Cleaning products for saloon woodwork (Westerly Konsort)

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FairweatherDave

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Our new Konsort has acres of interior woodwork that basically needs a good deep clean, including the wooden floor. I don't want to damage the woodwork and I don't want to start varnishing or oiling or whatever until I've really prioritised my maintenance jobs. Any suggestions for cutting through the grime a bit. Just anticipating lay-up time. Yes I bought the boat before the owner had a chance to prepare properly for the slow sale he might have anticipated. I don't want to get the "Pledge" out before doing some cleaning first. Managed to sell our Centaur without ever needing to get deep cleaning :)
Just answering my own question but would Meths be good?
 
Hmmmm. I'm not sure. Obviously sugar soap is right for painting but I don't want to use anything abrasive as the wood work is either varnished, laquered or polished hardwood of some sort, plus on some woodwork water based cleaning might cause watermarks (thinking of polished domestic furniture)but obviously it is a boat so......
 
I'd be tempted to start gently with a damp sudsy sponge to get obvious dirt off. Then perhaps rub over with a cloth and white spirit. Certainly nothing abrasive like sugar soap. Ordinary spray furniture polish is fairly harmless stuff to continue with.
 
Sniper said:
What about sugar soap? It's the recommended product for cleaning prior to painting and it does cut through dirt well.
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Just googled sugar soap and polycell says theirs is non abrasive so apologies Sniper if I misinterpreted. My homemade version with granulated sugar and swarfega is abrasive though :), for working on engines etc.
Thanks PVB. I'm looking forward to cleaning the boat, my wife says it is a shame I don't show the same interest in cleaning at home........... (have to say that is a tad unfair)
 
White spirit is best to start followed by one of the spray on cleaners. Westerly used a very hard lacquer which stands up well and you should be able to clean off the accumulated grease and grime quite easily.
 
You don't describe the condition so it is hard to advise without knowing exactly what the problem is. If you have black marks ingrained then it is a far bigger job than just wiping dirt off. As a previous poster has said, Westerly used an epoxy lacquer and I doubt you'll hurt it much with what ever you throw at it.
 
Thanks for all the posts, really very helpful. As always the forum can turn a vague uncertainty into a job I am confident about. I haven't even got familiar enough with the boat to have discovered all the dark recesses but I think generally it just needs a good end of season (or couple of seasons) clean. I am confident about the condition overall though and haven't seen any ingrained black marks yet....fingers crossed.
 
PS I do have 5 litres left over of meths from the Origo that went with the Centaur. I am thinking I might be able to use that instead of white spirit, despite the distinctive "aroma".
 
FairweatherDave said:
PS I do have 5 litres left over of meths from the Origo that went with the Centaur. I am thinking I might be able to use that instead of white spirit, despite the distinctive "aroma".
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I wouldn't use the purple stuff because it can leave a stain (ask me how I know) but the clear bio Ethernal from b&q might work. Any you have left over can go into the origio with the bonus that it smells much less when burning. Btw you need a big b&q or mail order because not all of the smaller ones sell it.
 
I'm a great fan of citrus oil polishes. Years ago I used Kleeneze orange oil polish for an initial clean up in my Sadler 29 and that removed loads of salty grime leaving a nice sheen and slight fragrance. After that initial clean I've gone round Spring and Autumn - takes about an hour - to keep things smart. I can't imagine changing to any other treatment. SWMBO uses the same stuff on our furniture. Our current version is Parker & Bailey Lemon Oil Polish from Lakeland. I've no connection with the product or retailer.
 
Thanks Reac for that recommendation, sounds just right for the job. Really looking forward to making the new boat feel ours. I didn't feel I could bond with the Konsort until I had sold the Centaur, and had a lovely sail with the Centaur from Emsworth round to Thornham Marina for the transporter (sad times seeing her go). Bring on the Konsort :)
 
My favourite and universal solution is to use a good kitchen degreaser called Chante Clair. It shifts accumulated grime, including that from tobacco smoke, and does no harm that I can see. Spray on and then wipe off with a cloth. Follow up with the furniture polish of your choice. Cheap but safe and effective. My boat is a Wauquiez Centurion 32 with a vast area of real wood.
 
For lots of grimy places try using unscented baby wipes.

I feel sure you will love sailing the Konsort. It is just a bigger Centaur at heart. You will certainly love the extra space inside.
 
Thanks Concerto. Just sorted out the childcare so my wife and I are heading round Selsey Bill on Monday from Chichester to Shoreham. First night aboard the bigger caravan. But should also be an excellent sail on the Monday. Struggled to find any proper furniture polish in Sainsbury's tonight, not that I'm in a hurry....it was all Pledge or Lord Sheraton. But s*d that, I'm excited for a first proper sail on our new boat........
 
Google "Cleaning wood panelling" there's lots of useful stuff there.
Btw Westerlys used satin celulose laqueur to finish off their woodwork if you need to match up anywhere. Don't use varnish as it quickly goes opaque and grotty yellow.
Mike
 
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