cleaning the decks with oxycilac acid?

[steve yates]

We're intending to wash the deck and clean up the grp and the teak this week, all with oxycalic acid, then repaint the non slip on the longbow ketch.

any dos and don'ts? What sort of dilution are we looking at for the acid? I have it in powder/crystallised form. I've read its best to dissolve it in warm water so we'll bring a flask of warm water to start it off before topping up the bucket with water from the hose.

I have heard of mixing wallpaper paste in, does that help and if so, what sort of mix or dilution? It's going to be hot and sunny this week, around 23/24 degrees celcius, will that be a problem for paste going sticky or hard?
I've also heard of adding fairy liquid, is that an alternative to paste? how much to a bucket? and are any of them actually required?

At those temperatures, how long should we leave it on before hosing it off with cold water?

Also, whats best for applying the solution? rags? sponges? paint brushes? a soft broom or mop? Should it be applied carefully or a bucket of solution sloshed over the decks and then spread around with a mop or something?

Lastly, I'm not intending to mask off any deck fittings or anything, I don't imagine it will really affect in a bad way anything thats going to be affixed to the deck, or am I wrong there?

Thanks.

 

[Quandary]

Don't know all the answers Steve but couple of comments
I do not think that oxalic acid is anything like as effective on teak as Patio Magic/Borocal. It is not the miracle product tht everyone here might have you believe, if you plan to repaint the decks the important thing is to get shot of grease or dirt to ensure adhesion, cosmetic effect is not so important,so a good detergent might be effective and less risky. The oxalic solution will clean the hull and is really good for waterline and rust staining , though 5% hydrochloric (brick cleaner) is even better for the latter. The function of the paste is to keep the oxalic from running away on sloped or vertical surfaces, an application of cling film is a handy way to make this work even better.
Oxalic should be okay left overnight, hcl an hour or so max.

 

[jasperthedog]

Before using oxalic I was recommended Tesco cream cleaner used under a running hose and soft scourer. Was very happy with results and only about 80p a bottle. The other similar brands cif etc. didn't do anything so don't waste your time with them.

 

[Refueler]

I use Cilit Bang Lime and Rust Toilet Cleaner ............ takes of waterline stains... cleans up GRP ... just about cleans it all !!

 

[Spyro]

No need for wallpaper paste or fairy liquid unless it’s on vertical surfaces. It stops it running off. 20 mins is usually long enough but you may see results even sooner. Mix crystals until it stops dissolving is usually the best method. Put it on with a good sized paint brush. Wear suitable ppe

 

[greeny]

No need for wallpaper paste or fairy liquid unless it’s on vertical surfaces. It stops it running off. 20 mins is usually long enough but you may see results even sooner. Mix crystals until it stops dissolving is usually the best method. Put it on with a good sized paint brush. Wear suitable ppe

+1
Strangely enough, I have just left my mum's teapot full of it for an hour for its 3 monthly de-coke. Non of the normal domestic cleaners shift it but oxalic does.

 

[VicS]

+1
Strangely enough, I have just left my mum's teapot full of it for an hour for its 3 monthly de-coke. Non of the normal domestic cleaners shift it but oxalic does.

A teapot. How quaint.

 

[Malcolm3]

The oxalic acid is very good at removing rust stains and yellow discolouring on glass fibre. . I dissolve it in warm water . Be careful not to inhale fumes and wear gloves. It is an acid and burns if get it on skin. Therefore must be no splashes or drips onto you. I put it on with a squeeze mop and 30 mins does fine. Then wash off.

 

[pvb]

People usually use oxalic acid to remove rust stains and brownish waterline stains. I'm not sure you need to use it on your deck. Brushing with sudsy water and "creme cleaner" would be fine before repainting the non-slip.

 

[duncan99210]

About 2.5 tablespoons full of oxalic acid to a litre of water. That’ll give you a concentrated solution which I then use straight from the bottle. Usual caveats about using rubber gloves etc. Don’t bother with wallpaper paste, just let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes and rinse: repeat if required.

 

[oldgit]

just been using oxalic to clean the stainless steel stantions on my boat where they are fixed to the toe rail. Apply with an old paint brush usually takes a bout 5 mins to remove most stains.
Also have a glass fibre swim platfrom , when you clean with oxalic it is blinding obvious which bits you have missed.
Tub from ebay about £3.50.

 

[alahol2]

The Fairy Liquid acts as a wetting agent ensuring full coverage without drops sitting in one place. Well worth adding.

 

[Little Dorrit]

Y10 (oxalic acid) might seem expensive but it goes on easily and economically with a pant brush and imho works better than the crystals I used. A small tub lasts me a few seasons.

 

[Hoolie]

I agree about no sticky gooey wallpaper paste. It depends whether there's any grime on your surfaces as to whether detergent is beneficial, though to save time and effort I usually add "wash and wax" car cleaner for extra shine. I often end up doing ours in hot sun and no matter what the concentration it dries to fine crystals very quickly and can be washed off when convenient. We get staining of the deck with fine rain borne sahara dust that doesn't come off with usual detergents.

ps Oxalic acid is absorbed through the skin so keep the cat shut in down below until it's all washed off!

 

[Momac]

Unless wanting to clean a very large area try Bar Keepers Friend Power Cream or Power Spray, which believe contains Oxalic acid.
I tend to reserve if for occasional use and treatment of rust stains.

 

[steve yates]

Yes we want to clean a large area, the whole deck and all the teak.
Pete, doesn't seem any point not cleaning the nonslip with it when there is do much fro around it needing cleaning. Simplest just to clean the lot in the same way. Unless it has a bad effect on paint?

 

[Spyro]

People usually use oxalic acid to remove rust stains and brownish waterline stains. I'm not sure you need to use it on your deck. Brushing with sudsy water and "creme cleaner" would be fine before repainting the non-slip.

I didn’t think my decks were stained until I put oxalic acid on them.

 

[Kukri]

+1
Strangely enough, I have just left my mum's teapot full of it for an hour for its 3 monthly de-coke. Non of the normal domestic cleaners shift it but oxalic does.

I expect I am teaching Grandmother, but oxalic acid is a serious poison. It’s why we don’t eat rhubarb leaves.

 

[Saltsail]

Hi guys! Just a bit of info for you all, I use oxalic acid quite often and its only good for eating rust stains away, it can also help to bring original colour back to (rotten/dump wood but it depends on how rotten wood is. ( I can email some pictures to whoever is interested)) Main thing i wanted to mention is that oxalic acid is only working with water, plenty of water and there is no such area on your boat that it could cause damage to. So go ahead and use it if you know how!

 

[William_H]

I have used oxalic acid especially on the top sides just above water line where it gets a dark stain. No need for a thickener. Just put a load of powder into the warm water until it will dissolve no more. Use a paint brush to spread it round . I find even 2 minutes is enough to see it working. Wash it off. It should be no problem on decks. However as said you might try detergent as well or even acetone to clean up oil and grease. What you might find is that the clean up will leave your decks looking much better to the degree that you might elect not to paint them. If it is a typical GRP deck with non skid molded in if you paint it you will fill the roughness of the non skid requiring then that you use a non skid paint or grip additive.
This is the only way to go if and when decks get worn or damaged to need filler and paint but to be avoided if at all possible.
Now just for my Australian friends . I bought 'Diggers" stain remover from Bunnings. Way back this product listed on the label Oxalic acid . Later versions of the same named Stain remover does not list oxalic acid but it works in a similar manner . I have no idea what is in it. Recommended. ol'will