i recently bought a 27 ft Catalina that has sat for over 7 years. the interior has moldy stains and old pInt that is chipped in spots. I want to clean it as best possible and need advice on a good cleaner stain remover. thanks
good interior cleaner
- Thread starter Nando
- Start date
I recommend a product called Folex for fabric cushions and your liner if it has fabric over the fiberglass. It’s a spray and wipe application. I’ve used it with great results. It can be purchased at Home Depot, Ace hardware and many other places. It’s found in with the home cleaning supplies.
Simple Green has been my go to for pretty much everything boat related . Safe to use pretty much anywhere on the boat and doesn't hurt the environment . We use it in an industrial environment at work and at home .
We don't need gloves and it not hard to breath.
We don't need gloves and it not hard to breath.
Obviously opinions and experiences differ greatly regarding this product. All I can say is make sure you first test it on an inconspicuous area before large scale use
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Simple Green is not simple. It is EVIL!
Most of us do not read the fine print on product labels and get much of our product recommendations from dock mates and these forums. About 15 years ago I used Simple Green based on how good it cleaned the boat across the dock from mine. By the end of that summer all of my opening and fixed...
forums.sailboatowners.com
Will 2nd simple green. Also, while this product is expensive, it's very effective at keeping odors and mildew/mold at bay all season.
Amazon.com: KANBERRA GEL 524002 Natural Air Purifier Gel, 4-Ounce: Home & Kitchen
Amazon.com: KANBERRA GEL 524002 Natural Air Purifier Gel, 4-Ounce: Home & Kitchen
In general, always work up in aggressiveness of the cleaner, making sure you don't cause more harm than good. Dish soap is a good first level, followed by a Citrus Cleaner (I like Citrus-Solv). A scrub brush can then be added - nylon first and then a brass wire brush if the surface can handle it. If that doesn't work, you can try some Bar Keepers Friend which is mildly abrasive and gets rid of some stains (rust). You can then try solvents like alcohol and acetone, the latter will remove most finishes. If mild cleaning and solvents don't work, you probably then need to remove a layer from the surface with the appropriate abrasive: brass wool, 3M pads, wet sandpaper, rubbing/polishing compound etc.
Wood can be restored pretty easily by cleaning, sanding down to good wood (careful with veneers) and refinishing with oil or varnish. For the painted surfaces, your best bet would be to clean them up, scrape any loose paint off, feather out the chips as best possible and repaint. You can use a good quality Latex Bathroom paint in the interior - easy and cheap.
Wood can be restored pretty easily by cleaning, sanding down to good wood (careful with veneers) and refinishing with oil or varnish. For the painted surfaces, your best bet would be to clean them up, scrape any loose paint off, feather out the chips as best possible and repaint. You can use a good quality Latex Bathroom paint in the interior - easy and cheap.
I have found BKF also works very well at removing tannin stains. So if you have brown stains from leaves that sat in your cockpit or the Chesapeake smile or Bayou Brim on your bow... BKF is a good go-to.
Search the forums for Formula B. There's a ton of info in some of those threads. Others have also recommended Wet N Forget to me. I'm hoping to use it tomorrow