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How to Clean a Rope Hammock

Cleveland Van Cecil

Enthusiasts often hang hammocks outside during the summer for relaxing naps in the sun or shade. Because of pollen in the air, clipped grass and floating dirt, your hammock may be dirty after a long summer. Hammocks are so large that it's not possible to fit them in a traditional washing machine.

Rope hammocks may discolor if not cleaned regularly.

Clean your hammock by hand at least one time per season to prevent stains from penetrating the fibers of the hammock rope, which by then are almost impossible to remove.

  1. Fill a bathtub with warm water.

  2. Submerge the hammock in the water. Allow the fibers to soak thoroughly.

  3. Add mild detergent or oxygenated bleach to the water.

  4. Soak the hammock for one hour.

  5. Rub the pieces of rope together by hand.

  6. Drain the water from the tub.

  7. Spray the entire hammock with your showerhead or garden hose to remove all the detergent. Leave the hammock to drip excess water into the tub.

  8. Place the hammock in a plastic container. Take it out to the yard.

  9. Spread the hammock out on a flat surface to dry. Keep it flat to prevent shrinkage.