Home made cleaning solutions

[Brian D]

I was reading with interest the thread on using Bleach. I also looked in Casey's book, This Old Boat, and he recommends Joy, Fantastic, and TSP.Do you have a solution (like liquid, not problem resolving) that you concock to clean your boat? I'd like to hear what others use. Me? I used a spritz of vinegar to get rid of the bird droppings. But I have some teak oil stains and what looks like a stain form varnish remover, on my deck. I want to clean them up before waxing.Comments?

 

[Rob Hessenius]

Cleaning Solution

I know that this is not a homemade product. I have found that the best cleaning product is Greased Lightning. It super cheap and does a fantastic job on bird, spider, Lake Fly poo. It is effortless, spray on and wash off. I'm done trying new products, WM, Starbright, Spray Nine, McGuires, 3M you name it I have tried it and nothing compares. I have no affiliation with this product. My 2 cents. Rob Hessenius

 

[Ross]

I am partial to the ZEP brand cleaners and to

Auto Magic brand. GoJo hand cleaner is very good and for realy stubborn stuff paint brush cleaner works but don't start a conversation while you are using it.

 

[Maine Sail]

50/50

A 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water will remove aluminum staining on Awlgrip finished hulls (whitish gray drip marks), that were caused by an aluminum rub rail extrusion or an aluminum toe rail..

 

[Mike B]

Spray Nine

I don't play chemist, there are too many quality products on the shelf put together by people that know a whole lot more than I do about mixing chemicals. Spray Nine is the only thing that will remove spoys that accumulate on my white hypalon dinghy. Found it's also great to use when washing the boat as it removes the dirt from the non skid nicely. I also like the fact it's bio degradable.

 

[wrenchs wench]

teak oil stains

brian i also have teak oil stains if you find a good product to remove this please let me know thanx paul

 

[Benny17441]

For tough gelcoat stains

and to remove oxidation prior to waxing I use #1000 grade wet sandpaper. It leaves a gloss finish with no scratches or smears.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Be careful mixing cleaning products...

Most people know that bleach and ammonia are a lethal combination...not as many know that vinegar and bleach are an even MORE lethal combination. Those are just two examples of products that are harmless by themselves, but not when combinedSo do your homework before mixing products, to make sure that two harmless products don't become dangerous when combined.

 

[Ross]

Peggie, is as always bang on correct. I just checked the label

on a jug and it warns against mixing with acids or alkalis and advises that drains be flushed before further use. Bleach with luandry detergent is good but bleach with Dawn brand dish wash foams and evolves a nasty irritating gas. Don't bother to ask how I know that last one.

 

[Manny]

70/30 water/bleach mix in a spray bottle

That combo works great for me 90% of the time. The other 10% I use generic magic erasers.Most of my clothes have bleach spots on them now ;DManny

 

[Kerry13709]

Tilex

I like Tilex for cleaning my deck which is mostly non skid. It takes out the dark spots that get in the non skid. Not home made, but works prety good. I am sure it has bleach in it by the smell, but easy to use.

 

[Maine Sail]

Benny

Quote:" and to remove oxidation prior to waxing I use #1000 grade wet sandpaper. It leaves a gloss finish with no scratches or smears."Just a heads up. 1000 grit may look shiny to the naked eye but to the sun it looks like corduroy! 1000 grit, if left un-polished beyond that point to say a P1500-2000 grade, will oxidize rapidly due to the increased surface area created by the micro fine "swirl" marks. If your not concerned about oxidation the just disregard this if you are a product like 3M Finesse IT II will solve those 1000 grit swirls..

 

[Mike B]

Chlorine?

Ross that nasty irritating gas could just be chlorine gas. I don't know what's in Dawn but it sure sounds familiar. A few years ago my parents had poured some bleach into a seldom used toilet to help clean the water line. Not knowing this I proceded to deposit some amonia water aka "pee" in the same pot. Now I'm very familiar with beer induced foaming and noxious gases but it didn't take but a moment to realize that either I had a serious medical condition that was causing what I saw or I needed to open the window and clear out. I chose the latter Just another good reason not to mix chemicals, even if they're of the household type.Mike

 

[Benny17441]

Thanks for the clarification Maine, Perhaps it was

not evident to everyone that a protective polymer should be applied soon after sanding. Removing oxidation from gelcoat wether by sand paper or liquid abbrasives exposes the material for further damage so it should be timely protected by the product of your choice. The use of the less agressive abrasive that will do the job is also recommended as surface is lost with every application but with tough stains as indicated in the posting sand paper may be a viable alternative.

 

[Pooka 3]

Serious DANGER

I can't emphasize how dangerous making your own cleaning chemicals can be. While a Safety Officer in the Air force I investigated an event where airman had mixed clorox bleach and ajax to clean a shower room. The result was chlorine gas with several men in the hospital and one dead on the shower room floor! Considering the small confined spaces we have on Sailboats we should stick to cleaners which are safe or at least put togeather by a chemist so our wives have someone to sue. Mike T.

 

[Ross]

MikeT, I can go one better for you. When I was stationed at Chanute AFB

in 1958 we flooded the latine floor with water and dumped in five gallons of bleach and five cans of toilet bowl cleaner, we opened all of the windows and scrubbed away. That was pretty tough but we had the cleanest latrine floor in the entire squadron. Now the brass fixtures were another story. It took about two weeks to get them to shine. Nobody required medical attention.

 

[Benny17441]

Thanks for the info Ross, that kind'a ruined my appetite.

NC

 

[Bob Tigar]

boat basics cleaning solutions

Cleaning the deck & hull-try "Soft Scrub on a damp rag. Rub it in circular motions and then rinse. Also, try Bar Keepers Friend. This contains oxalic acid, so be careful around painted surfaces, as it will remove the shine.

 

[Ross]

For deck cleaning I find that a bucket of water dipped up from

beside the boat and a soft brush on a long handle does a fine job. I have a bucket on a rope, I drop that over the side , haul it up and sluice down the deck, scrub with the brush, sluice with another bucket of water, check for missed places and let the sun dry the water. All done in about 15 minutes.