Magic deck cleaning powder

[Ruffles]

Came across an empty orange bottle the other day that used to contain a white powder for cleaning the deck. It's now empty but seem to remember it being quite effective. Wet deck, sprinkle and scrub with a broom.
The label confirmed that the active ingredient was oxalic acid at 10%.

Now I have a huge 5kg tub of oxalic acid crystals so I could just fill the old bottle with it. Bit extreme though and it got me thinking what the other 90% was. Chalk? Do boots still sell boxes of chalk? Used to get it from there for rock climbing back in the day....

 

[pvb]

You don't need the other 90%, just the oxalic acid, diluted appropriately.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I use oxalic acid diluted appropriately, add a bit of washing up liquid so it foams up and you know where you've been. Works best in direct sunlight when it is warm.

 

[XDC]

You don't need the other 90%, just the oxalic acid, diluted appropriately.

I use oxalic acid diluted appropriately, add a bit of washing up liquid so it foams up and you know where you've been. Works best in direct sunlight when it is warm.

What’s the “appropriate” dilution?

 

[pvb]

What’s the “appropriate” dilution?

About 10% should be fine. Use personal protection - eye protection, skin protection, etc.

 

[VicS]

Came across an empty orange bottle the other day that used to contain a white powder for cleaning the deck. It's now empty but seem to remember it being quite effective. Wet deck, sprinkle and scrub with a broom.
The label confirmed that the active ingredient was oxalic acid at 10%.

Now I have a huge 5kg tub of oxalic acid crystals so I could just fill the old bottle with it. Bit extreme though and it got me thinking what the other 90% was. Chalk? Do boots still sell boxes of chalk? Used to get it from there for rock climbing back in the day....

It is not likely to have been chalk. That would have neutralised the oxalic acid

 

[XDC]

About 10% should be fine. Use personal protection - eye protection, skin protection, etc.

Ta.

Strangely enough I inherited a similar cleaner to the OP.

It was in a yellow container and resembled Vim ??? (I have a vague memory of a powdery cleaner that my Mum used to shake out of a container ... no idea what it was used for )

The stuff I inherited was brilliant for our boarding platform that in effect took the run-off from the rest of the boat and often had irritating stains.

I used to sprinkle on the powder, dampen and after say 10 minutes the transom was spotless.

Oxalic acid is the future !

 

[TQA]

I have a 41 year old fiberglass boat with a mucky cockpit floor.

I find barkeepers friend to be very effective and certainly better than using oxalic acid on it's own.