We left our sails inside the boat over winter and it got damp. Now our mainsail is speckled with mould, anyone know a way to get it off without using nasty chemicals and distroying the fabric? I heard that leaving it out in the sun will bleach it out, but how long will that take?
mouldy sails, need help
- Thread starter Karen13239
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LeMauney the mold
Karen, Send your sail to Sailcare (www.sailcare.com) and they will put it through the LeMauney process. You will not believe the difference when you get it back. Not only will the process address the appearance, but the rigidity of your sail will be restored. I sent them my main and they did a great job on it. Nice folks too. Check out their website. Good luck, Pete
Karen, Send your sail to Sailcare (www.sailcare.com) and they will put it through the LeMauney process. You will not believe the difference when you get it back. Not only will the process address the appearance, but the rigidity of your sail will be restored. I sent them my main and they did a great job on it. Nice folks too. Check out their website. Good luck, Pete
if the sails are *WHITE* woven *DACRON*
Get some SodiumSilicate based detergent (usually found at janitorial supply or industrial hardware stores .... sometimes boat chandlieries will carry a product branded "tuff-eNuff"), then spray on and mist with a little water, scrub lightly with a long handled brush with SOFT bristles, then cover with a plastic tarp to 'soak'. If you cant find sodium silicate detergent, then TSP will serve --- take a small bucket with HOT water and dissolve the TSP into the hot water until you can dissolve anymore, then bursh-on as above. After soaking for about an hour, respray and rebrush and let soak under a platic tarp (to prevent the detergent from drying). Then scrub the sail and rinse thoroughly with a garden hose to be SURE that ALL the detergent is rinsed out. You may have to repeat with 'stubborn' staining. The soak time is the most important. These detergents are caustic and the caustic will **dissolve** the mold/mildew cells. Then get some oxalic acid crystals (hardware or paint store --- also known as 'wood bleach'). Dissolve the oxalic in a small bucket of HOT water .... just enough water to dissolve ALL the crystals. Apply the oxalic with the soft bristled brush to remove the 'shadows' of the mold mildew, the tannin stains from dirty water, etc. Wear gloves, foul weather gear, etc. as oxalic will absorb through your skin and harm your kidneys. Then *thoroughly* rinse the oxalic from the sails. Best to do this ON the boat on a cool cloudyu windless day --- , slowly raising the sails a few feet at a time to apply the chemicals, brush the crud and rinse with a garden hose. Dont use these chemicals anywhere near BARE TEAK as they will extract the tannins from the teak and that will get all over the sails. Do NOT use 'organic solvents': gasoline, kerosene, toluene, paint thinner, etc. as they may dissolve/soften the polyester and the 'filler' thats held between the fibers. after thorough rinsing, raise the sails all the way to dry .... then stand back and admire your almost totally white and cleaned sails. hope this helps.
Get some SodiumSilicate based detergent (usually found at janitorial supply or industrial hardware stores .... sometimes boat chandlieries will carry a product branded "tuff-eNuff"), then spray on and mist with a little water, scrub lightly with a long handled brush with SOFT bristles, then cover with a plastic tarp to 'soak'. If you cant find sodium silicate detergent, then TSP will serve --- take a small bucket with HOT water and dissolve the TSP into the hot water until you can dissolve anymore, then bursh-on as above. After soaking for about an hour, respray and rebrush and let soak under a platic tarp (to prevent the detergent from drying). Then scrub the sail and rinse thoroughly with a garden hose to be SURE that ALL the detergent is rinsed out. You may have to repeat with 'stubborn' staining. The soak time is the most important. These detergents are caustic and the caustic will **dissolve** the mold/mildew cells. Then get some oxalic acid crystals (hardware or paint store --- also known as 'wood bleach'). Dissolve the oxalic in a small bucket of HOT water .... just enough water to dissolve ALL the crystals. Apply the oxalic with the soft bristled brush to remove the 'shadows' of the mold mildew, the tannin stains from dirty water, etc. Wear gloves, foul weather gear, etc. as oxalic will absorb through your skin and harm your kidneys. Then *thoroughly* rinse the oxalic from the sails. Best to do this ON the boat on a cool cloudyu windless day --- , slowly raising the sails a few feet at a time to apply the chemicals, brush the crud and rinse with a garden hose. Dont use these chemicals anywhere near BARE TEAK as they will extract the tannins from the teak and that will get all over the sails. Do NOT use 'organic solvents': gasoline, kerosene, toluene, paint thinner, etc. as they may dissolve/soften the polyester and the 'filler' thats held between the fibers. after thorough rinsing, raise the sails all the way to dry .... then stand back and admire your almost totally white and cleaned sails. hope this helps.
Mold on sails
I second Pete's remarks about Sailcare. However, you may lose several weeks of the 2007 season by sending them away for treatment. My sails were treated by Sailcare before the 2006 season. By the end of the summer, my jib had picked up a fair amount of mold spots. I used a medium soft brush and a very mild solution of clorox and water. The spots came right off with no sail damage. Why not try this technique for now and get a proper cleaning/resining from Sailcare at season's end?
I second Pete's remarks about Sailcare. However, you may lose several weeks of the 2007 season by sending them away for treatment. My sails were treated by Sailcare before the 2006 season. By the end of the summer, my jib had picked up a fair amount of mold spots. I used a medium soft brush and a very mild solution of clorox and water. The spots came right off with no sail damage. Why not try this technique for now and get a proper cleaning/resining from Sailcare at season's end?
Here is some info. Check the archives too.
Sail Cleaning Tips Hasse & Company Port Townsend Sails • 315 Jackson St. Port Townsend, WA 98368 • 360-385-1640 ptsails@olympus.net • www.porttownsendsails.com Keeping sails clean is part diligence, part science, and part fate. The fate part is closely associated with the environment and climate where the sails are used and stored. For example, if you use and store your sails in the Pacific Northwest, mildew will be a constant and persistent foe. When you find your sails are in need of cleaning, we suggest the following steps: Cleaning Dacron sails: _ Clean sails on a smooth surface. Avoid pavement and gravel or you will find yourself sanding the back of your sail as you meticulously clean the front. _ Use a mild soap solution and fresh water. _ Use a soft bristle brush to remove dirt and salt. _ Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Keep rinsing until all soap residue is removed. _ To remove oil or tar stains use a small amount of lighter fluid. _ To remove mildew use a highly diluted solution of Sodium Hypochlorite (3-5%). Budget brand household bleach is usually a 3-5% Sodium Hypochlorite solution. Never use bleach on nylon or laminated sails! Cleaning nylon sails: _ Clean spinnakers and other light-air sails made of Nylon by rinsing with fresh water. _ Do not use bleach or other solvents; they will damage the fabric! After cleaning: _ Dry the sails by hanging in a well ventilated area. _ Avoid flogging. _ When you are sure no moisture remains on the sails, fold or roll the sails loosely. _ Store sails in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct heat. Note: Keeping sails clean and dry is an essential part of sail maintenance. Storing sails out of the elements when not in use can prolong their life by years.
Sail Cleaning Tips Hasse & Company Port Townsend Sails • 315 Jackson St. Port Townsend, WA 98368 • 360-385-1640 ptsails@olympus.net • www.porttownsendsails.com Keeping sails clean is part diligence, part science, and part fate. The fate part is closely associated with the environment and climate where the sails are used and stored. For example, if you use and store your sails in the Pacific Northwest, mildew will be a constant and persistent foe. When you find your sails are in need of cleaning, we suggest the following steps: Cleaning Dacron sails: _ Clean sails on a smooth surface. Avoid pavement and gravel or you will find yourself sanding the back of your sail as you meticulously clean the front. _ Use a mild soap solution and fresh water. _ Use a soft bristle brush to remove dirt and salt. _ Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Keep rinsing until all soap residue is removed. _ To remove oil or tar stains use a small amount of lighter fluid. _ To remove mildew use a highly diluted solution of Sodium Hypochlorite (3-5%). Budget brand household bleach is usually a 3-5% Sodium Hypochlorite solution. Never use bleach on nylon or laminated sails! Cleaning nylon sails: _ Clean spinnakers and other light-air sails made of Nylon by rinsing with fresh water. _ Do not use bleach or other solvents; they will damage the fabric! After cleaning: _ Dry the sails by hanging in a well ventilated area. _ Avoid flogging. _ When you are sure no moisture remains on the sails, fold or roll the sails loosely. _ Store sails in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct heat. Note: Keeping sails clean and dry is an essential part of sail maintenance. Storing sails out of the elements when not in use can prolong their life by years.
I'm with Pete
Sailcare is the answer. Winter is their busy season so it might not take that long to get them back now and they will add years to the life of the sails.
Sailcare is the answer. Winter is their busy season so it might not take that long to get them back now and they will add years to the life of the sails.
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