Cleaning sails.

[Allan]

Does anyone clean their own sails? If so, is there any advice? If not, is there a sail laundry antwhere near Bristol?
Allan

 

[BrendanS]

Big paddling pool. Stomp them gently in washing powder. If you have the sort of sails with filler between the fibres, do it gently and don't crease too much.

Lay out to dry.

Otherwise, take to professional
If sails are new and expensive, ask anyone but me

 

[stephenh]

Large lawn.
Tent pegs.
Bare feet.
Very soft deck brush.
Washing powder dissolved in hot water.
Hose pipe for rinsing.
Easy.

Sunshine.....ahh - that might be difficult...

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]

... Hose pipe for rinsing....
Sunshine.....ahh - that might be difficult...

[/ QUOTE ]

And in Kent at least, the two are mutually exclusive. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[stevebirch2002]

I soak the sail in the bath for a night with non-bio gentle soap powder (Dreft etc). Rinse in bath a few times, take to lawn, hose off and dry. When no sun I use the bannisters but prepare for wife being not too happy!

 

[sarabande]

Fascinating to know all these personal details. I suspect you are the cleanest person on the Forum if you soak in a bath overnight. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[AIDY]

do mine in the summer on a nice warm non windy day on the boat. hoist the sails and rinse with the marina hose pipe. let them dry. then iron. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Allan]

Thank you all, I have some Bio Tex so I plan to put my Jib into the bath and soak it. I will then rinse it first in the bath, then with a hose. Looking at the weather I think it will then be over the bannister! I will post here to say how it goes.
Allan

 

[kds]

I used to sneak into the school swimming pool and leave them in overnight. then rinse under hosepipe. Chlorine content too low to damage fibres, but brought the sails up a treat. Stitching did not rot either ( as someone is bound to say that it will !)
Never a good idea to scrub as this brings up surface roughness, which captures more dirt next season.
Ken