Mildew

[adrianmarchbank]

My mainsail cover and sprayhood have become badly mildewed with green fungus or algae over the winter. Is there anything I can do (cheaply) other than just putting them through the washing machine, which didn't do much. As a newcomer to this sort of thing, I hope I have posted this correctly, and in the right place. Apologies if I haven't.

 

[VicMallows]

Welcome, and yes your post is both appropriate to the forum and displays perfectly.

My experience of mildew is that after a good washing-machine wash (as hot as appropriate and using a good bio detergent ... wife says persil tablets are best, though I tend to buy cheaper own brand) there will still be unmoveable stains. Do soak for a long time (5 hours or more).

More drastically. if fabric suitable, and white! use bleach, though may damage synthetic fabrics.

Best of luck, Vic

 

[adrianmarchbank]

Thanks Vic

Hot wash in the machine (no idea whether Persil or not) just turned the bright green stains darker. I'll try a soak tomorrow. Any commercial agents I could use to remove it completely?

 

[VicMallows]

CarbonTetrachloride would work. It was brilliant stuff. Used to be marketed as 'DAB-IT-OFF'. Was also the usual ingredient in fire-extinguishers. Banned though in the 70s due to cancer risks, about the same time as PCBs.

(sorry, just trying to stir up some activity on a Sunday night!!)

Vic

 

[pvb]

Vic.....

It's Saturday here!

 

[VicMallows]

Re: Vic.....

Only for 53 minutes.

 

[andyroo]

Can you still buy dab it off or something equivalent? I agree it was excellent and I used to use it on my sails but haven't seen for a while. If you know where I can get some please let me know.

Thanks and have a good weekend

Andrew

 

[Thistle]

Is it mildew (black) or algae (green, as described)?

If it is algae I'd have thought that scrubbing with cold water - or pressure washing - would get rid of it. Addition of a little Jeyes Fluid would probably help with the removal and also help prevent recurrence.

Mildew is a more difficult problem; see here.

 

[pvb]

Here\'s a brilliant stain remover...

Whilst not in the same league as carbon tet, there's a solvent-based stain remover on the market which is brilliant for many needs. It's a Mercedes-Benz product, inspiringly called "Stain Remover". Most Merc dealers haven't heard of it, so you'd probably need to go to the Retail Parts desk at a Merc dealership and order it - part number A 001 986 28 71. I used to use it on a Merc which had very pale cream interior, and have since found numerous uses for it around the house and boat. It works on cloth or plastic, but shouldn't be used on leather.

 

[pvb]

I\'d try this...

I hadn't taken much notice of your original post, because you described it as "mildew", which is pretty well impossible to shift. But as Thistle pointed out, you did say it was a green stain, so it could be algae. If so, get a bottle of Polycell 3-in-1 Mould Killer (about £5 a litre from B&Q). This product contains a powerful algaecide and a fungicide. Wash the mainsail cover and sprayhood with sudsy water first, to get the worst of the dirt off. Let them dry thoroughly. Then paint on the Polycell 3-in-1 Mould Killer liberally with a soft paintbrush, doing both sides of the canvas. Let it dry. A few days later, you should find it looks a lot better. Repeat washing and treating should give enhanced results.

It's a colourless liquid. You can wipe any drips or splashes off the boat with a damp cloth, but it won't harm it. Best to wear rubber gloves and eye protection, of course.

I've been using this on my sprayhood and teak deck for several years, with better results than I'd dreamed were possible.

 

[adrianmarchbank]

Re: I\'d try this...

Thanks for all that

The stain is green, so is probably algae. The sprayhood is currently in the washing machine (my wife is away!) but I'll try B and Q this afternoon.

Adrian

 

[Gunfleet]

You will probably need to reproof them after the washing machine. Millets or similar sell the stuff - Fabsil

 

[adrianmarchbank]

Just pressure washed them, and they came out beautifully. Thanks to you all for your help.

 

[geoffatstanpit]

Re: I\'d try this...

Doesn't the stainless steel frame make a horrible clanking noise?

Geoff