Oxalic Acid to remove Staining

jusw

jusw

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Mar 2007
Messages
238
Location
West Sussex (UK)
Visit site
I know this is a subject that features regularly and now that Treble C is out of the water for the winter (after 2 excellent winter sails) I intend getting her shipshape and trying the Oxalic acid in wallpaper paste.

However, can anyone advise whether it work on an inflatable dinghy? Mine is badly stained and I'd like to smarten her up, BUT, will it do anything to the fabric / seams etc.?

Its a fairly old YAM but apart from looking scruffy is very serviceable - Any advice appreciated.

Julian
 
I dripped a few drops of Oxalic Acid/water/wallpaperpaste solution on our inflatable accidently when using it on the boat.

I washed it off straight away ,it doesnt seem to have done any real damage but you can see the discoloured spots where the drips were.

Personally i wouldnt risk it.
 
I reckon OA will be a bit too aggressive for a dinghy. I cleaned one up a couple of years ago using Cif and a nail brush. It worked really well and got most of the ground-in dirt out.
 
Oxalic acid is a great de-stainer, but is a very weak 'acid' compared with inorganic acids like battery acid (sulphuric) or brick-cleaner (hydrochloric). I would be very surprised if it caused any harm to either the coating or adhesive of an inflatable.
I would be prepared to try it, initially on a small area, if washing-up liquid and warm water were not enough, but I have always found that effective; and my dinghy is still in good condition after twenty years to & from a mooring.
I would not use Cif, if only because I don't know what it's active agent is.
 
No problem I'd say be it PVC or Hypalon. Whether oxalic acid will clean it may be another matter. I darned if I know why it is so good as a general cleaner.
 
The 'y10' (or what ever the chandlery one is called) will only work properly when the temp is over 10oC... don't ask how I know that given the weather in recent weeks /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif but after disappointing results, I got round to reading the instructions on the tub.
 
"I'm darned if I know why it is so good as a general cleaner."

I used a fairly strong OA mix on my teak toe-rail & rubbing-strake last summer, & the hacksaw cuts on my hands were fairly nipping I can tell you.!
I knew then why the teak went from dirty & stained to a lovely fresh blonde colour within 30 minutes.! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Jock
 
Good morning:

I have used Oxalic acid on many surfaces for years since I bought my first supply in bulk from a pharmacy in Corfu in the early 80's without any ill effects.

If you check you will find that OA is the active ingredient in many cleaners such as Teak Bright, dinghy cleaners and rust removers.

Mix a few tablespoons with water for a 2-5 % solution, spread on surface and wash off after 20 - 30 minutes. It helps to use a stiff brush on teak working with the grain.

As mentioned I have yet to see any damage to any of the surfaces on which I have used it.

The stains mentioned earlier were probably where the acid had cleaned the surface. I try to make sure I don't drop any of the mixture on any surface other then what I am trying to clean or I end up having to clean the whole thing.

Cheers
 
Any idea what OA does to aluminium?

BTW at risk of starting a side thread - my experience of Teak and stiff brushes is that you are better off not using a brush as it removes some of the grain.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Any idea what OA does to aluminium

[/ QUOTE ]
Not a lot as far as I can tell. I've used OA to successfully remove rust stains from alloy stantion bases. It has no effect on the ali toe rail or steering pedestal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top