The Board

Hi all,

I was wondering what people do to clean fly lines? I have always cleaned with damp kitchen towel, SA brillo(?) pad and then applied a small amount of dressing, whilst wiping the excess off (floating lines). With sinking lines I just wipe them down.

Now, I have had mixed opinions about washing up liquid and warm water, some say it damages the line, and some don't. What exactly is the correct way? Preferably a line designer could explain. Someone on you tube recommended baby wipes, but I don't think that's a great idea...

All the best!

Warm soapy water (soft soap not some industrial strength stuff - I use Dove) applied with a paper towel, then wiped dry and I use the recommended lubricant or some stuff I sell which is a locally made knock off of the Tiemco dressing, wipe that one passing the line through a cloth several times then wipe it off. "Slicker than snot on a doorknob", as Bob Wyatt once said.

I have one reply. I’ll post it soon once I have a second. Generally speaking I don’t clean my lines but I do slick them regularly. Often multiple times each day.

Cheers, Paul

I let them soak in clean soft water. Then wipe the dirt of with a soft cloth. Then apply dressing if nessecary.

I like Pauls approach, a bit like putting wax on a dirty car

Cheers
Lasse

I wipe off (soak in if really dirty) luke warm water with soap flakes (this is important, according to Bruce Richards), soak a cloth in the same water and wipe off repeatedly until there's no more dirt on the on the line. Wipe off with a clean rag with just water, then a dry rag. Then apply dressing and buff. This procedure is for floating lines - the same for sinking lines except for the line-dressing part.

It seems "a lot", but it really takes less than five minutes and the lines love it!

Lars

Ok I was waiting for a reply from Josh at SA.

Brice writes -

Hi Paul, I'll weigh in but you should wait to hear from Josh too before posting, he may have better information..
I've always recommended cleaning lines with with soap and water (NOT detergent) on a cloth followed by a clear water rinse, or the SA line cleaning pads (best).
Detergents will remove important fluids from the lines surface, soap not so much.
I don't know what's in baby wipes but suspect that if they are OK for a baby's bum they probably won't hurt a fly line!
The things people commonly use that are harmful to lines are detergents and solvents, both will eventually result in lines becoming stiff and cracking.
Josh?
Bruce

Josh replies -

Hey Paul,

Bruce is spot on in my opinion. Using mild soaps is fine, but you definitely want to avoid any sort of harsh detergent, especially with bleach, and any solvents or solvent based dressings.

We do sell a fly line soap now that is mild enough for contact with fly lines. It’s good for very dirty lines when you want to loosen the dirt a bit before removing. Mechanical abrasion with something like the SA cleaning pad is the safest route.

Josh Jenkins
R&D Manager

Straight from the horse’s mouth. I also pinged Simon at Rio to see what he says. I imagine it will be along similar lines. (I had to look up “detergent” and I’m sure I’ve done this before )

Cheers, Paul

Paul Arden wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:43 pm Josh replies -

Mechanical abrasion with something like the SA cleaning pad is the safest route.

I have often wondered about mechanical abrasion. Do most (especially floating) lines not have a coating, which may wear off, or is it the same stuff all the way to the core?

Cheers,
Dirk

Rio has a nice video about cleaning flylines, they use washing up liquid

Cheers
Lasse

I'm glad to see Bruce agrees with me (after all, I did get the info from him ages ago).
Oh and I actually have a bottle of that SA line soap -I'd completely forgotten about it. I'll try it and let you know.
Maybe I should send it to you, Paul? I suspect your lines might approve :-).

Lars

Hi all,

"Slicker than snot on a doorknob"

cheers, Peter!

I let them soak in clean soft water.

as apposed to deuterium oxide? Oh wait, that's heavy water. My bad

It seems "a lot", but it really takes less than five minutes and the lines love it!

I totally agree, Lars. In fact, i had to wipe mine twice today as the algae was quite severe. I clean and dress after every fishing trip.

Paul Arden wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:43 pm Ok I was waiting for a reply from Josh at SA.

Brice writes -

Hi Paul, I'll weigh in but you should wait to hear from Josh too before posting, he may have better information..
I've always recommended cleaning lines with with soap and water (NOT detergent) on a cloth followed by a clear water rinse, or the SA line cleaning pads (best).
Detergents will remove important fluids from the lines surface, soap not so much.
I don't know what's in baby wipes but suspect that if they are OK for a baby's bum they probably won't hurt a fly line!
The things people commonly use that are harmful to lines are detergents and solvents, both will eventually result in lines becoming stiff and cracking.
Josh?
Bruce

Josh replies -

Hey Paul,

Bruce is spot on in my opinion. Using mild soaps is fine, but you definitely want to avoid any sort of harsh detergent, especially with bleach, and any solvents or solvent based dressings.

We do sell a fly line soap now that is mild enough for contact with fly lines. It’s good for very dirty lines when you want to loosen the dirt a bit before removing. Mechanical abrasion with something like the SA cleaning pad is the safest route.

Josh Jenkins
R&D Manager

Straight from the horse’s mouth. I also pinged Simon at Rio to see what he says. I imagine it will be along similar lines. (I had to look up “detergent” and I’m sure I’ve done this before )

Cheers, Paul

Thank you very much for that, Paul. That's exactly what i was looking for. I haven't used fairy liquid for a good long while since someone mentioned it. I must say the SA clean and dress kit is quite excellent. When are you going to make more shoot?

Rio has a nice video about cleaning flylines, they use washing up liquid

That's why i started using it mate after seeing the video The MED is £84 over here, so i want to make them last as long as possible

All the best