Filthy Bilge scrub tools?

[Goldie]

My wife picked up a cheap steam cleaner (Lidl or Aldi but I’m sure widely available). The flexible nozzle gets into most places - even where you can’t get a brush.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I used Bilgex, boiling water and scrubbing well. Then warm water and washing up liquid to finally clean it. Old towels to finally finish.

 

[Iliade]

I use biological laundry powder and a long sail in bouncy conditions... Yes, really solid goo might need mechanical removal first: spoon tied to a stick, pressure washer (!), domestic steam cleaner (ours was rubbish, hence consigned to the back of the under-stairs cupboard), w.h.y.

I once had a bilge pump running recirculating oily water and dish soap for an hour or so; it turned it into an emulsified mess that was actually fairly easy to hoover out.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

There are absorbent pads that will soak up oil only and leave the water behind. Very useful when cleaning up, experience after a diesel spill was successful. After removing the diesel, then scrubbing sump pan I used the pads to soak up last of diesel, then final washing.

Example https://www.firstmats.co.uk/product...IS6vhkSwZH78Tj5LQ41madkiYP2YqZ-BoC2qoQAvD_BwE

 

[Fr J Hackett]

My last boat with a deep bilge under the engine had suffered an oil leak from the rear oil seal of the crankshaft for some considerable time and a sizeable amount had found its way into the bilge. The solution was several trips with a gallon or so of water with a bottle of bilgeX followed by pump out and extraction of the dregs with my Pella oil extractor. Finally a going over with a pressure washer with the water being sucked out with the Pella. which left the bilge spotless.

 

[Refueler]

My wife picked up a cheap steam cleaner (Lidl or Aldi but I’m sure widely available). The flexible nozzle gets into most places - even where you can’t get a brush.

I have the Silverstream Steam Cleaner from Lidl .... once it really gets going - its actually very good.

 

[jane444blue]

Another vote for Bilgex and hot water. I put some in the Bilge anyway to slosh about and do it for me. Says its green so can be pumped out

 

[ducked]

Maybe GUNK? (the engine degreaser)

Plus a toilet brush

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I wouldn't use Gunk, it has a very strong smell.
I use to use it many years ago when tuned my own cars engines. It made a very good job of cleaning the engine bay, but you could smell it from a long way off, especially when the engine got hot.
I like the idea of a small steam cleaner, I'll look out for one. There are many areas of the bilge on my Southerly which are virtually inaccessible.

 

[johnalison]

It occurs to me that a car wheel-cleaning brush might be the tool I'd choose.

 

[Refueler]

Sorry got the name wrong in previous post ... but here it is ... I use it for loads of stuff - initial steam is weak - but once it gets going - its good for a cheap small portable unit ...

 

[ducked]

I wouldn't use Gunk, it has a very strong smell.
I use to use it many years ago when tuned my own cars engines. It made a very good job of cleaning the engine bay, but you could smell it from a long way off, especially when the engine got hot.
I like the idea of a small steam cleaner, I'll look out for one. There are many areas of the bilge on my Southerly which are virtually inaccessible.

Come to think ont, here in Taiwan, where specific automotive stuff can be hard or impossible to find, (antiseize and brake grease unobtanium, for example) I've been using old brake fluid, (removed from my car braking system during regular routine system flushes) as a water miscible degreaser. Doesn't have much smell.

Its particularly useful for cleaning carburettors, which I've been doing quite a lot.

Whether it'd work in the bilge I dunno, but one would have to test to make sure it didn't soften polyester resin.

 

[Refueler]

I was always warned not to spill brake fluid on paint etc.