentle cycle and to not let it agitate too long. It's okay to use a more aggressive wash cycle with old dacron lines, but the new fangled high tech lines, especially those with spectra or similar core, don't take well to aggressive washing. The core can poke through the outide layer and it's not easy to get it back inside.


Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Well, the Red Witch III has survived her first season with a new skipper, and is in the process of being refurbished. The mast is ready to be taken off and stored, sails taken and ready for refurbishing at SailCare, and yes folks, I am seriously contemplating putting "Cetol" on the teak.

However, in viewing my sheets, I find them to be in good condition, but gray and mildewed in spots. I believe I could wash them, but has anyone done this? If so, are there any precautions to take?

Thanks,

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339

catherine_monaghanNOSPAM@merck.com