Cleaning sails

[Slinky Spring]

I would welcome suggestions on the best way to clean sails. Headsail is particularly grimey on the side opposite from the sacrificial strip.
Will dilute bleach damage the cloth? Will weak oxalic acid go straight through the fabric? etc

 

[Talbot]

I have an infalible system for washing sails, with almost no effort on your part, yet is effective.

I send mine to Arun's and as well as checking it over for repairs, every 3-4 years, I get them washed as well.

 

[bigwow]

I also use Talbots method only I use Kemps and let them store them untill the spring.

 

[gandy]

These people offer quite a sophisticated sail cleaning service ...

http://www.nep-sailclean.com/process1a.htm

I have no experience, but was considering getting them to clean our genoa. Of course you could go first and report your findings back here.

 

[Croak]

Practical Boat Owners advice, "send them to a professional"!

I soaked mine in "Vanish" for a day, and they havn't fallen to pieces yet.

 

[VicS]

Chlorine based bleaches eg domestos should not be used on "man made fabrics" according to the label on the bottle.

An oygen bleach such as Vanish or Ecover is safe as far as I am aware but there may not be anything on there that it will bleach.

Oxalic acid is good for somethings especially rust stains but otherwise unlikely to serve any useful purpose.

A soak in ordinary detergent is the the most likely thing to be effectve.

 

[Ships_Cat]

Bleach used in the concentrations on the bottle for clothing is fine for polyester sails but not for any other sailcloth. It will only remove organic and similar matter eg mildew, though (for which a good link is http://www.northsailsod.com/faqs/faq-general.html and scroll well down the page).

For other grime a laundry detergent is ok on polyester with very light soft brushing if necessary. The sails should not be crushed (eg by trampling) during washing and the headsail, especially, on a 25 footish boat should be very easy to do and no harm come by trying.

Both of the above is also what I have done with my own sails.

For other stains (rust, oil, etc which I have never had) I think I would ask a sail maker to remove them but wash the sail myself. And for non polyester sails I would get a sailmaker to clean them if a straight water wash is not sufficient.

John