Black streaks

Question - If I were to spill some tomato ketchup onto 2 different surfaces, the first a carpet tile and second a section of lino; which would I be able to wipe clean with just water and a cloth and why?

The answer maybe completely obvious, but I can assure you the very same thing is happening when black streaks are being difficult.

One may find a product that is capable of removing ketchup from the carpet, but the chances of finding carpet in a kitchen is remote.

The particle size from the fallout that creates the black streaks are so small that they will sit in the tiny fissures (highs and lows) of a surface. Under a microscope it will indeed look like carpet.
If one was able to level that surface by adding a wax layer, then there would be nowhere for the particles to get trapped, they would simply wash away with a normal PH neutral wash.

This will only work if the surface was ready for wax, by this I mean you couldn't add wax to the carpet and expect great results.

If you are not interested in 'preventative' then the likes of black streak remover does exactly what it says on the tin.
 
Hydrozoan said:
The discussion has been interesting, but the conclusion I draw is that not all cleaners are the same, even if they have some common composition statement like '<5% surfactants'. One has to think about what one is trying to remove. Black/grey streaks are likely typically to be hydrocarbons from the atmosphere deposited in rain and snow, and if that is the case in a particular circumstance a cleaner designed to deal with hydrocarbons is probably optimal. I wasted quite a bit of time and effort in the mistaken view that mine were from the aluminium of the toerail itself - not an uncommon assertion when I was searching for a solution.
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More food for thought: I have just this morning given my caravan it's annual post-winter clean, ready for a coat of Mer. The black streaks on the painted metal sides came off fairly easily with a bit of rubbing with a fine cleaning brush and the detergent in the communal wash in the storage facility. The front and rear panels are ABS and the streaks are more subborn and more pronounced below the windows (rubber seals). They were reduced however and previous experience tells me these will come off with the Mer. Yep, keep waxing is the answer.
 
For cleaning GRP I like 'Silky Cream Cleaner' - black streaks wipe off easily. Its very economical.
 
Marine Reflections said:
If you are not interested in 'preventative' then the likes of black streak remover does exactly what it says on the tin.
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I'm actually interested in root cause prevention.
Do you know of any products that effectively and easily seal the rubber D-section rubbing strips around the boat?

I have been using a cream wax (Bilt Hamber) that I bought ages ago for the car having read rave reviews.
As a wax polish it was relatively expensive, only average performance and not as easy to apply as some others so I stopped using it on the car and grp.

It sat on the shelf for years before I decided it needed using up and found it to be really effective at sealing the rubber.
What was more of a bonus was it didn't leave a white coating after application, and didn't even need buffing off.

However, the tin has finally run out and I need to find a replacement.
What is used in the trade to seal rubber and stop black streaks at source?
 
Can anyone recommend something for removing black streaks (and general grime) when on a lake please? I don't want to contaminate the water with nasty chemicals if I can help it. Currently using Ecover washing up liquid as sparingly as possible, but it's not THAT good.
 
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Trundlebug said:
I'm actually interested in root cause prevention.
Do you know of any products that effectively and easily seal the rubber D-section rubbing strips around the boat?

I have been using a cream wax (Bilt Hamber) that I bought ages ago for the car having read rave reviews.
As a wax polish it was relatively expensive, only average performance and not as easy to apply as some others so I stopped using it on the car and grp.

It sat on the shelf for years before I decided it needed using up and found it to be really effective at sealing the rubber.
What was more of a bonus was it didn't leave a white coating after application, and didn't even need buffing off.

However, the tin has finally run out and I need to find a replacement.
What is used in the trade to seal rubber and stop black streaks at source?
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Can't speak on behalf of the trade, but I would suggest 303 aerospace protectant, for sealing rubber and quite a few other surfaces. Certainly one of the best products in my kit.
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/303-aerospace-protectant-cat19.html
 
Avocet said:
Can anyone recommend something for removing black streaks (and general grime) when on a lake please? I don't want to contaminate the water with nasty chemicals if I can help it. Currently using Ecover washing up liquid as sparingly as possible, but it's not THAT good.
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The first thing I would suggest is to have the surfaces as hydrophobic as possible, this will enable you to wash down the boat with a PH neutral gentle cleaner and to avoid the harsh, as should be the case anyway.

Also soaking the surfaces first before washing, the pre-wash soak will soften the contaminates making removal that little bit easier.

Add to this a more effective tool when washing such as a melamine sponge for any unprotected areas that have black streaks. The melamine is about the only sponge that will have any impact on 'within surface' marks.
The density and structure of the foam enables it to get in the pores of a surface, but again it will fill back up again with what caused the streak in the first place, so best to condition and protect for a longer term solution.

Tony
 
I'm in Sweden, so can't try some of your recommendations. However, whilst in Clas Ohlsens I found a product for cars. This is in the usual bottle where you squirt it on with a trigger. It obviously has some wax in it, but since the label is in Swedish/Finnish/Norwegian/Danish, I can't tell you exactly what. It does the trick though.
Next winter I shall wax the cockpit and topsides. Preventation is better than cure.
 
Marine Reflections said:
The first thing I would suggest is to have the surfaces as hydrophobic as possible, this will enable you to wash down the boat with a PH neutral gentle cleaner and to avoid the harsh, as should be the case anyway.

Also soaking the surfaces first before washing, the pre-wash soak will soften the contaminates making removal that little bit easier.

Add to this a more effective tool when washing such as a melamine sponge for any unprotected areas that have black streaks. The melamine is about the only sponge that will have any impact on 'within surface' marks.
The density and structure of the foam enables it to get in the pores of a surface, but again it will fill back up again with what caused the streak in the first place, so best to condition and protect for a longer term solution.

Tony
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Thanks for that. The hull in your avatar looks fantastic! I think I'd probably need body filler to get the imperfections out of my paint job - more like pebbledash! I'd never heard of melamine sponges though, will look out for those, ta.
 
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