Soap to clean waxed sailboat.

Dec 19, 2006
5,809
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
We all wax and clean our boats so what soap is good to use so as not to remove that Wax but yet
clean the boat.
Nick
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,077
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Wax is wax. While the marketing tells us more expensive boat soap bought in marine stores is proper, any automobile soap will similarly not remove wax any more than it does on your car. How some boat wash soaps differ is in their lower toxicity in the marine environment.
 
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Likes: Will Gilmore
Oct 19, 2017
7,733
O'Day 19 Littleton, NH
Dawn dish soap is a good oil and dirt remover, but is pretty environmentally friendly.

I'm guessing your boat wax is petroleum based, so I couldn't say if it was hard on wax, but I'd give it a try.

-Will (Dragonfly)
 
Jun 8, 2004
2,841
Catalina 320 Dana Point
We were only allowed to use Ivory soap flakes on the fire engines but that was rare, mostly just hosed them down and chammied 2-4 times a day. We also waxed them every 3 months, wax so heavy most stuff wouldn't stick anyway.
I pay a guy to wash every 2 weeks and wax when required, he needs the work and I sure can't muster any enthusiasm for it anymore.
 

RussC

.
Sep 11, 2015
1,578
Merit 22- Oregon lakes
Dawn dish soap is a good oil and dirt remover, but is pretty environmentally friendly.

I'm guessing your boat wax is petroleum based, so I couldn't say if it was hard on wax, but I'd give it a try.

-Will (Dragonfly)
Dawn dish soap is also commonly used in auto paint shops TO REMOVE WAX RESIDUE ;).
any decent automotive car soap works well, without removing wax, however.
 
Nov 26, 2012
1,653
Hunter 34 Berkeley
Soft Scrub with bleach is the best I've found. I have tried Dawn. Super sudsy. You will have an island of foam around your boat if you wash it in the water.
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,077
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
“Soft Scrub® Cleanser with Bleach is a mild abrasive cleanser”.
Maybe someone can elaborate on what, if any, long term effect using even a mild abrasive can have.
 
Nov 26, 2012
1,653
Hunter 34 Berkeley
“Soft Scrub® Cleanser with Bleach is a mild abrasive cleanser”.
Maybe someone can elaborate on what, if any, long term effect using even a mild abrasive can have.
I can. It works great. It is a VERY mild abrasive which comes in handy on gel coat that tends to stain.