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OK...so my deck is not perfect, being a 36 year old boat its amazing actually. In its mooring its a target for the birds...I get a few presents a day from the seagulls. What the best thing I can use to clean the deck? Is there anything I can do to get it WHITE again? Now its slightly yellow.
Roll Off?
Works for me so far. Better than most other cleaners have done for me and not to horribly expensive by the gallon.
As far as I know it won't damage anything if used properly.
Do you mean Marykate On and Off? If so, its an acid and should be used carefully. Great for removing waterline and rust stains. Softens barnacle and calcium deposits from some birds. Not sure it would be my first choice for general cleaning.
I used to use **** and Span cuz it's inexpensive and doesn't make suds.
Lately, I've been using Star Brite's Non-Skid deck cleaner. Works very well, but it's not cheap. It does a good job of basic cleaning and seems to do a good job of getting rid of the stains from bird poop.I have a small sprayer bottle tied to my belt when I clean my deck and just spray it directly on my boat brush. I do an area, rinse, and move on.
I got west marine Eco friendly non slip deck cleaner. Used it today an I am pretty pleased with the results. I could get a bit whiter though but it is a 36 year old boat. Lol.
I love the Starbrite non-skid cleaner! I tried the eco friendly stuff from West too, but it didn't come close to the nasty chemicals of the Starbrite stuff. Just make sure you wear gloves or do not have long exposure to the cleaner... my hands are pretty nasty from using the stuff this weekend.
Yeah, I've found the same thing. Rinse the windows down after cleaning then dry them with a microfiber cloth and you won't have the issue. I use Plexus to clean the windows and it helps protect them.
Here's another vote for the Star-Brite nonskid cleaner. It goes for about $12-13 a quart at West, but WallyMart sells it for <$5. I can get about 2 good cleanings out of a bottle.
How odd. Only one of my two back-to-back posts in this thread actually "took" during the Sailnet time of troubles. I tried to ask you: what is the surface you are cleaning? Is it Gelcoat or paint? If Gelcoat I could suggest another product or two you could try but they would ruin a paint job.
not real good for enviro but dawn dishwashing liquid and a little bleach mixed with water cleans real well. I am looking for a product to protect and shine my non skid so it repels water, non slippery though. I have not had much luck with woody wax but am thinking i did not put enough down. Thoughts?
I have had some good luck with it. Keep in mind that it won't last as long as the wax you use on your topsides. I have found that I have to reapply it a couple times over the summer. The good part is that it is pretty easy to do. You may be right that you haven't applied it heavy enough.
Dawn wants to suds like crazy. My personal fave is the Starbrite stuff, but if you want to go with a grocery store alternative, substitute ****&Span for the Dawn and you won't get the suds.
Note: I know I spelled the product wrong, but otherwise it doesn't get passed the word censor.
Am I the only one who was thinking Soft Scrub (this is for the non-skid right)? Use with bleach if you can keep it off the teak, and sunbrella stuff. Otherwise the normal softscrub. Use a green scrubbing pad for the hard stuff.
I use a pressure washer. Am I the only one? I have a cheap electric one (>$150) so I haven't had too many issues with it taking off gelcoat, although I'm careful not to get it too close. Works like a dream on anti-skid though and no scrubbing.
Regarding the Soft Scrub. Yeah, it'll work, but I won't even use it on my fiberglass shower. It's just too abrasive. You wouldn't use it on your car...unless your car's a wreck. If your boat's already pretty far gone, fine, but not on my boat
Originally Posted by littlelizzy
not real good for enviro but dawn dishwashing liquid and a little bleach mixed with water cleans real well. I am looking for a product to protect and shine my non skid so it repels water, non slippery though. I have not had much luck with woody wax but am thinking i did not put enough down. Thoughts?
I have had some good luck with it. Keep in mind that it won't last as long as the wax you use on your topsides. I have found that I have to reapply it a couple times over the summer. The good part is that it is pretty easy to do. You may be right that you haven't applied it heavy enough.
It was actually designed to be used on non-skid. it lays down a thin protective barrier that does not get slippery when wet. It real easy to use so doing it every time you wash the deck if you want is a snap.
Regarding the Soft Scrub. Yeah, it'll work, but I won't even use it on my fiberglass shower. It's just too abrasive. You wouldn't use it on your car...unless your car's a wreck. If your boat's already pretty far gone, fine, but not on my boat
We were talking non-skid right? top sides? As for hull, you are correct, however, I compound and wax if the boat gets dirty after that, just soap and water. If it gets dull, it's time to rewax.
Also I would not use softscrub on my car either, however, the analogy is weak I don't think many of the above items I would use on my car either "power-washer" ugh.
An easy way to get those 'speckled' stains - I think it might be a fungus thing - that look like little black dots all over the deck: spray the deck evenly with water, then sprinkle Ajax, or Comet (any of that ilk if it has bleach) everywhere (a nice even coating) and let it set overnight. Early the next AM, when there's still dew on the deck, go over the whole thing with a soft scrub brush, then hose it off well. Saves hours of hands and knees kind of scrubbing.
Once that's done, go back and hit any problem spots with any of the more aggressive cleaners listed in above replies. Then wax and buff the areas without non-skid.
We used this method for years at the Yacht Yard where I worked - it does a good job and saves lots of time.
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