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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Renewing my stained sails

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waltex
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/25/2005 : 09:47:49

PO was a slob. Sails are stained from cockroach tracks/nests, mud-dauber nests (red clay), grease stains, dirt, etc. I have a large patio/deck at home where I laid out sails and brush-scrubbed with Tide/water. They are cleaner, but still stained. Do you think I could use an oxygen bleach? Any ideas? I want clean sails but don't want to damage them.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 10:20:07

Some folks here have reported good results using a company called 'Sailcare' (sailcare.com) for cleaning/reconditioning their sails. I do recall one poster that had an issue with boltrope shrinkage after the cleaning, but I think it was resolved.

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 10:25:12

My two-year old genoa is stained (don't know from what). I'd like to clean it up, but it's not bad enough to ship to Sailcare. Any ideas on the bleach issue?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 11:03:50

I generally don't clean my sails, aside from an occasional fresh water rinse, but my headsail could use a little sprucing up. Has anyone used products like chlorine bleach free OxiClean to remove stains from sails?

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 16:51:40

I recently had a bird deposit stuff all over both sails while underway. The next day I found the sails deeply stained. Regular soap and water did nothing. I scrubbed with comet (ajax something like that) cleanser and the sails came really clean, also removed some pesky rust stains.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 18:07:15

I was taught (rightly or wrongly) not to use anything on a sail that you wouldn't put on an expensive sweater. Sails are to be gently washed (if ever), rinsed with fresh water and always hung up to dry.

So, generically speaking, I wouldn't recommend using chlorine bleach on a sail. Well, not a sail I cared about anyway. I'd think I'd rather live with the stains than degrade the fabric.

Oxiclean? Hmmm... on that one I dunno... it uses Hydrogen Peroxide along with a glycol-ether compound as it's bleaching agent. Probably easier on the sail fabric than chlorine bleach.

There are commercial sail wash mixes available from the marine stores. Any different from some common (cheaper) laundry products? Hmmm... dunno.

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sodonnell
1st Mate

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76 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 23:51:12

I have a friend of a friend who repairs sails for a living.
He swears by warm water in a big tub and a couple of sizable scoops of OXYCLEAN.

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dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2005 : 08:27:13

i used the spray OXYCLEAN this spring on bug and mud dobber spots and it did a great job.
i didn't see any cause for alarm not to use it.

it has given me the best results of anything i have used.

these sail cleanes solutions i have bought from boat stores just don't seem to get it clean enough.

and yes, i am very picky about what i would use to clean my sails

dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr
sailing on carlyle lake in southern illinois

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waltex
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2005 : 22:51:58

Bruce Bott @ClamBeach recommended Sailcare (Sailcare.com) I talked w/ Jerry there. Of course, he wants me to send my sails to him for cleaning and conditioning. He said that they are a commercial dry cleaning & Laundry plant (large stage drapes, thousands of sails, etc) They not only clean, inspect, repair, renew, but they add a resin coat back on the sails just like the originals. Sounds very good. Jerry said not to use any alkaline-based cleaners on sails. I called OxiClean and it is Alkaline-based. Sailcare uses a 'commercial sail cleaner' whatever that is. Since I am not qualified to know really what to do I think I will send my sails to Jerry. I'll let you know how well they did. Thanks for your input.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.