Bilge question. I have no life

[Justin_NSA]

While I was crawling around under the aft berth tracing out my sanitation system, another story in another thread, it reminded me that I wanted to try to bleach out or whiten the yellowed or otherwise stained bilge surfaces. This might be an off season project. The bilge is always bone dry.
Any idea what works well without asphyxiating myself? Whitening toothpaste might get expensive and messy

Edit/PS: I didn't want to hijack

epoxy for the bilge

I've always heard grp hulls need to breathe through the bilge. Is an epoxy paint a good choice for a bilge paint

forums.sailboatowners.com

 

[dlochner]

Sandpaper and whit Bilgecoat.

Bilgekote Protection Paint | Interlux

Hard wearing coating for bilges, lockers and bulkheads. Chemical resistance to fumes, fuel and oil

interlux.com

 

[Justin_NSA]

Interesting Dave. Looks like I would just have to lightly sand to prep. I didn't see how to remove oily residue.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Sand through it or if it clogs the sandpaper use a degreaser? On a semi-related note, I find that laundry detergent works better than anything for removing grease from skin

 

[capta]

Rent a steam cleaner, then sand and paint.

 

[rgranger]

Barkeeper's Friend might help. If the stains are the result of tannin then this would work very well.

 

[dlochner]

Interesting Dave. Looks like I would just have to lightly sand to prep. I didn't see how to remove oily residue.

Try using mineral spirits to remove the grease and oil. Followed by a good dishwashing detergent, like Dawn.

 

[Dave c30]

While I was crawling around under the aft berth tracing out my sanitation system, another story in another thread, it reminded me that I wanted to try to bleach out or whiten the yellowed or otherwise stained bilge surfaces. This might be an off season project. The bilge is always bone dry.
Any idea what works well without asphyxiating myself? Whitening toothpaste might get expensive and messy

Edit/PS: I didn't want to hijack

epoxy for the bilge

I've always heard grp hulls need to breathe through the bilge. Is an epoxy paint a good choice for a bilge paint

forums.sailboatowners.com

put some zing boat bottom cleaner it let it soak 1/2 hour then bilge out.

 

[CarlN]

Get any of the "fiberglass stain removers" with oxalic acid - FSR is a good one because it's already in a gel that stays put. Barkeepers friend is not as strong but cheaper. You have to let it sit to work.

If that doesn't work, try OxyClean. Again, make a paste and let it sit.

Sometimes scrubbing the stain remover with a magic eraser will also help

Do not use chlorine bleach or the stronger acid cleaners like On-and-Off in a confined space like a bilge. It can scar your trachea and lungs leading to lifelong chronic bronchitis or worse.