Abstract: A wire rope cleaning device consists of a number of split collars that are clamped closed on the rope and are equipped with equiangularly-spaced arrays of tools, in the form of brushes and picks or spikes, directed radially inward to contact the rope surfaces. The tools are adjustable radially in the collars to suit different sizes of rope and may be locked in the radial positions to which they are adjusted or spring-loaded. The collars bear endwise against one another and against a frame which is anchored by chains so that the wire rope can be winched through the collars. If a first collar has spikes engaging in the helical grooves of a rope the collar will rotate as the rope is pulled through and a second collar equipped with brushes can also be caused to rotate by being clutched to the first collar. Scraper plates to scrape the rope surfaces are clamped to the ends of the collars.