Removing green stains on sails

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KeithH

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I have just taken the (furling) genoa off my boat for the winter. This year, the sail has some green stains on the cloth - especially near the luff, and on the foot where the cloth is double thickness. Perhaps those areas trapped rain water, encouraging algal growth.

Has anyone got a treatment? Washing with water does not remove it. However, I would not want to use bleach, as that will possibly damage the cloth. It is conventional sail material - polyester?
 
Some interesting tips there. I liked the comment at the end of this one;

Dettol®, a commonly available household disinfectant, is the most powerful and effective fungicide and inhibitor you can use to prevent recurrence and spread of mildew. Various health and environmental agencies prohibit the use of stronger fungicides since the same thing that kills fungus has similar effects on higher life forms, as most of us would like to picture ourselves.
 
A very dilute solution of bleach will kill algae. The article on the North Sails website cautions against using it on Nylon or Kevlar (both being polyamides) but there seems to be no objection to using it on a polyester fabric. I think I would avoid it nevertheless.

When I read this sort of thing, "DO NOT EVER MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA and stand around breathing the air. The result is phosgene gas" I tend to regard the rest of the site with suspicion.

However algae is plant life and the green colour is due to chlorophyll. Left in the dark it will die and the green colour will I think probably disappear.

The "Stain devil" for mud, grass and make up is Ok to use on polyester and should remove it. Stain clinic
 
I had the same problem. I solved it by using a jet wash while the sail was still on the forestay. Be gentle, have the nozzle set at a fairly wide angle and clean it section by section as the sail is gradually lowered on the haliard. There was no damage and the sail was cleaned both sides in about twenty minutes.

Haul it back up, let it dry and the job is done. It is much quicker and cheaper than paying for the sail to be laundered.
 
Apart from that dodgy chemistry, the advice on cleaning is in line with other sail care sites and with my own experience.

So I wouldn't condemn it completely.

Umm yes he must have meant mustard gas not phosgene, an easy mistake to make.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Umm yes he must have meant mustard gas not phosgene, an easy mistake to make.

[/ QUOTE ]Ooops, where did you study Chemistry?
Mustard gas is the common name given to 1,1-thiobis(2-chloroethane). Its chemical formula is Cl-CH2-CH2-S-CH2-CH2-Cl therefore cannot be produced from mixing Ammonia and Household Bleach (~5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), as a point of interest nor can Phosgene (CCl2O).

Both Mustard Gas and Phosgene are readily synthesized if one has access a few ingredients some of which are, fortunately, not readily available to Joe Public.

Depending on the ratio mixing, Ammonia and Bleach can produce Chlorine (Cl2) or Nitrogen Trichloride (NCL3) or Hydrazine (N2H4) the latter being the most interesting as it is a 3 step reaction with the final step being highly exothermic (to the extent of the probability of an explosion occurring).

In other words DO NOT mix Ammonia and Bleach.

There endith the lesson.
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Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity
 
Only one? I was a little suprised that it was yourself that made the comment - mixing up mustard gas and phosgene, Can't even make "N" Mustard form the given ingredients /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
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hammer.gif
Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity
 
a great conversation to be having on an open forum in this day and age. See you all in 42 days....... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Thanks for your replies. I used a combination of your suggestions - soaked the sail in a solution of stuff to remove grass stains from clothes ( a peroxide based material by Dylon, which happened to be by the washing machine.....) first, and then used a jet-washer to flush out the green stuff.

The main area of staining was where the sail is double thick - at the leach and at the foot. I imagine that water collects in between the two layers, and the algae make themselves at home.

Glad some folks had pointed out that whilst mixing hypochlorite solution and ammonia is not wise, it wont make phosgene.
 
[ QUOTE ]

However algae is plant life and the green colour is due to chlorophyll. Left in the dark it will die and the green colour will I think probably disappear.


[/ QUOTE ]

Algae are tough little devils, and although they may die in the dark, once there is moisture and light they will be off again.

Chlorophyll breaks down to leave a black mineral stain from the iron content, although it is not likely to be much in this instance.

Worth trying to wash as much of it out as possible I would think.
 
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