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silverp40 · 08-06-2013, 06:10

Hello

Does anyone have any experience with the product called Sew Clean?

Sew Clean

It claims to clean heads, toilets and hoses without damage to metals, plastics and especially rubber. Plus it is environmentally safe, a big plus.

It was also highly recommended to me by one of the Groco R&D guys....

zeehag · 08-06-2013, 06:19

sorry. am happy using vinegar in my systems. works well and is cheap everywhere on planet

**skipmac** · 08-06-2013, 06:23

Sounds interesting but $71/gallon. For that price it better be good.

I looked at the MSDS and the only ingredient listed was phosphoric acid, 5-20%. No mention of the other ingredients. Phos acid is dirt cheap, at least wholesale. Have not dealt with the lately but if I recall 70-80% phos acid is around $8-$10/gallon, so cut to 20% or less that's $2.50/gallon tops. Whatever else in in there must be really expensive but I'm suspicious.

It is a very common thing in the chemical business to take a very cheap product, put it in a bottle with a fancy name and label, add a little coloring (referred to as magic foo-foo dust) to make it look exotic and charge a lot of money for it.

silverp40 · 08-06-2013, 06:25

Vinegar is not good for rubber....have you tried putting a joker valve in vinegar for 6 hours or so?

zeehag · 08-06-2013, 06:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverp40

Vinegar is not good for rubber....have you tried putting a joker valve in vinegar for 6 hours or so?

try phosphoric acid--is far worse....and no one soaks a joker valve in vinegar for 6 hours--lol... be smart--use cheap weak acids like vinegar in your head to neutralize salt and blockages from salt..

considering i have used same head with same parts for over 6 yrs now, following po's 4 yr stint---i think your fears are unwarranted. just live on board and use the potty correctly and clean with vinegar.

of course, you could use coca cola, which is a weak phosphoric acid mixture--removes rust well not to mention what it does to enamel(teeth) and other items when soaked in it....rodlmao----get real, folks.
why use harsh chemicals when there is a mild acid to repair these items cheaper an dsafer than phosphoric or muriatic acid....

i see this as just another way to spend a lot of money for nothing. if that is your bag--go for it--i dont waste money nor do i defile or deliberately destroy any parts of my boat ..
if your toilet is 10 yrs old, as is mine, and all parts in mine are at LEAST 10 yrs old--even po used vinegar at my suggestion--lol--mine is perfect. how is yours......

btw--i have been doing this full time since 1990. what is your excuse for duration and repair statistics/history.....

and always place oil in head after cleaning with anything...

**skipmac** · 08-06-2013, 06:32

Here's some data from an MSDS for 60-85% concentration phos acid.

Corrosive to ferrous metals and alloys, more so when hot. May corrode stainless steel when heated. May attack some plastics, rubber and coatings. May attack porcelain and graniteware when heated, earthenware and glass above 200°C.

Seems to contradict the claims by the maker that it is "SAFE FOR EQUIPMENT: SEW Clean™ is non-corrosive to all metals, plastics, gaskets and other materials commonly found in black water systems."

Perhaps the lower concentration is less corrosive. Maybe the foo-foo dust they add may counteract the corrosive effects. Would like to see someone test this to see what happens, just not me.

silverp40 · 08-06-2013, 06:49

Can you pls tell me where the ingredients data for the product is? I cannot find it...

In our head, we have been using vinegar religiously for about 8 years or so and replacing rubber parts every year or so - joker valves, flappers, etc. So when one of the Groco guys told me that they have done extensive testing with the product and highly recommend it, I became interested.

Was told that they safely stuck their arms/ hands inside a Sew Clean test tank and it was safe (tested and as per manuf claim) - not sure if the said 20% Phos Acid concentration would allow that!

Quote....and no one soaks a joker valve in vinegar for 6 hours--lol... be smart--

When treating the head with vinegar, most parts sit in it for a while - multiply by the times it gets treated and it gets up there in hours....

A Groco rubber head part ( joker valve) that sat in white vinegar overnight and disintegrated partially not a pretty sight.....

Greg4cocokai · 08-06-2013, 06:53

I'm a vinegar and oil guy.

zeehag · 08-06-2013, 06:53

mebbe you should try using plain old jabsco parts and a plain old bottom of the line jabsco toilet...oh the horror!!!!

considering i have NEVER had to rebuild my toilet in the time the previous owner and i have owned this formosa--10 yrs, now--- and i use vinegar religiously, then there is something wrong with groco rubbers...mebbe made of same stuff as are condoms that break.....

silverp40 · 08-06-2013, 07:34

Yes, the Jabsco lower line of toilets is almost the same price to replace the entire thing rather than buy a rebuild kit...

peghall · 08-06-2013, 13:57

Here's the MSDS for it...
http://www.raritaneng.com/pdf_files/.../L433v0309.pdf

Note that Sew Clean is the product that Raritan has private label branded as their C.H. Cleans Hoses