Hello! This is how I care for my ropes. This is not how I would condition brand new (raw) rope, but instead this is my once-every-6mo-or-so refresh to keep the ropes feeling nice and to get the twists out. I do not wash my rope. This is my jute but I have used the same process for my hemp as well. In this case I used jojoba oil but I have also used tea tree oil.
I am not a rope care expert but I figured people might want to see what I do!
I unbundle each of my ropes into a bucket or other vessel. Every 2-3 ropes, I add a squirt of oil and mix them around a bit with my hands.
I flipped over my ottoman and attach a carabiner to it, but any solid point you can attach a carabiner to should work. I have used my shower rod in the past but I find this to be easier on my arms.
I add a bit of oil to a rag or old shirt and pull the rope through it and against the carabiner. In this photo, my gloved hand is pulling. I like to pull each rope twice, once in each direction, adding a bit more oil to the rag between each rope.
After all the ropes are done, I like to hang them for a few hours to let them air out and finish absorbing the oil. After that you can bundle them up and you’re ready to tie!
This whole process (for 8 ropes) until the hanging step took about 30 min, all while watching TV.
As someone who uses my ropes a lot, they really do feel nicer to handle after this. They are smoother and the bights don’t twist up.