Steam cleaner

[1937rogerdon]

I plan to go down the boat next week, and the major job is to clean the Teak Deck. She has been laid up for the last year so the decks are very grubby and green in places.

Has any body tried a steam cleaner, if so what results have you had!
I have all the chemical bottles if need be but this seemed that it my be an easy solution if there is such a thing when it comes to Teak Decks.
JRD

 

[TQA]

I plan to go down the boat next week, and the major job is to clean the Teak Deck. She has been laid up for the last year so the decks are very grubby and green in places.

Has any body tried a steam cleaner, if so what results have you had!
I have all the chemical bottles if need be but this seemed that it my be an easy solution if there is such a thing when it comes to Teak Decks.
JRD

Do you mean a GENUINE steam cleaner or a hot water washer. There is a world of difference.

The first needs to be used with extreme caution but is magic at removing really heavy oil and grease buildup. I am not sure that I would use it on teak though but it will certainly get more oil/grease out than anything else you might use. Might melt anything plastic nearby though.

Hot water washer used with a detergent is gentler.

 

[Fantasie 19]

SWMBO has a steam cleaner and it is fierce; there'll be others more knowledgeable along I'm sure, but I'd be very wary of using it on my boat...

If it was me I'd go pressure washer route first....

 

[BAtoo]

SWMBO has a steam cleaner and it is fierce; there'll be others more knowledgeable along I'm sure, but I'd be very wary of using it on my boat...

If it was me I'd go pressure washer route first....

I'd be VERY cautious about a pressure washer - a tad too near and you have a ready-made "distressed" look to the deck - guess how I know
(Fortunately it was only on the teak edging around the hatch.)

I don't have teak decks & I'm not sure I ever would - especially on a modern boat. Maybe when I get my lottery win and opt for the 50ft Pilot Cutter.......

I'm told a really thick solution of washing powder gently worked over the deck then left for a while and washed off is a reasonably good quick fix.

 

[haslemere_harry]

If it was me I'd go pressure washer route first....

Whatever you don't use a pressure washer! It will rip out the softer parts of the grain, leave an almighty mess and, not too far down the road, an eye watering bill!

For the green bits I've tended to use 'mould and mildew remover' (Homebase or similar). Just spray/wipe it on, leave for a week or so and hey presto, no more mould; and it will likely stay that way until the end of the season.

Cheers

Mark

 

[davidfox]

Steam cleaning can be a bit fierce I aim to try it this year on my garden furniture with the pressure turned to low, however on the teak front, patio cleaner seems to be the product for those who know there is a lengthy thread somewhere. I did mine week before last and it came up a treat, havent been down to the boat since tho' so hope its alright!
The poster seemed to imply that the active ingredient just kept working?