✅ What is the best way to clean a Dacron mainsail? ✅

[magentawave]

I have a Dacron mainsail that’s excellent condition but it has some green mossy looking stuff growing on it from it’s time stuffed inside the stack pack.

I was planning on taking the main down and laying it flat on a clean concrete driveway and scrubbing off the mossy stuff with something like Bronners Castile soap (just because Bronners works so well for lots of things).

Does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to clean this sail myself? Don’t want to damage the Dacron. Is a medium nylon bristle scrub brush ok? Would Bronners Castile soap take off the green stuff?

Thanks 😀

[psk125]

We use Dawn dishwashing soap and a medium soft brush with the sail spread on the grass. You may need to try a bleach solution if the sail is stained, but I don't know if that might affect the cloth, so be careful on the dilution ratio.

[JPA Cate]

Bleach will not hurt the sail, if diluted. I'd spray the green parts with a strongish bleach solution, maybe 1/4 c. to 1 c., then let set 5 minutes, and flush thoroughly. You just need to kill the green stuff, then wash the area with whatever you like, and rinse off with fresh water. Then hoist the sail so it can drain and dry. We've done that when the wind was from the right direction.

Ann

[tkeithlu]

There's a reason for the recommended bleach. Bleach converts lipids,which are fats and make up cell walls, into soaps. All living organisms are made up of cells. Ergo, nothing living survives bleach. It doesn't have to be a strong solution. A weak solution left in place for awhile will do the job.Exposure to sunlight while you are doing it will help. Alternatively, wash with soap and water first to remove the bulk of it, and then treat with a bleach solution.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

Alternatively, wash with soap and water first to remove the bulk of it, and then treat with a bleach solution.

+1. We use cold water wash type soap for clothes (follow directions for soap concentrations) and then follow up w/a diluted bleach soln. As suggested, leave in sunlight to help remove stains.

[sail sfbay]

I had my sails sucessfully cleaned by these guys. The former can also treat the sail with sailkote.

https://www.vacuwash.com.au/vacuwash.html

https://sailcare.com/site/

[johnn33]

Please no and no concrete
John

[Ken Pole]

Most major lofts offer reliable cleaning services. NorthSails (Toronto) has done mine and in the process did a few minor repairs after checking with me; I suspect it's the same elsewhere. To paraphrase an ad I once saw, "It may cost a little more but it's worth it."

[MJH]

Originally Posted by magentawave

I have a Dacron mainsail that’s excellent condition but it has some green mossy looking stuff growing on it from it’s time stuffed inside the stack pack.

I was planning on taking the main down and laying it flat on a clean concrete driveway and scrubbing off the mossy stuff with something like Bronners Castile soap (just because Bronners works so well for lots of things).

Does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to clean this sail myself? Don’t want to damage the Dacron. Is a medium nylon bristle scrub brush ok? Would Bronners Castile soap take off the green stuff? Thanks 😀

You don't say the size of your sail. On my older 28' boat I would soak the sail (main or jib) in a Kidde swim pool overnight in a laundry soap mix and then rise the following day. I would then hang it to dry off the deck balcony or hanging from a tree limb.

With my current boat the sails are too big for a Kidde pool. So I use my pickup truck bed lined with a clean tarp and filled with soapy water overnight.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[Secondshift]

We've used the newer high efficiency (HE) laundry detergents and sometimes

a little bleach. We formerly used 20 Mule Team Borax but the HE stuff rinses

sooo very easily.


If you're on concrete clean it first and try not to drag the sail

or your feet around. You'll grind the cloth and thread.


It should be noted that while unsightly, staining and mildew will not affect a

sails performance.

[magentawave]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Bleach will not hurt the sail, if diluted. I'd spray the green parts with a strongish bleach solution, maybe 1/4 c. to 1 c., then let set 5 minutes, and flush thoroughly. You just need to kill the green stuff, then wash the area with whatever you like, and rinse off with fresh water. Then hoist the sail so it can drain and dry. We've done that when the wind was from the right direction.

Ann

Hmm, maybe I should ditch the idea of taking the sail down to clean it and just clean it as I slowly raise it? I would have to buy some kind of 12 volt sprayer though.

Originally Posted by johnn33

Please no and no concrete
John

That’s all I have though. Why not clean concrete on a warm sunny day?

Originally Posted by MJH

You don't say the size of your sail. On my older 28' boat I would soak the sail (main or jib) in a Kidde swim pool overnight in a laundry soap mix and then rise the following day. I would then hang it to dry off the deck balcony or hanging from a tree limb.

With my current boat the sails are too big for a Kidde pool. So I use my pickup truck bed lined with a clean tarp and filled with soapy water overnight.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

Good idea about soaking but it’s a 36’ boat so the sail is too big to soak.

[Dougtiff]

I took my Sails to a car wash and ysed the soapy wand.

[canyonbat]

Concrete is abrasive and can damage the sail. Lay out a tarp or a drop cloth and then lay out the sail.

[George_SD]

I bought some plastic sheeting at Home Depot and used it as a clean, non-abrasive surface area to roll out the sail on. Just be careful as plastic+soap gets super slippery.

[Hoodsail]

As noted earlier, please don't lay your sails on concrete or asphalt...during the end of the season here I have used our marina's fingers that are made from some type of composite plastic, maybe TREX, to spread out my sails. Mainsail fits pretty well, while genoa is a bit too big...Surface is very smooth & reasonably slick, just need to be aware of the cleats...will use this time to clean my sails based on earlier posters info. thnks