Smelly bilge

[pessimist]

Our bilge has recently begun to smell as though something has crawled in there and died. The bilge is deep and largely inaccessible. Anyone know of any wonder potion to clear the nasty niff?

 

[gregcope]

Bilges comes recommended by others.

I use lots of very hot water and beach or flash (or lidl equivalent) - Pump out. Repeat if you want and then rinse with more hot water.

I often put a dribble of flash with some water in to slosh about till the next time.

Works for us.

 

[sarabande]

www.oiltechnics.com

They have a wonderful range of biologically effective and kind products to eat up the crud in bilges.

Excllent support telephone.


This range might be the best:-
http://www.oiltechnics.co.uk/AnimalHygiene/Cleaning/index.html

 

[Jamesuk]

Bilges comes recommended by others.

I use lots of very hot water and beach or flash (or lidl equivalent) - Pump out. Repeat if you want and then rinse with more hot water.

I often put a dribble of flash with some water in to slosh about till the next time.

Works for us.

Lucky it works for you, i on the other hand recommend Caravan Blue. Basically caravan concentrated black tank/toilet liquid.

I Run a 64ft yacht and after a couple of months running AC in the hot Med sea it had that Bilge musty smell. I tried all the brands at huge cost to clear the smell. Bilge cleaner this Bilge cleaner that, EVEN "i swear by this stuff it is amazing...." didnt work.

This stuff Caravan blue cleared it in seconds (literally) of putting it in. The best part it costs £5.50 and it will last a year or more on the bilge smell. Mix with a bit of water and spray in the bilge 1 part blue 3 parts water.

Viscount caravans
West End Road (A27), Bursledon, Southampton, Hampshire, S031 8BN.

Telephone us on 02380 405122. You can leave us a message out of office hours on our voicemail system.

Fax us on 02380 402599, 24 hours a day.

Email us at enq@viscountcaravans.com for caravan sales and purchase enquiries

Thank you for your time

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Before purchasing anything specified for the bilge a common cleaning product that has some "orange" additive or scent has been recommended for bilges as a low cost wonder product.

I am afraid I cant remember the product name but hopefully this will prompt a reply from someone with a bette memory than me.

Cheers,

BlowingOldBoots

 

[Deleted member 36384]

"Mr Muscle Orange" is the product I was thinking of.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66703

 

[RobBrown]

I use Bilgex and following many recomendations on here, follow it up with a anti-pet odour spray. Seems to work pretty well.

 

[Jamesuk]

I use Bilgex and following many recomendations on here, follow it up with a anti-pet odour spray. Seems to work pretty well.

"Seems to work pretty well" in my line of work that is not good enough. The smell needs to be elliminated. Caravan blue from Viscount caravans, get it, spray it, move on to the next problem. )

I was recently onboard an 82ft Oyster. They tried the CB and they emailed to say wow amazing where to buy!!

 

[sailorman]

Our bilge has recently begun to smell as though something has crawled in there and died. The bilge is deep and largely inaccessible. Anyone know of any wonder potion to clear the nasty niff?

washing machine powder & hot water

 

[gljnr1983]

I use a stuff called Natural zest bilge cleaner from aquamarinedirect its cheap, keeps it smelling nice and is a good allround cleaner.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

washing machine powder & hot water

+1 or pour washing up liquid in the bilges and leave it there for a few days for the wave action to mix it well with the water in the bilges, then pump out.

 

[Easticks28]

I use a product called 'Virasol', probably the same as the Mr Muscle cleaner.
I always have a cup full slopping about in the engine bilge and it kills dead any smell of diesel. On one occasion, a quantity of milk was spilled into the main bilge by a visitor, who neglected to mention the fact. On going to the boat two weeks later the smell ..... Virasol tipped in neat with some water to follow sorted it in quick order.
Available from here
http://www.clickcleaning.co.uk/products/6/virosol-citrus-based-cleaner-degreaser-5litre.aspx
There are many other stockists.

 

[pessimist]

Thanks, one and all. I'll try the washing up liquid first 'cos I have it to hand and then move on to the others if necessary.

 

[rob2]

All of the suggestions have merit and it'll depend on what it is that is making the bilges smell as to which is effective. Detergent is quite effective against oil and diesel, but I noticed the reference in one post to the air conditioning. The condensate from aircon systems if warm is where outbreaks of Legionnaires Disease breed, so the Caravan Blue or similar will be more suitable. Its original purpose is to make human waste safe and odourless so it has to kill off bacteria, prevent algae, etc. Early types had formaldehyde as the active ingredient, newer types are sold as much more environmentally friendly.

After making a mess with an engine oil change, I flushed out the bilges with some patio cleaner that came with the pressure washer and it was very effective. But I would worry about whether it would be appropriate to pump out if still afloat!

Rob.

 

[Halo]

washing machine powder & hot water

+1

In my last boat a small amount of "Tide" or "Bold" bio washing powder worked like magic. Far cheaper and better than the proprietrary stuff for bilges in my experience.
Dont get me wrong - Bilgex is really handy for other uses like diesel spills but for chucking down the bilge its washing powder for me (and you can swipe some from SWMBO)

 

[[2574]]

Just be sure that it really is your bilge smelling and not something else - I thought I had a stinky bilge until, after much gnashing of teeth and pouring of Bilgex to no effect, I discovered that actually I had porous heads exhaust pipes. I upgraded to best possible pipe (at enormous cost) and the problem disappeared.