G
Guest
Guest
The mainsail off our 36ft Sirena needs washing,because of mould-staining. Problem is, it doesn't fit in the bathtub! Has anyone solved this one before?
davel
Active member
Only by sending it away for professional laundering at a sailmakers. They have a giant Zanussi I understand 
trevor
New member
See my posting 10th April it might be useful!!!
Trevor
Trevor
G
Guest
Guest
King Sized Wheelie Bin
THis tip has come from this board many times though I have not given it a go yet.
p.s. I have soaked sails in a 10:1 solution of household bleach without any problems to the fabric or stitching with very good results. Rust is a problem though. I have often got the worse off with the oxalic acid stuff found in preparations for cleaning hulls from yellow back to white.
Exemptions apply of course.
THis tip has come from this board many times though I have not given it a go yet.
p.s. I have soaked sails in a 10:1 solution of household bleach without any problems to the fabric or stitching with very good results. Rust is a problem though. I have often got the worse off with the oxalic acid stuff found in preparations for cleaning hulls from yellow back to white.
Exemptions apply of course.
LORDNELSON
New member
Re: King Sized Wheelie Bin
I always wash my sails in my inflatable dinghy in the courtyard of my house. So long as you are not using anything in the water that will affect the dinghy it makes a jolly good tub. If you do have to use chemicals why not deal with the affected parts resting the affected part of the sail on a board or something and rinse each area you have treated and then do the final wash in you inflatable - assuming you have one.
I always wash my sails in my inflatable dinghy in the courtyard of my house. So long as you are not using anything in the water that will affect the dinghy it makes a jolly good tub. If you do have to use chemicals why not deal with the affected parts resting the affected part of the sail on a board or something and rinse each area you have treated and then do the final wash in you inflatable - assuming you have one.
G
Guest
Guest
My sails are washed by the local cleaners at the end of each season. They have a huge washing machine which costs me £10.00 to use, this includes the powder. There is a tumble drier available too but I don't bother with this service.
Cheers
John Dillon
Cheers
John Dillon
G
Guest
Guest
As liveaboards, this is a recurring problem for us. When we find ourselves at a marina dock we take the sail out onto the dock on a day when we hope there will be little traffic. Lay the sail out, treat the stains - mold/mildew with liquid non-chlorine bleach or mild bleach solution. The non-chlorine bleach (in US the most common is Clorox 2(tm)). Oxalic acid, or hydrofluoric acid for rust stains (and you must get the rust stains out, or they will rot your sail quickly). For best effect, apply it to the sail while dry, scrub gently with soft brush, rinse. Then wash entire sail with good liquid laundry detergent. Then: hoist sail onto a halyard and pull it up to rinse with the hose, leaving it up until it dries. IN some places we've rigged a line on the dock to hoist the sail, either by its head, or folded over a line and secured.
Here is a web site with good advice on the care of sails: http://www.wadler.org/sailcare.htm
Here is a web site with good advice on the care of sails: http://www.wadler.org/sailcare.htm
robp
Active member
Don't use or let others use a machine. Layout carefully and wash off, using gentle cleaners as on other postings. Then hose off and hang up.
charles_reed
Active member
Send it to a commercial sail washing outlet - they usually only do work for the trade so you'll have to go through a local sailmaker.
