Care and Maintenance of Shibari rope
Feb 06, 2021
Caring for Your deGiotto Bondage Rope
Cleaning rope: Wash your bondage ropes ONLY when dirty with feces, urine, blood, cum or vomit. Otherwise, just let them air out. Hemp and jute are naturally anti-microbial and will kill most germs. The instructions below only apply to ropes made by deGiotto Rope. We have only confirmed these methods for our rope. Because of differences in manufacturing methods, quality of materials and dye methods, we cannot speak to how others' ropes may react to these washing and drying techniques. Washing rope:
Hemp - In the washing machine
Do NOT immerse rainbow or camo ropes. The leaching of color that normally occurs with tub washing will muddy the colors as the dyes leave the rope, mix and are absorbed back into the fibers. The same for the various colors of lint in the water.
There are those who say that you should never get your jute rope wet. This is not true, at least for deGiotto Rope jute. Jute does require special care when drying as explained below.
Do not wash silk unless absolutely necessary.
Drying and stretching:- Unbundle the rope and put in a pillow case or lingerie bag
- Delicate cycle
- Cold water
- 1/2 teaspoon of free and clear detergent
- Extra spin cycle if you have one
- Dry and Oil as explained below
- Fill the tub or bucket with cool water
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of free and clear detergent
- Stir
- Add the unbundled rope
- Stir some more
- Leave for 20 minutes
- Rinse the rope with cool water
- Dry and Oil as explained below
Do NOT immerse rainbow or camo ropes. The leaching of color that normally occurs with tub washing will muddy the colors as the dyes leave the rope, mix and are absorbed back into the fibers. The same for the various colors of lint in the water.
- Fill the tub or bucket with cool water
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of free and clear detergent
- Stir
- Fill a pitcher with the soap solution
- Attach one end of the rope to a stationary object or ask a friend to hold one end of the rope
- While walking away from the fixed end, drag the rope through your open hand as your pour the soap solution into your hand.
- To rinse, do the same with a pitcher of clean water or a hose.
- Do not let the wet rope touch itself.
- Dry and oil as explained below.
There are those who say that you should never get your jute rope wet. This is not true, at least for deGiotto Rope jute. Jute does require special care when drying as explained below.
- Fill the tub or bucket with cool water
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of free and clear detergent
- Stir
- Add the un-bundled rope
- Stir some more
- Leave for 20 minutes
- Rinse the rope with cool water
- Dry and treat as explained below
Do not wash silk unless absolutely necessary.
- Fill the tub or bucket with cool water
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of Woolite or other delicates detergent
- Stir
- Add the un-bundled rope
- Stir gently
- Do NOT overly agitate, squeeze or wring. Leave for 5 minutes
- Rinse the rope with cool water
- Dry and treat as explained below
Hemp -
Twisty rope - If your rope twists on itself, it needs to be balanced. The simple process is explained in the video below.
Oiling/Buttering/Waxing rope:
- Hang the rope in loose coils until it stops dripping.
- Using a stable object or a friend, lay the rope out fully then stretch it tight.
- Let the rope hang in loose coils until it is barely damp.
- Using a stable object or a friend, lay the rope out fully then stretch it tight again. Let the rope hang in loose coils until completely dry. Depending on the climate, this could take several days. A fan blowing directly on the rope can speed the process.
- Let the rope hang in loose coils until completely dry. Depending on the climate, this could take several days. A fan blowing directly on the rope can speed the process.
- Hang the rope in loose coils until it stops dripping.
- Using a stable object or a friend, lay the rope out fully then stretch it tight.
- Attach each end of the rope to a stable object so that the rope is firm and at least four feet off the ground.
- If you tie knots in the rope to attach it, the twists from the knots will remain after drying. I recommend that you tie twine to the end of the rope and use the twine to attach to your stable object.
- Hang a weight of about one pound in the center of the rope. A 16oz bottle of water works well but anything will do.
- Let the rope hang in this manner until completely dry. Do not re-tighten the rope. Depending on the climate, this could take several days. A fan blowing directly on the rope can speed the process.
- Hang the rope in loose coils until it stops dripping.
- Using a stable object or a friend, lay the rope out fully then stretch it tight.
- Let the rope hang in loose coils until it is barely damp.
- Using a stable object or a friend, lay the rope out fully then stretch it tight again. Let the rope hang in loose coils until completely dry. Depending on the climate, this could take several days. A fan blowing directly on the rope can speed the process.
- Don't put it away wet.
- That's pretty much it. You can use these synthetic ropes underwater without their properties changing. They're virtually waterproof
- Follow the directions for hemp or jute rope above.
- Don't let the rope touch itself while wet or drying.
Twisty rope - If your rope twists on itself, it needs to be balanced. The simple process is explained in the video below.
Oiling/Buttering/Waxing rope:
The fibers in hemp and jute bondage ropes can become brittle after time and after washing. The fibers rely on oil to keep them moist and pliable. When your rope starts making dust as you tie or every time after washing, it's time to oil it.
Caution: Over oiling or waxing of your ropes can cause them to feel heavy and sluggish. A little oil goes a long way. You will apply just a bit of oil, wax or butter to the surface of the rope. The capillary action of the fibers will pull it into the rope.
Hemp: We recommend deGiotto Rope Oil which is custom formulated to compliment hemp and jute ropes.
Jute: We recommend deGiotto Rope Butter as well as deGiotto Rope Oil
Bamboo Silk: Nothing
POSH and Hempex: Nothing
deGiotto Rope Oil
Using a cloth
Caution: Over oiling or waxing of your ropes can cause them to feel heavy and sluggish. A little oil goes a long way. You will apply just a bit of oil, wax or butter to the surface of the rope. The capillary action of the fibers will pull it into the rope.
Hemp: We recommend deGiotto Rope Oil which is custom formulated to compliment hemp and jute ropes.
Jute: We recommend deGiotto Rope Butter as well as deGiotto Rope Oil
Bamboo Silk: Nothing
POSH and Hempex: Nothing
deGiotto Rope Oil
- DO NOT spray the oil directly on the rope!
- Spray a spritz or two of oil onto an old washcloth
- Pull the rope through the washcloth
- Respray every other pull or so
- Remove the washcloth from the rope and spray the cloth again. Keep the washcloth in a zip lock baggie until needed again. deGiotto Rope Wax
- Pull the rope across the block of wax.
- Coat lightly at first, you can always add more later
- Place rope in oven at 200 degrees farenheit for 10 minute to allow the wax to soak into the fibers
Using a cloth
- Place a large dollop of butter in the center of an old, worn washcloth.
- Fold the cloth over the blob of butter and twist the cloth forming a ball
- Squeeze the ball allowing your hand to warm the butter and begin pushing the butter through the cloth
- Fold the ball over your rope and pull the rope through the ball as you squeeze
- Scoop up a finger full of butter and rub around the palm facing part of your fingers and thumb
- Pull the rope through your fingers and thumb as you would when tying
1 comment
Thank you!