Cleaning main sail cover?

[Ian_Edwards]

Our stack and pack main sail (boom) cover has green algae on it, it’s been through the washing machine twice with a bio detergent (30 deg long wash) and has, in general, cleaned up very well, but there are still traces of green around the some of the tapes and seams.
Any ideas on how to get rid of the green algae?
When it’s clean I’ll recoat it with Fabsil which has worked well in the past.

 

[DavidMcMullan]

Ian,
I am in the process of cleaning up my own at present. A week or so ago, it was recommended to use a product called Brinton's Mould and Mildew Cleaner. Having scoured the local souces all I could find was Brinton's Patio Cleaner. Having e-mailed them, Brintons have confirmed the following:

Quote
Patio Magic is the new name for what was previously called MMC (Multisurface Mould Cleaner). It is available from many garden centres as well as from Homebase, Focus and Wilkinsons stores nationally.

Patio Magic is PH-neutral and non-corrosive, and it will not damage or discolour fabrics/canvas. Like most detergents, however, it will often wash out any waterproofing agents that soft surfaces (such as canvas) have been treated with; in these cases a waterproofing agent will need to be re-applied.

The diluted product should be sprayed onto to the dry canvas, which should then simply be left to dry out (this could take several hours). The product will kill any mould/algae within about 3-4 days. If the canvas is exposed to the elements, particularly rain of course, then the dead algal growths will be washed away - in which case there will be no need to hose it down. If not, then I would then leave it for a week before hosing it down once.
Unquote

I am initially soaking mine in biodetergent, prior to drying & spraying as above.

Regards,
David.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Patio Magic

David,
Thanks that's very useful, I've washed our cover in bio detergent twice (1hr 30min slow washing cycle at 30deg), and the second wash made no visible difference, so it'll be interesting to see if a soak in "bio" has any effect. The cover didn’t have any mildew, but was quite “grimy”, from two years use, and one wash in bio detergent cleaned that away easily.
I’ll look out for Brinton's Patio Magic and give it a try, it sounds easy to use, but it would be good to hear how you get on.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

A wash over in a weak solution of Oxalic acid, followed by a thorough rinse with water and then reproofing.
I did my rather tired cover 5 years ago and the effect on long term green algae was immediate and the cover still survives.

http://www.agwoodcare.co.uk/gbu0-prodshow/oxalic_acid.html

 

[spscam]

why don't you try your local sailmaker? we used ours they charged £20 to wash and reproof it, although they said the reproofing would encourage mildew as it stops the covers being breathable.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Salt water is the best way to prevent algae from growing back.

 

[sailorman]

Salt water is the best way to prevent algae from growing back.

It doesnt stop Algae growing on my boats bottom

 

[LORDNELSON]

Cleaning Main Sail Cover

In the past I have found gentle scrubbing of the cover with very dilute washing up liquid (using a soft broom with cover spread on patio) followed by gentle power spray of water to dislodge algae that is still sticking on. This seems to work and I have not had to re-proff.