Steam cleaners

[Rum_Pirate]

Has anyone used a steam cleaner to clean the 'carpet type' material forming the headliner in their boat?

Did it work well?

Recommended?

 

[Clancy Moped]

I wouldn't personally, how's the headliner held up?

 

[harvey38]

Has anyone used a steam cleaner to clean the 'carpet type' material forming the headliner in their boat?

Did it work well?

Recommended?

Not tried it but I reckon the headliner would become a floor liner pretty quickly with the weight of the absorbed water ?

 

[Slowboat35]

Do you really mean a "steam cleaner"? I suspect not. These are like turbocharged pressure-washers that blast 110' steam out at scores of PSI. They are used to degrease factory floors, truck chassis etc and are brutal.

 

[KevinV]

Do you really mean a "steam cleaner"? I suspect not. These are like turbocharged pressure-washers that blast 110' steam out at scores of PSI. They are used to degrease factory floors, truck chassis etc and are brutal.

You can get domestic ones, but I still wouldn't try it, I'd be too concerned about softening the glue with the heat.
Fairy liquid works wonders on car roof linings, might be worth a try.

 

[thinwater]

Rum Pilot, please define headliner. If it is vinyl, there are vinyl cleaners, mostly with bleach, that are as good as it gets.

No, as many pointed out, your do NOT want heat above warm water. You can soften the glue. So forget steam.

However, if the liner is a thin carpet-like material (Fronter Runner is a major brand), it cleans very well and does not hold much water.

• Carpet cleaning formulations work, but "Formula B" is optimized for marine carpet AND to keep the mildew away. Practical Sailor Magazine.
• Spray the cleaner with a pump-up sprayer or a hand spray for small jobs. Let sit to a few minutes. Scrub lightly.
• Extract the dirty fluid with a carpet cleanr upoltery attachment or a shop vac with an upholstery attachment (~ $15 on Amazon).
• Repeat several times if needed.
• Do NOT rinse. The formulation is intended to prevent return. If you want to rinse, just treat lightly one for time and vacuum.
• Dry with fan.

Practical Sailor Formula B

I have rescued liners that looked like Jackson Pollack's work. The right cleaner. Vacuum removal. No steam, no pressure washers.

 

[choppy]

Hello again Rum,

This is F27 "mouse fur" lining Im guessing
Never tried myself but have heard from other owners pressure washing was quick & successful way of getting rid of the black & dirt - once residue gone it should also be properly clean.
You obviously need to get rid of the water & dry it after - not easy most of the year in Uk but maybe easier where you are ?

Slightly different tack but for charter boats needing quick effective covid sanitization I was fogging using HOCL (Harmless apparently - dentists use it, though id call it a bleachy chlorine type derivative) this kills bacteria and has removed mould/black spots etc effectively from fabrics that we were very wary of using chemicals on.

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

Hypochlorite is bleach, it'll damage polished metal surfaces.

 

[thinwater]

Do not pressure wash. You will blow the glue off.

F-27 "mouse fur" is Frontrunner. I talked to Ian years ago.

 

[thinwater]

... Slightly different tack but for charter boats needing quick effective covid sanitization I was fogging using HOCL (Harmless apparently - dentists use it, though id call it a bleachy chlorine type derivative) this kills bacteria and has removed mould/black spots etc effectively from fabrics that we were very wary of using chemicals on.

Google before you guess about chemistry. This is part of the bleach equilibrium... obviously.

Hypochlorous acid

 

[Momac]

I have used a domestic steam cleaner on carpet with good results.
That includes carpet on the boat that is stuck to the floor. Nothing bad has happened.
I did have a slightly larger machine but then my wife bought a smaller steam mop use at home which is good in the relatively small space of my boat.

Steam mop something quite like this -