Care and washing

Nylon takes washing well. The hardware and the melted ends are what limit how a piece should be cleaned.

Washing

Hand wash in lukewarm water with a mild soap, work the braid gently and rinse until the water runs clear. A machine wash inside a bag survives, but repeated hot washes shrink the braid and stiffen it.

Drying

Air dry away from direct heat. A radiator dries the surface while the core stays wet, which is how a collar starts to smell despite being washed.

Colour bleed

Deep reds and blacks can bleed on first wash. Washing a new piece separately once solves it for good.

When to replace

Sheath fibres standing proud along a whole section, hardware with visible play, or a melted end that has cracked open. Any of the three on a load bearing piece means replacement rather than repair.