Index

Cleaning Solutions, (in Alphabetical order).
INDEX - Solvents, Soaps, Protective Coatings, Cleaning Techniques, Safety Warnings.

Every boater has to clean things on their boat.  Scrubbing for hours on end is not fun.  So in an effort to make cleaning easier, we offer the following suggestions from various members of the SJ23 fraternity.  (feel free to send me more ideas.   I'll add them to the list). 

See "SAFETY WARNINGS" about mixing cleaners at the bottom of this list!

FOUR MUST HAVE SOLVENTS TO KEEP ON BOARD   TOP

• Acetone - Use to sanitize a surface prior to applying epoxy or polyester resin.  Dries very fast.  Can also be used to clean a spill or tools coated with resin.

• Mineral Spirits - Good for thinning varnish & enamel paints, cleans brushes, wipe up stray polyurethane sealants and general cleanup.

• Vinegar - Don't use epoxy without it.  This is very effective to clean tools and skin.  It may take a few minutes of soaking to soften the epoxy so it can be cleaned with scrubbing.  Vinegar can also clean bronze.

  Vinegar can also remove the patina from bronze by letting it soak overnight in a 50/50 blend of water & vinegar. Below is the result of soaking bronze anchor rollers overnight.  Cleaned is on the left.

• Xylene - Reduces most top side paints, bottom paints, removes a smudge and is perfect to remove fender & black heel marks from gel coat.

CLEANING SOLUTIONS   TOP

• Paint Brush Cleaner - (not to be confused with turpentine or mineral spirits).   This stuff is made to clean or restore a paint brush where the paint has hardened in the bristles.  But it also removes exhaust stains from fibreglass/gel coat, cleans uncured fibreglass resin or epoxy, is good for cleaning vinyl and gel coat stains, is great for removing adhesive left from a label or price sticker, can remove wax prior to painting or epoxy repair and best of all, it rinses away with water. 

• Camco Black Streak Remover - Removes black streaks, bugs, tar, grease, oil & dirt from window trim, gutter rails and fibreglass hulls.

• Engine Starting Fluid (Ether) - Use to clean the cured butyl rubber sealant after you remove the fitting. 

• Denatured Alcohol - A cleaner that is sold at most any hardware store.   This is ethanol with some methanol added to make it poisonous (not taxable as liquor!). 

• Goof-Off - Is a latex paint remover that is great for cleaning vinyl fenders.  Follow up with a coat of Armor All.   This stuff is really volatile so use in open air. 

• Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner - Works great on fibreglass surface and leaves a nice shine.  It also works well on Life Lines and the vinyl trim on the canvas dodger.  If you are going to try another bathroom cleaner be sure it is OK for use on fibreglass. 

• Soft Scrub with Bleach - Used for cleaning lifelines or an inflatable boat. 

• Spray Nine - Is excellent for removing a stain on a vinyl awning or dead bugs from the front of a vehicle.  Does not affect paint.  Simply spray on, let soak for a few minutes and hose off with water.  For a really stubborn stain use a small brush and some elbow grease. 

• TSP and a dollop of dish soap - Mix the detergent in a bucket of warm water.  It cleans a deck better than anything else I've tried.  I use this concoction a few times a season.  For the normal deck scrubbing I use Soft Scrub. 

• Vanish Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Cleans scummy boot stripes and hulls.   Especially if you use the gel cleaners. 

• Wesley's Whitewall Cleaner - Great for removing bird poo. 

PROTECTIVE COATINGS   TOP

• Future Wax - Returns shine to old fibreglass non-skid areas. 

• NIKWAX Rope Proof - If you want sheets & halyards to stay lighter in the rain and spray, Rope Proof can definitely help.  39% less weight gain after dunking.  Subtle but unmistakable improvement in handling and a reduction in snarling.  A treatment lasts about a year.  Cold weather sailors will find big improvement as treated halyards run free and sheets aren't stuck to the deck.  In addition, squeaking on the drum is reduced and the line tends to slip off and run through blocks a bit easier.

• NIKWAX Tech Wash - Use in the washing machine (front loading) to clean and restore the water proof property if Sunbrella.

• NIKWAX Down Wash - Use in the washing machine (front loading) to restore the water repellence property of hydrophobic or down filled gear.  Your down gear will be warmer with an application. 

• Pledge Furniture Polish - To preserve clear vinyl windows.  Use the plain stuff not "Lemon Pledge."

• Sun Tan Lotion with SPF 30 - This stuff does a great job of protecting a bungee cord from UV damage.   Just stretch the cord a bit, rub it on and you are good to go.   (OK to let go of the cord now!)

• Varnish or Paint Touch up - Fill an empty nail polish bottle for easy touch up, anytime.  Rather than clean an old nail polish bottle, buy a new one at a beauty parlour supply shop.  Fill it using a plastic syringe.  For a small touch up, using a nail polish bottle beats opening a can of paint, mixing it, cleaning the mixer, cleaning a paint brush, and sealing the paint can. 

CLEANING TECHNIQUES with SOLUTION   TOP

• Clean the Deck with a Deck Wash Pump - It is incredible how well rain water can clean a deck, or anything else for that matter.  Morning dew has a similar property.  Most people don't see this because they go inside during the rain or sleep in till the dew evaporates.  Next time, go on deck just after a heavy down pour to see how clean it is.  That pristine clean deck is the cleaning power of rainwater.  I'm not about to suggest you stand in the rain with a deck brush, but try cleaning with the dew.  It sure works.  To be even more effective, wipe the rain or dew off to remove the dust particles imbedded inside each rain drop. 
  For many years I used a bucket of lake water and a brush to wash Panache's deck.  A bucket is OK but frankly the swoosh doesn't wash debris away very well and the brush is wanting to remove grunge from a tight hole.  A steady stream of water from a hose is superior as it can be directed into a crevice to force debris out and float it away.  The stream can also be used to follow the debris to where it flows overboard.  A deck wash pump is also quick and easy to use for a spill or dirty foot prints from shore bound shoes. 
  - To create pressure water on board I fabricated a portable and permanent pump as per Tech Tip E19. 

• Clean the Deck of Coal Dust - We used to have two coal mines next to our lake which is a necessary evil, since the thermal plants generate the majority of electricity here.   Thankfully they burn a very low sulphur coal and there are precipitators on the smoke stacks to catch particles.  Problem is, there is always a light smoky haze that settles on the gel coat and fills the dimples of the none skid.  Repeated soaking and scrubbing with a liquid cleaner called Fantastic (with bleach) will remove most of it but it is best to scrub with a stiff bristle brush once a month to stay ahead of it.  For a tight inside corner cut a Scotch Brite pad cut into a suitable size and rub lightly.  A long strip is very effective to clean in a space too tight to get your hands in.  It doesn't affect the gel coat unless you scrub ridiculously hard. 

• UPDATED Clean the Deck with "30 Seconds" - Cleans and removes slimy green and slippery black algae, moss, mildew and in Panache's case, some coal dust.  Spray "30 Seconds" on a dry deck and keep it wet with a second spray application followed by a light scrubbing.  Rinse with water to stop the chemical cleaning action.  Put on your sun glasses cause the deck is gonna be bright!
  - Panache had 30+ years of coal dust mixed with black algae imbedded deep in the dimples of the non-skid.  It was difficult to keep ahead of the dust when the lake is between two coal mines.  I removed most of it after soaking the deck with Fantastic that contains bleach.  Its always been my go to cleaner.  After 2 hours of scrubbing I thought the deck looked quite good.  That is until a club member arrived to spray "30 Seconds" on a cleaned area.  I was sceptical and then amazed as I watched it dissolve the remaining imbedded stuff within 2 minutes.  Then I gave it a light brushing followed by a rinse and it was whistle clean.  See the cleaned test area below the window at right.  Going to need sun glasses now that I cleaned the rest of the deck back to the factory colour.  Within a week about 20 guys from various clubs around the lake achieved the same results with their bottle of "30 Seconds."  Needless to say, "30 Seconds" is now my go to deck cleaner.
  NOTE - "30 Seconds" can be safely used on Sunbrella to remove bird poo, etc.  The colour of Sunbrella is in the thread when it is manufactured.  "30 Seconds" is NOT safe to use on a fabric that is dyed since it can dissolve the surface dye.

• Clean a Locker (Mold) -  If the Fantastic you buy contains bleach it can easily kill and remove mildew.  Simply spray on, wipe the mold with a damp rag and let dry.  See Tech Tip B02.
  See Note 1:  Be forewarned, bleach fumes are noxious especially if your head is stuck into an enclosed locker or such.  Provide lots of fresh air ventilation.

• Clean the Bottom (Pressure Washer) - Pressure wash the hull before waxing or using other cleaners to see the true bright color of your gel coat.   Also great on lifelines, fenders, stainless steel, shroud covers and to remove old Armada finish.   Careful of the high pressure (1000 psi) from the nozzle.   I watched a friend of mine go right through the dirt of his Westerly 26, then the paint and finally through the gel coat.   I don't know what pressure that pump was set for, but it worked like a belt sander.  So keep the nozzle moving and back off from the surface to use the minimum force required to clean the hull.

• Clean the Bottom (Boat Floating, 2021) - I used my new Scrubbis Brush to clean Panache's bottom just before end of season haul out.  The >2Kg of buoyancy of the brush pushes against the hull as you slide it across the bottom.  The brush is reversible from 3 foam blades to 1 vinyl blade and a foam blade.  I used the latter combination from the dock thinking it to be the most aggressive to remove the grunge from floating in warm shallow water over the season.  Once I retrieved Panache from the water I had a pleasant surprise.  Her hull has never been this smooth at the end of a season.  It feels like it was sanded smooth with 200 grit paper.  One cleaning totally removed several seasons of wet slime and grunge with minimal effort.  It was much cleaner than power washing in a truck wash ever did.  Less hassle too.  Granted it is a lot easier to remove slime and grunge while the hull is still wet, but that is the best time.  I'm sure glad I found this brush.  I will likely dispense with using anti-fouling paint in the future.
  - This is the link to a Buy Scrubbis in North America.  Easier to understand than the Swedish web site where it is manufactured.

• Clean the Bottom (Dried Sea Weed & Other Dead Things) - Every once in a while a tiny critter slithers out of the water or is splashed against the hull to get baked under the sun.  Scrubbing with a stiff bristle and water usually removes them.  The more stubborn ones are easy to remove with a Scotch Brite pad and water. 

• Clean the Bottom (Soap Scum from Water) - If you haul the boat out late in the Fall after motoring down the lake for 20 KMs you may discover that "soap scum" from the water has left an ugly brown stain that follows the bow and quarter waves.   It is advised to remove this ASAP because leaving it will ensure lots of elbow grease if you remove it later.  The only solution I could find to soften it was "Pink Stuff" (industrial degreaser) or Lysol Gel toilet bowl cleaner.   The "Pink Stuff" worked slightly better but is more difficult to find.  Where the elbow grease comes in is scrubbing the hardened stain off with a 3M heavy duty stripping tool (a scouring pad with course Scotch Brite).  Stop scrubbing when it gets easy otherwise you will go through the gel coat.  Scrubbing was the only way I could remove the 2 year old scum. 

• Clean the Bottom (Dirty Rub Rail) - Use acetone and a Scotch Brite pad to clean the vinyl insert of a rub rail.  Then apply two coats of Penatrol to preserve the vinyl which also puts a nice shine on it.  I use the same rubbing compound to restore gel-coat, etc.  Cleans the rub rail and is very easy to use.  Then coat it with the same wax that you put on the boat.  Looks great.

• Clean Stainless Steel (Pulpit & Pushpit) - (Clean & Preserve).
   

  To remove rust from stainless steel tubing use "Bar Keepers Friend".  Mix the powder in water, make a paste, rub with Scotch Brite pad and rinse off.  It does an immaculate job. The main component is oxalic acid that occurs naturally in rhubarb.  The before and after photos speak for themselves.

   

• STANDING RIGGING (Preserve) - SS standing rigging may look great covered with plastic shroud covers, but the covers should be removed occasionally to kill the growth that develops underneath.  Similarly with SS Lifelines, and antennas.  Stainless steel MUST be exposed to air to remain stain free!  Use any mild soap to kill the growth. 

• FIBREGLASS (Spilled Diesel Fuel) - Use Rubbing Alcohol to clean up minor diesel fuel spills and to eliminate the smell.

• FIBREGLASS (Mildew) - A 50:50 solution of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide will kill mould or mildew (or any other growth for that matter) in porous material, wood, fabric or in a fissure. 

• FIBREGLASS (Rust Stains) - To remove rust from fibreglass use Lime-Away or Bar Tenders Friend.  I have seen the "Bar Tender" do an immaculate job.  Mix the powder in water, make a paste, rub with Scotch Brite pad and rinse off.

• FIBREGLASS (Silicone Spray Lubricant) - Over sprayed silicone will prevent paint from wetting a surface properly and therefore reduces adhesion.   This is the primary cause of fish eyes (small paint free areas).   Mask off areas you may be painting in the future. 

• FIBREGLASS (Vinyl Decals) - Really old decals are difficult to remove.   The longer they have been exposed to the sun the harder they are to remove.   Apply heat with a heat gun, moving it constantly to avoid over heating.   Pry up a corner and gently pull up.   You will likely have to use a razor blade in a holder to assist with "lifting" it off.   Chemicals generally don't work because the front of the decal is sealed to water ingress.   Good luck. 

• PROPELLER (Keep the barnacles off) - Smear a very light coat of axle grease on the prop blades to keep the barnacles from sticking.

• Remove Hardened Sikkens CETOL - EZ Strip varnish remover can dissolve hardened Cetol Marine.  Its available from Home Depot.  Just paint it on, wait 15 minutes and scrape it off.   Use a carbide tipped cabinet scraper as it will last longer than a metal one.  The problem with sanding is that the removed Cetol Marine clogs the paper.  If you are scraping be careful of the corners, they might leave a gouge.  I don't have personal experience with removing Cetol but the suggestion from the local Sikkens Technical representative is, "Maintain the coating.  Don't let it deteriorate to expose the raw wood or you will have to start all over again."  Fortunately a maintenance coat is dead easy.

• Remove Cured Sealant (3M 5200 / 4200 or Sikaflex 291) or Adhesive - DeBond Marine Formula is specifically formulated to remove cured polyurethane adhesives marketed as forming a permanent bond.  It can remove old deck hardware, transducers and thru hull fittings, breaking the bond in minutes.  It is safe on fibreglass, gel coat, powder coated metal, aluminum, 2 part paint, polycarbonate lenses, and clear coat finish.  When done, simply clean up with soap and water to neutralize DeBond Marine, then wipe down with denatured alcohol.  (Not sold in Canada).

• Remove Cured BoatLIFE Polysulfide Sealant - BoatLIFE Life-caulk is designed to release a cured bond around a thru hull fitting.  Best to pick away at the sealant around the fitting to create a depression for the liquid to penetrate.  Or build a dam of plastercine around the fitting to contain the liquid.  Once enough of the sealant has weakened you can start twisting the fitting to loosen it.  (Sold in Canada).

• Remove Smell of Vomit - Use a weak solution (a handful in a quart of water) of Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) to remove the smell of vomit, toilet smells (human or pet) or any similar odours.   Store the soda in a moisture proof container. 

_________________________________ SAFETY WARNINGS ____________________________________

1. DON'T mix a soap that contains bleach with another soap or detergent.  Bleach is a very powerful chemical, capable of all kinds of reactions so DON'T mix it!  For example, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, mix bleach (contains a "hypochlorite") and an "ammoniated" cleanser.  Bleach plus ammonia yields free chlorine gas, which is a nasty way to die). 

2. To kill mildew use a soap that contains bleach and wear gloves and a mask.  The bleach kills the bacteria and the suds prevent bacteria from becoming air borne so you don't breathe it in.  The mask helps to stop air borne droplets from entering your lungs.

3. While many of the cleaning suggestions are low impact to the environment, it is prudent to perform these jobs when the boat is on land, NOT on water.   The life forms in water CANNOT tolerate cleaning chemicals, while the life forms on land can at least get away from the chemicals.  We have no business destroying their environment so think about what you are going to do!

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