Rock climbers rely on their ropes. Each time you climb, you trust your life to your rope. If it breaks, you fall. Therefore, it is extremely important to take care of your rope. Rope safety is more than just checking your rope for wear and tear. You should examine your rope before and after every climb, and you need to clean and store it properly.
Visual Examination
Before and after you climb, check the whole length of your rope for obvious abrasions or cuts. Damage to the outer sheath will not immediately weaken a climbing rope but will cause it to wear out faster. If your rope has any core damage, however, it should be immediately retired.
Top Rope Setup
Top roping is inherently harder on a climbing rope because the rope is constantly dragging against the rock. When setting up a top rope, make sure that your rope hangs beyond the edge of the cliff and does not run through or over any sharp edges or cracks. Climbing ropes almost never break from the force of a fall, but they sometimes are severed by sharp rocks.
Knots
The weakest point in your rope is your knot. Visually inspect every knot before you climb. A neat, well-dressed knot is not only easier to examine but also stronger. Back up every knot with a safety knot. Always watch new climbers tie-in to make sure they tie their knots correctly.
Keepin' It Clean
Dirt and grime can work their way into your rope and shorten its lifespan. Never set your rope down directly on the ground. Lay it on a rope bag or tarp instead. Never step on your rope. Do not write on or mark your rope. Keep your rope away from such harsh chemicals as bug spray and battery acid. Periodically wash your rope, either by hand or in a top-loading washer, and air dry it.
Coiling
Always coil your rope when you're done climbing and store it this way. Coiling your rope properly will help prevent it from getting tangled and knotted. Climbers usually use what is known as a butterfly coil.
Kinks
Your rope will inevitably begin to kink up if you use it often. You will notice that the rope develops coils in it as you belay, which are difficult to work through the belay device. Kinks are not good for your rope. When you begin to notice kinks, you need to get them out. Starting at one end of the rope, run the rope through your hands, pushing the coils down to the other end. Repeat this several times until the kinks are gone.
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