In shibari, jute ropes are most commonly used as they have the best properties. However, they must not be ropes from the rope shop or hobby market, as these are too hard, biting, and filled with smelly and irritating preservatives. Special rope treatments are therefore unavoidable for shibari. The extent of these treatments determines the final quality and price of the rope. In general, the more treated the rope, the smoother and finer it is. The best care for the rope is the tying itself. The rope "matures" over time. In the beginning, ropes tend to be a bit coarser, but tying softens them, makes them smoother, and also makes them a bit thinner. The ropes also initially become powdery ("snow"). Even a less treated rope will eventually resemble a more treated rope, but it will take longer, it will shed more dust and the hairs will initially fall out. These can be gotten rid of by tanning the rope (quickly, over a gentle flame), or just ignoring them as the rope will smooth itself out over time. Oiling If you feel that your jute ropes are dry, it is possible to oil them. Put a few drops of camellia oil in your hands and spread it in your palms, take the rope in your hands and run it along the length of the rope. Don't forget the knots at the ends of the rope. Alternatively, you can use a microfiber cloth. Use less oil, you can always add more. If the rope still feels greasy the next day, you have put in too much oil. Once you have used oil to treat your rope, you need to treat it regularly! Waxing For jute and hemp ropes, waxing is the best care you can give them. It is advisable to wax the ropes during the initial processing, which is why most of our ropes are already treated in this way. Ropes treated in this way usually only need to be waxed again once about halfway through their life. Apply a little waxing paste to a folded cloth, insert the rope and run it through its entire length. You can also rub the wax into the rope from the palm of your hand. Sunbathing Tanning works on hairy ropes. This will reduce not only the hairs themselves but also the dust that is created when handling the ropes. Either a gas stove or a propane-butane burner can be used for tanning, definitely not a candle! Run the rope quickly through the hottest part of the flame and burn the fine fibers on its surface. The safest way is to take the part of the rope that you can hold comfortably, taut in your hands and run it back and forth through the flame several times (2-4 times), shift, and continue on the part of the rope that is not yet burned. After the actual tanning, the ropes need to be cleaned with a cloth and oiled, as tanning always dries them out slightly. Cleaning Try not to get the ropes dirty. If you are using them for intimate areas, reserve the rope for one partner only. If you do need to clean them, the procedure varies according to the type of rope. Cotton ropes You can wash them in the washing machine without any problems. Before you put them in, put the untied ropes in a cloth bag or pillowcase to keep them together. Jute and hemp ropes You can use a microfiber cloth for small dirt or general cleaning. Just fold it and run it back and forth along the length of the rope. Even jute and hemp ropes can be washed in the washing machine, but this reduces their durability and especially their load-bearing capacity, which is most important for tying in slings. Therefore, this method of cleaning is only recommended if the ropes are extremely dirty, for example from mud. Please note in advance that you will never get blood from the rope, so please think about such games in advance. First, check that the inside of the washing machine is completely clean. Tie the loosely coiled rope with string in one place and place it in a laundry bag. Wash at 40° with either no detergent at all or with half the amount of gentle detergent. Select the highest spin speed. It's always best to try washing with just one line to see how it responds. Never wash ropes tied together, you might not untie them again. After washing, the ropes should be dried "just right" taut. This is because washing will stretch the rope wider and shorter in length, while strong tension can narrow and stretch it.