Cif/jif on GRP

[seanfoster]

I have some stubborn stains on my GRP deck and cockpit and want to give it a good scrubbing with Cif. Will it harm the GRP seeing as it is an abrasive?

I have tried lots of other methods like oxalic acid, various detergents etc, but these stains seem to be 'deep'!

Any ideas?

 

[Alfie168]

Its very mild abrasive so you should have no problem. Lots of people use T cut and even stronger cutting compounds like Farecla to repolish UV hazed gel coat. On really stubborn bits I have used the non scratch type (white not green) pan scrubbers with no obvious bad effects, but I'd use a cloth first. I find Micro fibre cloths brilliant for this. Just get some Tesco Value microfibre cloths. They are cheap as chips and do the job.

Try a small area first.

Tim

 

[exfinnsailor]

Try .

Dishwasher powder .. Gets rust stains off .. Usually use a bucket .. Fairly strong mix and a brush .. For bad stains wet area and sprinkle on .. Only downside is it can get a bit slippery .. Wash off with water .. You should see what it does to teak seating .. Gets all the green muck off ..

Jif / Cif is abrasive and leaves tiny scratches .. You can take the shine of plastics with it ..

 

[Alfie168]

Dishwasher powder will certainly do the job brilliantly but is quite severe chemically compared with Cif as its full of silicates, so make sure you wear some rubber gloves and rinse it very well afterwards.

Tim

 

[MoodySabre]

I only use Cif on the moulded non-slip. For all the flat gel coat I use Magic Eraser (from Robert Dyas or a similar product from some supermarkets). This is very effective and non-abrasive, non-hazardous. I think Cif will make the gel coat dull as it is abrasive. Deep stains that won't come out with oxalic are probably there to stay.

 

[Cariadco]

Good old Jif (Cif) or is it?

My advise??? Don't touch it.

I used it on my old boat and regretted it. OK so it cleans the GRP up superb, but you then have to pile on the polish, otherwise the **** sticks back on in no time.

My new boat, I swore I'd never use it, but the previous guy scrubbed her spotless with.....Bloody Jif.

Now I'm forever cleaning and polishing like mad.

trust me, use something else!!!

 

[seanfoster]

Glad I asked before I went ahead with it!

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Steve Clayton]

I recommend: http://www.autodetailingsolutions.net/marine-line.html

must be a UK outlet somewhere

 

[PeterGibbs]

Its very mild abrasive so you should have no problem. Lots of people use T cut and even stronger cutting compounds like Farecla to repolish UV hazed gel coat. On really stubborn bits I have used the non scratch type (white not green) pan scrubbers with no obvious bad effects, but I'd use a cloth first. I find Micro fibre cloths brilliant for this. Just get some Tesco Value microfibre cloths. They are cheap as chips and do the job.

Try a small area first.

Tim

Go with this - and be sure to let no green toasty cleaning pads anywhere near your shiny GRP or you will regret it. B

Brasso is pretty kind to GRP, I use it a lot, but it may not dig down into stubborn stains.

Do remember how thin and soft the gellcoat is, and how little rubbing it will take before the substrate appears! Ouch!

PWG

 

[tel1]

My advise??? Don't touch it.

I used it on my old boat and regretted it. OK so it cleans the GRP up superb, but you then have to pile on the polish, otherwise the **** sticks back on in no time.

My new boat, I swore I'd never use it, but the previous guy scrubbed her spotless with.....Bloody Jif.

Now I'm forever cleaning and polishing like mad.

trust me, use something else!!!

I use it with no problem! very true on the polish, but once thats done it looks great. ive only had to put one coat of polish on and its not been a problem! i can see my face in the gelcoat and everything! amazing stuff!

 

[DipperToo]

I guess these are similar to the microfibre cloths, but they worked magic on my marked topsides. http://www.marineaglaze.com/eradicator_sponge.asp

I bought some at the boat show where they were being demonstrated and to my surprise really worked well.

 

[Fire99]

I used Jif/Cif on my first little Norman 18 and I think I must of pretty much gone over the whole boat. Then went over it with cheap triple wax and the gel coat was superb and dirt used to bead off with a gentle rinse.

Only problem I had was over polishing walking areas and slipped on a wet deck once and ended up in the water. I was young!

 

[Jaytac]

I like Jif - but it is of course abrasive (that's why I use it ), so I don't use it every week..........

For bad stains it's metal polish or if needed Wet n' dry.......both used cautiously!

 

[tel1]

I used Jif/Cif on my first little Norman 18 and I think I must of pretty much gone over the whole boat. Then went over it with cheap triple wax and the gel coat was superb and dirt used to bead off with a gentle rinse.

Only problem I had was over polishing walking areas and slipped on a wet deck once and ended up in the water. I was young!

oh yes, i forgot to metion that on my post. very slippery in socks, trust me i know!

 

[MoodySabre]

I guess these are similar to the microfibre cloths, but they worked magic on my marked topsides. http://www.marineaglaze.com/eradicator_sponge.asp

I bought some at the boat show where they were being demonstrated and to my surprise really worked well.

Eradicator is the same as Magic Eraser (and others). They are melamine spknge which when wetted with cold water just drag the dirt off. It's the molecular structure what does it. Brilliant.

 

[Lakesailor]

Astonish oven cleaner paste is tested on grp and safe. It's a strong, non-abrasive kitchen cleaning product.
Use "mutton cloth" available at most car parts shops or paint distributors (especially automotive paint dealers)
Its soft yet carries the paste and lets it work well.
Any old towelling or coarsely woven natural fibres would do.

 

[oldsaltoz]

My advice:

Never ever use an abrasive on fibreglass.

All abrasive products will leave small scratches in the surface making cleaning even more work next time because the muck sticks in the scratches and will only come away when you have made enough extra scratches to remove the original ones.

If you must abrade the surface, use a proper polish and always follow up with a finish grade then apply a protective polish over that.

Chemical cleaning though not kind to the environment is by far the best for results, but some chemicals can be as bad as sandpaper leaving pit rather than scratches, so use only known 'good' cleaning products and avoid high solvent content cleaners.

Hope this helps.

 

[theguerns]

sif/jif

I have some stubborn stains on my GRP deck and cockpit and want to give it a good scrubbing with Cif. Will it harm the GRP seeing as it is an abrasive?

I have tried lots of other methods like oxalic acid, various detergents etc, but these stains seem to be 'deep'!

Any ideas?

If you have a contact in France the BEST product is Carolin ultra degreasant. I have told this to so many yachtsmen I should have shares. It wont damage anything you spray it on neat use a green pan cleaner leave it for 10 mins and wash off job done. Oh and by the way Starbrite Blackline remover £8 Carolin€2.75