Boat Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts
Cleaning Do's | Cleaning Don'ts |
Cover your boat for long-term storage, preferably with shrinkwrap, which offers better protection, lessens chafe and keeps the boat appreciably cleaner. | Use alkaline cleaning products that can damage surfaces and the marine environment. |
Before using any product, read the application and first aid instructions on the back label and then follow them. | Use a metal hose nozzle as it will chip or crack the gelcoat when (not if ... ) dropped. |
When washing a boat in a slip or a mooring, use a biodegradable, environmentally friendly soap. | Dry wipe bird droppings with a towel or you'll scratch the surface area with the excreted seeds and nuts that birds eat. |
Start rinsing and cleaning at the highest point and work your way down. | Use a towel or rag as contaminants might scratch the surface. Use microfiber towels, which gently lift and remove dirt and grime without smearing or streaking. When dirty, toss them into a washing machine and machine dry. |
When cleaning a very dirty boat, have a second large bucket filled with clean water to rinse the brush or wash mitt often to remove dirt and grime. | Use a fabric softener, dryer softener sheets or a detergent with fabric softener when washing any rag. |
Minimize soapsuds so you can see what you're cleaning. | Scrub hard or you'll scratch surfaces. Let the cleaning products do all the work. |
For the final rinse, remove the hose nozzle and reduce the water pressure so water sheets rather than beads on the surface. | Use any products that contain silicone oil. |
Dry surfaces after washing, rain or heavy dew. | Let any soap dry on surfaces. Keep a rinse hose handy. |
Vigorously shake product bottles for a few seconds prior to opening. | Apply rubbing compounds, polishes or waxes on hot surfaces and never apply in sunlight. |
Apply rubbing compounds in a back-and-forth motion. Apply polish (or wax) in a circular motion. | Apply polish on a wet surface as water droplets can cause streaking or make the polish difficult to remove. |
Apply polish to everything onboard, including painted (except Awlgrip) and varnished finishes, metals and plastics, for a glossy, easy-to-clean protective layer. | Apply a polish or wax to non-skid surfaces. Woody Wax, when applied according to label directions, offers good non-slip protection to non-skid surfaces. |
| On painted boats, use products that are not approved for use on painted surfaces. |
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