Cleaning Shore Power Cord

[jviss]

Silly post, I know, sorry!

My shore power cord looks awful, grimy, gritty. I washed it, and tried mineral spirits and acetone, but it still has these brownish dirt streaks and spots on it.

Any ideas on how to clean it without damaging it?

Thanks,
jv

 

[Hello Below]

Silly post, I know, sorry!

My shore power cord looks awful, grimy, gritty. I washed it, and tried mineral spirits and acetone, but it still has these brownish dirt streaks and spots on it.

Any ideas on how to clean it without damaging it?

Thanks,
jv

I have not shifted through this thread but may be a start.
Search on Clean+Power+Cord

 

[JoeWhite]

For power chord, the rubber breaks down from UV exposure. To avoid the sticky surface I bought new garden hose and sliced along its length and inserted the cord inside the hose.
For the fenders I put them in sunbrella cover.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Silly post, I know, sorry!

My shore power cord looks awful, grimy, gritty. I washed it, and tried mineral spirits and acetone, but it still has these brownish dirt streaks and spots on it.

Any ideas on how to clean it without damaging it?

Thanks,
jv

First, NEVER use acetone on any vinyl item. Mineral spirits is OK, but acetone breaks down the surface and creates a sticky surface that gets dirty faster. Yes, acetone cleans great, but it damages the surface. Fenders, dinghies, power cords, cushions should never be cleaned with acetone.
I stumbled upon a product called "Butt Seat Spray" last fall. It sounded like snake oil but my cockpit cushions had a gray dinge to them, so after watching the videos, I bought a bottle. Well it was as good as advertised. I used it on my cushions, my dinghy, and fenders. I HAVE NOT USED IT ON POWER CORDS. But I am thinking that it might work well.
My previous go-to cleaning procuct has been the L.A. Awesome concentrated cleaner from the dollar store. I think it would work on power cords pretty well too, but I haven't used it for that.

Here is a link to the Butt Spray product. Watch the video.

UsedBoatsTV

the best boat vinyl cleaner

thebuttseatspray.com

 

[nightowle]

I tried some recommended items that did nothing, and then used a specific marine cord cleaning product (I can't tell you the name right now b/c it's in my dock box). It cleans and treats the cord. It was a mess three or four years ago. Black and sticky. It came up pretty clean. Faded, but that was its underlying condition of it. It's held up really well since cleaning. The cleaning took a bit of elbow grease but I'm glad I did it. We're no longer a dock embarrassment. Don't fuss around with spirits of this and that, just get the stuff that's meant for the job.....at least in this case.

 

[justsomeguy]

Yeah, my dockmate was trying to make me look bad by using a West Marine product specifically marketed for cleaning dock cords.

 

[NYSail]

Get a cover. I’ll snap a picture next time at the boat of our 7 year old that holds 2 cords. Never worry about dirty cord again.

 

[SycloneDriver]

How about a "magic eraser"?

 

[jviss]

I should state that I never have the cord out in the sun, I'm at a mooring, and only plug in once every few years, for a day or two at most. Most of the grime on this cord is from the previous owner, and probably from things spilling in the cockpit locker.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Get a cover. I’ll snap a picture next time at the boat of our 7 year old that holds 2 cords. Never worry about dirty cord again.

How do I clean my dirty cover?
Picture of 7 year old that holds 2 cords

Little Girl Holding Power Cords Stock Image - Image of cord, background: 21661487

Photo about Waist up front view of female child holding two electrical cords, on white background. Image of cord, background, front - 21661487

www.dreamstime.com

 

[NYSail]

How do I clean my dirty cover?

Fortunately the cover only gets a bit dirty and easily sprays clean. Doesn't degrade like the cords........

 

[cymeyer]

Silly post, I know, sorry!

My shore power cord looks awful, grimy, gritty. I washed it, and tried mineral spirits and acetone, but it still has these brownish dirt streaks and spots on it.

Any ideas on how to clean it without damaging it?

Thanks,
jv

I used SOS pad for cleaning plastic lifelines and shore power cord.

 

[jviss]

I tried some recommended items that did nothing, and then used a specific marine cord cleaning product (I can't tell you the name right now b/c it's in my dock box). It cleans and treats the cord. It was a mess three or four years ago. Black and sticky. It came up pretty clean. Faded, but that was its underlying condition of it. It's held up really well since cleaning. The cleaning took a bit of elbow grease but I'm glad I did it. We're no longer a dock embarrassment. Don't fuss around with spirits of this and that, just get the stuff that's meant for the job.....at least in this case.

Is this the stuff?
Star brite Power Cable Cleaner & Protector, 8-Ounce

 

[thinwater]

There is no purpose other than keeping up apearances, and I don't enjoy menial labor. Go sailing.

 

[jviss]

There is no purpose other than keeping up apearances, and I don't enjoy menial labor. Go sailing.

Thank you for the absolutely useless, and somewhat insulting response.

 

[jviss]

I watched some youtube videos on this, I'm going to try both the Magic Eraser and Fast Orange hand cleaner. I'll report back.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

It’s easier, quicker and probably cheaper to buy a cover for the cable.

Even if you do manage to restore the appearance, it’s likely only temporary.

 

[Johnb]

I most certainly would not experiment with random “stuff” that someone thought might be a good idea.

Back in the mid 1970’s when I went to work in an oil refinery they were having lots of problems with ground contamination “leaching the plasticiser” out of the covering and insulation on cables. I sure would want to know that whatever I was doing was better than nothing.

 

[jviss]

It’s easier, quicker and probably cheaper to buy a cover for the cable.

Even if you do manage to restore the appearance, it’s likely only temporary.

Yes, but as I said, I don't have mine out on the dock, it's only deployed once or twice ever few years.

 

[NYSail]

There is no purpose other than keeping up apearances, and I don't enjoy menial labor. Go sailing.

There is purpose to clean the power cord because if you dont the gooey dirty cord gets all over your boat and it’s sticky and gets all over your hands.

Greg