Washing Sails

[oreana123]

I have a set of sails I am caring for. There are no tears and I plan on using them in various spots on my double headsail rig. The genoa of the three sails has had motor oil spilled on the head of the sail. I am in the process of removing the oil and any other dirt by washing the sail in laundry detergent with some whiteners and a lot of liquid hand soap. I found a plastic bin at Home Depot for about $6, it is deep enough to handle one sail at a time. I used very warm water in the mix, and I am agitating the sail at 15 minute intervals.

So far the water indicates the oil is coming off. I expect to have to rinse a lot, the sail is in the bin in my tub in my bath/shower, and I will stretch out the sail on my rig when I am done to let the sail dry in a flat state.

I have thought about using an iron set at a low heat to remove any stubborn wrinkles, and I am considering using a thickener like starch to give the fabric a slight rigidity. Ha! John S

 

[MrBill_FLL]

what kind of whiteners? oxyclean?

 

[BrokeNotBroken]

I used Oxyclean and woolite to clean my sails when I first bought the boat. I washed them in the bath tub using warm water and scrubbing them with a soft bristled brush on the tub side wall since the tub floor was abrasive. I then let them dry outside. They came out very nice. I didn't have any motor oil stain though--good luck.

 

[oreana123]

Yes Oxyclean. I thought I'd try household cleaners before I bring out the big guns. I am going to do this again tomorrow. If it would quit snowing, I'd be able to hang em high to dry straight. The motor oil is emusifying slowly, there was a lot of dirt in general in the fabric.

Next up: main and jib John S

 

[vwjon Mac25]

acetone

http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/macgregor/index.cgi/read/46134

 

[oreana123]

thank you VWJon. I have a lot of acetone....

 

[ChockFullOnuts222]

Dawn dish detergent may be of help to at least get the motor oil out of the sail cloth. I've used Dawn successfully on clothes for oil and grease stains. One or two Dawn treatments and then a conventional laundry stain removal treatment, and the stains came out.

 

[oreana123]

The oil soaked sail came out pretty good, has a bit of beige color but mostly unnoticeable. I did the main and I will do the jib tomorrow. Thanks for all the suggestions John S

 

[timebandit]

Every once in a while if the sailing is kinna salty I put the sails up at the wash rack and rince them down, by the time I unload the boat and motor they are dry and ready to be packed away for the next time.

 

[oreana123]

OK I don't want you to think I have lostmy mind, but I spent 2 hours today IRONING the genoa and jib. The sails looks so good it is a beautiful thing. I am ironing on a dampened bath towel on my dining room table. Temp is at about 1/2 way up the dial. The sails will definitely flow air better than the wrinkled fabric. John S

 

[JDK]

OK I don't want you to think I have lostmy mind, but I spent 2 hours today IRONING the genoa and jib.

Damn, John, just when I have the neighbors thinking maybe I'm not that crazy for stretching out my genoa between the lights on the entrance to the garage, pulling on the other corner with the golf cart attached with a bungee- just to rinse the sail and let it dry without scuffing it on the concrete...now you tell me the sail will be a bit faster if I iron it. I can't wait to hear what they say now...but a little edge goes a long way on the water.

JDK

 

[timebandit]

OK___OK so now I have washed and starched and ironed my sails zackley how in hell do I get them down to the boat without folding them???

 

[oreana123]

Roll them

 

[timebandit]

12-15 foot rolls?

 

[Freedom77]

Do you have a swimming pool available. Spot clean with dawn then Throw them in the pool and have the kids jump up and down on them. Seriously!! It's just like a big washing machine and the chlorine with clean the sails and whiten them at the same time. It worked for me. Don't use heat on them. You could cause damage. Fair Winds and Full Sails...