Make a rope washer

The intention here was to utilise as many oddments as I had lying around at home.

1. Think initially about where you will hang your rope washer; it needs to be well drained and close to a water supply.

2. The key pieces are a length of drainage pipe and rectangle of artificial grass or similar.

3. Drill two holes in the pipe so you can hang up your contraption.

4. Cut the rectangle of ‘grass’ larger than needed and then gradually trim down in size so there is room for hose, rope and water.

5. Measure the length of hose within the pipe and then using a bradawl pierce seven holes. Three facing the rope and two pairs on either side.

6. Position the hose inside the tube and turn so that the unpierced side lies alongside the black tube. Fold the end over and secure with two jubilee clips. This will stop the grass sliding out of the tube.

7. Feed your rope from the top and pull down collecting in a bucket. Experiment with water pressure. I have made a shim for smaller diameter ropes.

8. A pulley at the top makes the process much easier; several light passes is much better for the rope. Dry by weaving back and forth across your garden – I have a fix for this too.

9. Remove the insert and clean occasionally, the grit and mud accumulated indicates its success as does the dirty water in the bucket.

10. Don’t become obsessive; clean rope helps sand, silt and clay leave the sheath but continuous cleaning can degrade the rope quicker. Without the hose attached the cleaner can be used horizontally below a welly boot in a streamway or bucket.

I feel a little sorry for my caving buddy who now has a rectangular hole in the middle of his artificial lawn…