Cleaning sails

joe17

joe17

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I am planning to give my mainsail a clean later in the week. Any hints and tips?

I will probably buy something from the chandlers designed for the purpose. Is it worth it? :) What would be the best equivalent detergent that I could buy from a supermarket?

I have a relatively soft brush which is meant for cleaning cars. OK? Or what should I use?

Any other hints or tips to get best results and not damage the sails?

Thanks,
Joe.
 
There was an article a couple of years ago in PBO which featured a high-tech machine process and a watering can and brush - both worked. We used to use non-bio washing powder or a general detergent in fairly weak solution and slosh it about with a soft broom. Hose off thoroughly and hang on a chain link fence to dry. You can also slosh on some weak bleach to kill any mildew, again rinse off thoroughly. Don't scuff them about on the floor - ideally a grit free, painted concrete surface. Final drying, unless they're giong straight back into service, is important as they should not be packed away damp.

I have seen good results from washing sails in a bath tub or even in the rubber dinghy (washes that at the same time) on a pontoon. I have hung a jib on the line at home and it got several days of rinsing before the sun finally came out to dry it!

Think about what to wear when doing the job, as you will probably be wetter than the sails by the time you've done.

Rob.
 
I did my No2 genny in the bath the other day. I used some washing powder and bleach in the bath and gave it all a good scrub, then rinsed off with the shower. It looks better than it did, but its still an old sail at the end of the day.

Good luck
 
rob2 said:
There was an article a couple of years ago in PBO which featured a high-tech machine process and a watering can and brush - both worked. We used to use non-bio washing powder or a general detergent in fairly weak solution and slosh it about with a soft broom. Hose off thoroughly and hang on a chain link fence to dry. You can also slosh on some weak bleach to kill any mildew, again rinse off thoroughly. Don't scuff them about on the floor - ideally a grit free, painted concrete surface. Final drying, unless they're giong straight back into service, is important as they should not be packed away damp.

I have seen good results from washing sails in a bath tub or even in the rubber dinghy (washes that at the same time) on a pontoon. I have hung a jib on the line at home and it got several days of rinsing before the sun finally came out to dry it!

Think about what to wear when doing the job, as you will probably be wetter than the sails by the time you've done.

Rob.
Click to expand...

Detergent and bleach are not good for sails!!
To clean, use oxalic acid (will also remove rust stains) beıng careful about any metal fittings! soak, rinse and dry.
Then get a reasonable waterproofer, I used grangers in a 5l tin, and spray/brush this on, leave to dry. Usually lasts at least 2 seasons (with a lot of sailing).
 
joe17 said:
I am planning to give my mainsail a clean later in the week. Any hints and tips?

I will probably buy something from the chandlers designed for the purpose. Is it worth it? :) What would be the best equivalent detergent that I could buy from a supermarket?

I have a relatively soft brush which is meant for cleaning cars. OK? Or what should I use?

Any other hints or tips to get best results and not damage the sails?

Thanks,
Joe.
Click to expand...

Take a clean wheelie bin, fill with warm water add a tub of oxyclean (from the £ shop) stir to dissolve, drop the sails in, agitate well, leave overnight - rinse and hang out to dry. Job done.
 
What products that I can buy from tesco contain this oxalic acid stuff?
Does oxyclean you mention have it in it?
I like the wheelie bin method by the way!! I have one I keep clean for testing my outboard every winter.
 
Even Chance said:
What products that I can buy from tesco contain this oxalic acid stuff?
Does oxyclean you mention have it in it?
I like the wheelie bin method by the way!! I have one I keep clean for testing my outboard every winter.
Click to expand...

Oxyclean is Sodium Perborate and is an oxygenating bleach, no oxalic acid in it.
Google it for reams of information.
 
I used to buy Oxalic acid from any chemist in the uk by the kilo (probably 1 killo will do more than a main up to about 28' ?) Then the government put it on some warning/highly dangerous/beware of terrorists list of substances, so I then had to buy it on the internet, or over the phone in 5 kilo containers! If you live near a decent builders merchants they should have it!
 
Thanks for the comments.

Dont have a wheelie bin, so that is out. I was planning to do it on the pontoon with a bucket and brush and hose. Wasnt planning to soak them overnight.

I will have to scan the shelves for something with Oxalic acid.

Feel very nervous doing anything with bleach.

Thanks again for the ideas.
 
.... and if you're going to do this on the pontoon then give the pontoon a really really good clean first (so you don't end up turning the sail over and finding it worse on the underside than when you started).
 
Marsupial

That sounds like the best idea so far... in the time it would take to flake it, fold it, bag it (or take it off the boat) you could be part way through cleaning it and not had to risk creasing the sail at all..
 
Marsupial said:
What ever you do resist the temptation to agitate the sails, try to clean them flat. The wheelybin idea seems to have promise a swimming pool is better!

For what its worth I would take the main off the boom then flake it on the deck so the head is on top and the clew towards the goose neck

Take the head of the sail over the boom and clean it "on the boom" and flake it on the deck until the foot is on top

that will clean one side

turn the sail round so the luff is at the goose neck

you now repeat the process taking the foot of the sail over the boom cleaning it as it goes and flake it on the deck

the last bit you clean is the head which you now feed into the mast track a hoist the sail to dry it.

the only problem with this is the weather.

good luck
Click to expand...
Can you explain why not to agitate the sails?

Not sure about the boom thing as the idea of soaking them for a while sounds promising. I've managed to find something reasonable. Shorter than a wheely bin but wider.
 
Got an upgrade when we went to stay in Brighton.

IMG_1120.jpg


Had to be forcibly restrained from driving down to Dover for my genny.

Normally use a paddling pool bought from Wilkinsons (very few ££££s) for cleaning using Dreft or similar.
 
When we aquired our current boat the sails were seriously stained, we used HG mould spray available from most DIY stores and some supermarkets. We hung them up and soaked them with the hose pipe and sprayed on the HG mould spray left for a short while and then hosed off with plenty of water they came up like new and have been fine since we cleaned them.
5958702576_a5bbf4563e_z.jpg
 
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