Black Mould on Spinnaker

[StefanSG]

Just pulled out my spinnaker and there are some small areas of black mould. I looked in the archives here and its generally a no-no to treat dacron sails with bleach, is it the same for thin nylon spinnaker material ? I have used Milton sterilising fluid (Sodium Hypochlorite and salt) on mould to good effect in the past on headliner, fabric, etc
SSG

 

[thinwater]

Your chute is probably nylon, not dacron.

Peroxide, not hypochlorite, and in moderation. In the US, Oxiclean, standard dose, long soak time.

(FYI, chemical names are not capitalized)

 

[RJJ]

Your chute is probably nylon, not dacron.

Peroxide, not hypochlorite, and in moderation. In the US, Oxiclean, standard dose, long soak time.

(FYI, chemical names are not capitalized)

Peroxide bleach which is available as Vanish for some expense, or under its own name on ebay for sixpence or so.

It will reliably kill the mould and will do a passable job removing small stains. It won't in my experience remove all stains without scrubbing, which I don't recommend.

 

[thinwater]

Peroxide bleach which is available as Vanish for some expense, or under its own name on ebay for sixpence or so.

It will reliably kill the mould and will do a passable job removing small stains. It won't in my experience remove all stains without scrubbing, which I don't recommend.

It will do pretty well on most sails. Pre-clean with weak borax soak (kills mold) and detergent soak and light scrub to remove gross soil. Sail cleaners use a 4- to 6-hour peroxide bleach soak, and following that with a day in the sun really helps. Don't rush it and don't expect miracles. Generally the stain will continue to lighten with sun exposure, often vanishing completely.

Stains don't slow you down!

 

[Gsailor]

Milton is weak bleach referencing post 1.

Google white vinegar. I'm not sure but I think that is not damaging and may kill mould.

69 posts and I am under moderation or something. So you won't see this immediately. I doubt you are in a rush

 

[thinwater]

Milton is weak bleach referencing post 1.

Google white vinegar. I'm not sure but I think that is not damaging and may kill mould.

69 posts and I am under moderation or something. So you won't see this immediately. I doubt you are in a rush

Acid is HUGE no-no for nylon. Even weak acids cause weakening.

Do not use cleaners on sails or any vulnerable material without reading the SDS and Googleing chemical comparability of the material. The information is all out there.

 

[Gsailor]

Acid is HUGE no-no for nylon. Even weak acids cause weakening.

Do not use cleaners on sails or any vulnerable material without reading the SDS and Googleing chemical comparability of the material. The information is all out there.

Thanks. Don't try vinegar everybody... it is a weak acid.