Ultimate Boat Cleaning Guide
Knowing how to clean your boat without breaking the bank may be easier than you know, and it can save you big bucks. After all, cleaning your boat can be expensive. A professional boat cleaning service will charge depending on how much work is required. Also, Some of these products are dangerous to the. environment, toxic to people, and they can be expensive. But BKF is gentle and will cost you only a couple of dollars.
What Floats Your Boat?
Is your boat a freshwater or saltwater boat? They both have different cleaning challenges. Pond scum is a common problem in freshwater hulls. Bar Keepers Friend is effective for removing pond scum and dirt that has built up over a number of years.
Saltwater can be corrosive. And the salt may run directly through the engine! So, what if the saltwater exposure has corroded your boat? How do you clean it? One way is to make a paste from water and BKF Powder Cleanser. Spread the paste on affected areas, then let it sit for no longer than five minutes. Once the five minutes are up, scrub with a sponge or cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.
What Kind of Stuff is Your Boat Made of?
The construction materials of a boat vary, and therefore, how you clean the boat can be drastically different. Common structural materials for boats include:
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Stainless Steel – Most people know never to use an abrasive cloth on stainless steel, but did you know not to use abrasive cleaners? Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser, and Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray & Foam are perfect for your stainless steel boat or components.
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Aluminum – If the boat surface is only lightly soiled, you can use MORE Spray + Foam. Spray it onto the surface, scrub with a non-scratch scrub pad, and then rinse thoroughly (be sure to rinse immediately). Next, use a soft cloth to wipe it dry. Neglected surfaces may require multiple applications.
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Fiberglass and FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) – For these materials, we recommend Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser. Simply wet the hull, make a paste using our product and a small amount of water, and then use a damp sponge to spread the cleanser evenly. Wait up to one minute before scrubbing, and then rinsing, the surface so the oxalic acid in Bar Keepers Friend has time to work its magic. Repeat these steps as needed.
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Molded Polyethylene – Not all molded polythene is the same. The paste and sponge method mentioned for fiberglass works on some molded poly. However, it may discolor some formulas of polyethylene. So, before using this method test a small, out of the way, inconspicuous, spot on the hull.
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Wood
Parts Make Up the Whole
And what about cleaning parts like the prop, shaft, and rudder?
These parts are made from various materials, aluminum alloy and stainless steel are the most common, but they can also be bronze and nickel alloys. BKF Cleanser, BKF Soft Cleanser, and BKF MORE Spray+Foam are perfect for regularly cleaning stainless steel, bronze, nickel props.
Keeping it Simple
One advantage of BKF core products, which include our cleaner and powdered cleaners, is that they can be safely used on many materials – including stainless steel, copper, brass, glass, fiberglass, and chrome.
Gather Your Tools
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Get a couple of cans of Bar Keepers Friend – your ultimate boat cleaner.
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A clean bucket, plastic or metal.
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A clean sponge.
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A water hose with a spray nozzle.
