E-LDx-y: How can I clean the Liquid Detection Rope?

For periodic maintenance, you can clean the rope with isopropyl alcohol without completely removing the rope from its installed location.

1. Remove the section that you want to clean from its self-adhesive clips.

2. Soak the alcohol in a dye-free rag and proceed to wipe it around the rope, squeezing firmly while pulling the rag down the length of the rope.

3. Flip the rag every several feet and re-saturate the rag with alcohol when needed.

4. After cleaning a section of the rope, you can replace it and continue to clean the next section in similar fashion.

5. Replace the rag if it becomes too dirty.

If the rope is still giving you problems after you have cleaned if with isopropyl alcohol or if you think the rope needs a good scrubbing, you can clean it with warm soapy water. You will have to remove the rope from its installed location. It may be helpful to label the sections of the rope or note their locations before you start for an easier re-installation.

1. Gather Dawn dish soap, a large bucket or plastic bin, warm water, soft-bristled scrub brushes, and clean rags.

2. Add dish soap to the bucket of water, approximately 1 cup of detergent to 1 gallon of warm water. To determine if the solution is concentrated enough, place your finger and thumb in the water and rub them together. You should feel a slick/slimy residue. If you do not feel a residue, add more detergent to the water and gently mix to distribute the soap.

3. Submerge a section of the rope in the water. Using a scrub brush or rag, scrub along all sides of the rope with firm pressure.

4. Remove the section of the rope from the soapy solution and rinse it in a bucket of clean, fresh water.

5. Ensure that there are no oily deposits along the length of the rope. If the rope does not appear clean, submerge it in water and scrub again, repeating steps (3) to (5).

6. Hang the clean rope up to dry. Try to point the connectors down, so water cannot pool inside the connectors. The drying process may take 6-48 hours, depending on the room conditions.

7. When the rope is completely dry, reinstall it in its original location.