Bildge odor from antifreeze?

[Larry Jackel]

There is a sickeningly sweet smell in my bildge that I can't get rid of. I think it is from spilled pink antifreeze used to winterize the pressure water system. I have tried flushing the the bilge with fresh water, but the smell won't go away. Any suggestions?

 

[Paul Akers]

Trace water back

Maybe you cleaned the bilge, but what about the route that the water took from the water heater to the bilge? It sounds like the smell of "pink stuff". It has to be rinsed very good.

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Try using detergent with water...

If you haven't cleaned your bilge--really CLEANED it and flushed all the dirty water out instead of only dumping in more bilge cleaner--in a while, antifreeze prob'ly isn't the only the source of odor. A wet dirty bilge can easily smell like a swamp or even a sewer. If a really thorough bilge cleaning doesn't cure the problem, the most likely culprit is permeated sanitation hoses...white hoses especially produce a sweet/sour/not-quite-sewer-but-definitely-yucky odor when they become permeated with odor. If permeated hoses are the culprit, the odor will be strongest in the areas the hoses pass through.

 

[Buddy Richardson]

Bilge Odor - Spic n' Span

Spic n' Span liquid is my favorite for deodorizing the bilge and head. Works well to clean up most nasty boat fluids in bilge, head and under engine and leave a very nice smell. Also it works well to clean the mildew off the wood and fiberglass interior areas. I just use about 2-3 ounces per gallon.Buddy Richardson,S/V Cowardly Lion