A winch is described comprising a rotatable drum for winding and unwinding a first cable therefrom. The winch contains a cable-wiping apparatus with one or more actuators are activated when the drum rotates in a direction for winding the first cable onto the drum. A mechanical force may be transmitted from the actuator to a second cable that is operatively connected to a wiper clamp. The wiper clamp compresses around the first cable when the cable is pulled in.