Exterior Cleaning Tips

[windsaloft]

Seems we spend a good amount of time cleaning up the exterior of the boatie..........our current locale, San Francisco, def. has some industrial areas (esp. the boat yard we are in) that require frequent cleaning. Dawn does a nice job with greasy soot without adding phosphates to the water.

We had an overhead crane drip rusty, oily stuff on us on foggy days, and could not get the resulting brown stains off the deck with Dawn, with Kaboom, and we were in a bit of despair when a worker went and got a little bottle of "Soft Scrub with Bleach". Took all the stuff right off. He also loaned us a little tub of "FSR" (Fiberglass Stain Remover), a blue gel that does a decent job, when used according to instructions, removing rust and stubborn stains that we'd put up with for the year we've had the boat. The Soft Scrub on the cockpit cushions made them look like new.

What other tips / ideas have people here found for cleaning tuff things on fiberglass, wood, cushions, etc. I know this isn't a "women's topic" but, I also bet as a group, we've probably all addressed these issues!

[GordMay]

See also:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...aner-6301.html
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...l-ok-9870.html
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...eck-13241.html
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...hine-2663.html
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...n-11884-2.html

[Harriet]

I am responsible for cleaning the stainless and lifelines on our boat (captain handles the decks and cockpit). So far nothing I have found is better or easier for stainless than "Miracle Cloth" which I bought at West Marine. Is it inexpensive? No. Does it work perfectly with hardly any effort? Yes. That makes it worth the price to me. As for lifelines, NOTHING works better than a magic eraser. You can buy them at any grocery store, and you have to wear sunglasses after cleaning the lifelines because they brighten so well.

[windsaloft]

Gord - thanks, as usual, for your consolidation of prior links -- I seem to have less luck when archive searching!

And, always good for new folks to add new ideas. Like, we wandered into a plexiglass polish that took sun-crazed and totally translucent plexiglass and turned it back into clear and see-through. I was blown away (and delighted to not have to replace it) --- but will have to look under the nav station seat to remember what it is!

Anyway -- thanks for directing traffic, GordMay

[captintommy]

Windsaloft

look under the nav station!!!!!!
I need to know what the product is for the Plexiglass....
plesae....please.....look

[windsaloft]

Flitz Metal, Plastic and Fiberglass polish. Just got the little tube, at West marine of all places. You have to put the elbow grease to it, but the results astonished me.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by windsaloft

Gord - thanks, as usual, for your consolidation of prior links -- I seem to have less luck when archive searching ...

The CF search function isn't very functional.
I use the Google Custom Search at:
Cruisers & Sailing Forum

[captintommy]

windsaloft
Thanks for looking under the nav station and finding the Flitz. I will try it on my plexiglass. Do you remember where you purchased the elbow grease, I know I don't have any on board.
Thanks again. Tom

[GordMay]

FLITZ Tips:
PLEXIGLASS & EISENGLASS:
For cleaning water spots and light stains use Flitz with a damp Microfiber Cloth, buff with a clean dry Microfiber Cloth.
For scuffmarks and discoloration use Flitz with a dry Microfiber Cloth or a Flitz Polishing & Buffing Ball.

BTW: Whilst Flitz is a decent product, there’s no magic in it.
It’s just:
50% De-Mineralized Water, Polishing Powder, Petrolium & White Spirits (organic solvents), Amonia Solution, and Polydiethanolamid .

[anglooff]

Originally Posted by Harriet

I am responsible for cleaning the stainless and lifelines on our boat (captain handles the decks and cockpit). So far nothing I have found is better or easier for stainless than "Miracle Cloth" which I bought at West Marine. Is it inexpensive? No. Does it work perfectly with hardly any effort? Yes. That makes it worth the price to me. As for lifelines, NOTHING works better than a magic eraser. You can buy them at any grocery store, and you have to wear sunglasses after cleaning the lifelines because they brighten so well.

Magic Eraser???? Could you be more specific with name/brand. I need some but not sure what they would be called here in venezuela

thanks in anticipation
alan

[GordMay]

Mr. Clean “Magic Eraser” (Proctor & Gamble) is a foaned formaldehyde-melamine-sodium-bisulfite copolymer (Melamine Foam*) also marketed under the brand names “Coralite Ultimate Sponge” & “Xtreme Sponge”. * Melamine is a resin used in construction and the automotive industry as a sound barrier and flame retardant.

[windsaloft]

Just used the Flitz straight on a slightly damp microfiber cloth and used the elbow grease -- all I can say is, it works on badly fogged fiberglass --- I think whatever is granular polishes off the chalkiness! We bought it at west marine.

[Piper'sGirl]

Bar keeper's friend is my favorite cleaning product- for pretty much everything. I cleaned some interesting corrosion off our stainless steal faucette that I had given up on, and managed make almost-white some of the raised fiber glass on the cabin sole where the old carpet was glued to the floor. It also works really well for cleaning mildew off teak.

[Pblais]

Bar Keeper's Friend and Magic Erasers are both top products available cheap and almost any where. For a good spray cleaner Simple Green does a great job on Gel coat. we get this nasty mix of oil refinery and coal power plant residue that is very fine and sticky. It builds up from the rainfall and does not wash off easily.

Bar Keeper's Friend works on teak too. For cleaning large areas such as teak decks. Cascade Dish Washer soap made into a slurry works exceptionally well. Spread it on and leave it 15 minutes then soft scrub brush it and rinse.