Icky Equipment: Tips for cleaning up poorly stored challenge course equipment
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By Kathy Haras, Ph.D
Oh no! You’ve opened up your storage bins of challenge
course equipment and discovered it’s a mess. Muddy, moldy, rusty, and beyond
gross. No one could begin to even consider using it in its current state. What
can you do? What should you do? Is the stuff even salvageable? Have you just
uncovered a financial disaster for your program?
It looks bad. And you’re likely angry at the person who put
it away (or was supposed to). But all may not be lost. Read on for some advice
that might resolve your issue.
- Stop the process. Hang up all of the
effected items (and all the items stored with them) in a warm, dry,
well-ventilated area. You will want to wear gloves – dish washing gloves are a
good choice – and avoid reaching blindly into bins since sometimes there is
more ugliness hiding under the surface. Let things dry. Carefully remove any
caked on mud. Do not use a sharp edge.
- Take stock. Separate out the items by
type and brand. First, put all the harnesses together, all the helmets
together, etc. Then, sort again by manufacturer. Yes, you will need to separate
your Brand X ropes from your Brand Y ropes.
- Find and follow manufacturer care instructions.
Remember all of those tags that come attached to pieces of equipment? The ones
that might be littering the equipment room floor, be shoved in an envelope, or
arranged neatly in a binder? Match the care instructions with the effected item
and then follow those instructions precisely. If you can’t find any
instructions, write down the type and manufacturer of the item. Search the
internet. If you can find the instructions, follow them. If not, move to the
next step.
- General care instructions for harnesses,
ropes, and helmets. When you can’t find the manufacturer’s care
instructions for an effected item, you will want to be fairly conservative.
Manufacturer’s recommendations vary so don’t assume that it will be fine to
treat Brand W the way you treat Brand Z. Soak then agitate the item(s) in lots of clean water. A bathtub, bin, or other large container will
be required. Do not use a washing machine (neither top nor front-loading) or
pressure washer. Do not use soap, detergent, or other additives, even those
advertised as being especially for climbing or outdoor gear, unless a
manufacturer’s instructions have directed you to do so – in which case you’re
back to step #3. Several baths may necessary along with gentle hand scrubbing.
Your aim is for clear, clean water. Once the item is clean, hang it to air dry
away from direct sunlight.
- General care instructions for carabiners,
connectors, and other hardware. Once again, you will want to be fairly
conservative in your approach – use your hands or a toothbrush rather than any
power tools. First, wash the item. Second, dry the item thoroughly with a clean
soft cloth. Allow the item to air dry.
- Re-assess. Once items are cleaned and dry, conduct your usual periodic monthly inspection. Look for stiffness, discolouration or fading, fraying, lumps, holes, cracks, or failure to perform as intended. Retire the item if you have any doubt. Prepare a list of items that need to be replaced. Items that pass your inspection are then ready for their annual inspection. Be sure to tell your professional inspector what happened.