OK, so we have the smelly bilge. I was off to buy some lysol to really give it a cleaning, but is this an OK product to use? We are on an island where boat supplies are really not available. Maybe vinegar?
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Water
I wouldn't do this if there was any oil of fuel in the bilge, but if it's just stinky water, flush it out with water. Make sure your bilge pump is working, and open a sea cock. Take something off a closed seacock and put a hose on it so you can direct it around, then open the seacock and rinse the bilge out with seawater. You can use fresh at a dock, of course. This works for me.
I wouldn't do this if there was any oil of fuel in the bilge, but if it's just stinky water, flush it out with water. Make sure your bilge pump is working, and open a sea cock. Take something off a closed seacock and put a hose on it so you can direct it around, then open the seacock and rinse the bilge out with seawater. You can use fresh at a dock, of course. This works for me.
Bio degradable if you can
If you have a household cleaner that's biodegradable use it first. If it's just seawater that's in the bilge the smell is probably coming from the micro organisms that live in the water and are now rotting in your boat. Salt water is the worst but fresh water can get stinky too. If you do use the Lysol, use it sparingly and wipe it up with paper towels you can properly dispose of later.
If you have a household cleaner that's biodegradable use it first. If it's just seawater that's in the bilge the smell is probably coming from the micro organisms that live in the water and are now rotting in your boat. Salt water is the worst but fresh water can get stinky too. If you do use the Lysol, use it sparingly and wipe it up with paper towels you can properly dispose of later.
Plain ol' liquid detergent...
All laundry detergents and dishwashing liquids (also detergent) are biodegradable--which, btw, is a meaningless term that is NOT synomymous with environmentally friendly...although laundry and dishwashing detergents are. Lysol won't work. Neither will anything else used so sparingly it can be mopped up with paper towels in an area as large as a bilge. But a thorough cleaning with plenty of detergent and water, followed by hosing ALL the dirty water out will. I dunno why so many people think that all you have to do have a clean bilge is just dump in some cleaning product, slosh it around and turn on the bilge pumps. You wouldn't just dump something into a bathtub or kitchen sink full of dirty water, agitate it a bit, then just pull the plug and expect the tub or sink to be clean...so why would anything expect a clean bilge if that's all you do? To Ivan's and Mike's credit, that's not what they suggested, but it's what so many people do to clean a bilge that I had to discuss it. Mike, rinsing the bilge out with sea water just restarts the same "primordial soup" you just flushed out. If you'll use only fresh water, you'll find that you won't have clean your bilge nearly as often. In fact, if you do a VERY thorough job of both cleaning and rinsing it out with clean fresh water, you shouldn't have to clean your bilge more than once--maybe twice a year. Btw...sumps are another source of odor. They need cleaning too.
All laundry detergents and dishwashing liquids (also detergent) are biodegradable--which, btw, is a meaningless term that is NOT synomymous with environmentally friendly...although laundry and dishwashing detergents are. Lysol won't work. Neither will anything else used so sparingly it can be mopped up with paper towels in an area as large as a bilge. But a thorough cleaning with plenty of detergent and water, followed by hosing ALL the dirty water out will. I dunno why so many people think that all you have to do have a clean bilge is just dump in some cleaning product, slosh it around and turn on the bilge pumps. You wouldn't just dump something into a bathtub or kitchen sink full of dirty water, agitate it a bit, then just pull the plug and expect the tub or sink to be clean...so why would anything expect a clean bilge if that's all you do? To Ivan's and Mike's credit, that's not what they suggested, but it's what so many people do to clean a bilge that I had to discuss it. Mike, rinsing the bilge out with sea water just restarts the same "primordial soup" you just flushed out. If you'll use only fresh water, you'll find that you won't have clean your bilge nearly as often. In fact, if you do a VERY thorough job of both cleaning and rinsing it out with clean fresh water, you shouldn't have to clean your bilge more than once--maybe twice a year. Btw...sumps are another source of odor. They need cleaning too.
Peggy I don't use sea water
Peggy I don't use seawater for the exact reason you've stated. Why clean something dirty with something dirty? I have a very shallow bilge and only have to clean it once or twice a year as you suggest. I start by having an electronic bilge pump switch that doesn't allow water to build like most float switches do. I also have the condensation drain hose from the AC unit aimed directly into the deepest part of the sump. Then it's more an issue of cleaning out the dust bunnies that accumulate throughout the months. I use a disenfectant spray and paper towels to do the job. Nothing makes it into the bay, just the trash can. It's easier to prevent with a little forethought than it is to clean up later. Mike
Peggy I don't use seawater for the exact reason you've stated. Why clean something dirty with something dirty? I have a very shallow bilge and only have to clean it once or twice a year as you suggest. I start by having an electronic bilge pump switch that doesn't allow water to build like most float switches do. I also have the condensation drain hose from the AC unit aimed directly into the deepest part of the sump. Then it's more an issue of cleaning out the dust bunnies that accumulate throughout the months. I use a disenfectant spray and paper towels to do the job. Nothing makes it into the bay, just the trash can. It's easier to prevent with a little forethought than it is to clean up later. Mike
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