With preparations for an upcoming season of boating beginning for many, we are publishing our updated, extensive list of tried and true products (as described in the title) we use and highly recommend in case you find it helpful.
★ Some excellent recent additions/ discoveries of note are flagged with a red star.
Please let us know of any products you use that you feel we should try.
➛ ➛ From our list of Stuff we have and use [and do...] in the right sidebar ➛ ➛
Following are the products we keep onboard, and what we use them for.
The selection comes from many years of reading hints from others as well as buying and trying many of the touted and recommended assortments of lotions and potions at one time or another.
Before continuing on this page, take a few minutes to read this excellent article from Practical Sailor . It helped us to better understand what cleaners to use for what, and how to make our own formulations to beat 'boat tax' pricing on some commonly used potions...
We have reduced our inventory to the following few products that seem to work the best for us [and are economic, low toxicity and volatility (where possible), and readily available...]
We carry concentrates when available and cost-effective. [e.g., 1 Gallon of bleach concentrate makes up to 100 gallons of household bleach when diluted with water, but is very caustic if spilled... Likewise for vinegar and others as noted, below.]
A wise precaution is to read and download [you may not have internet access when you need the information...] all the Safety Data Sheets [SDS] about each product you keep onboard. It is useful when questions about the product arise, and in case there is an accident.
What are your favorite products? Please also leave a comment if you have used what we list below and have found something better, or have suggested additions.
Odor Control/ Removal
Cleaning/ Degreasing/ Stain Removal
Sanitizing
Laundry
Descaling
Categories include: [in order presented]
★ = Recent additions/ updates
- Odor Control/ Removal
- ★ Cleaning/ Degreasing/ Stain Removal
- Sanitizing
- Laundry
- Toilets, Shower Sumps and Sink Drains
- Holding Tanks
- Bilge
- ★ Sunbrella [canvas]
- Ropes/Lines [cleaning; treat to reduce water retention and help prevent freezing in winter]
- ★ Mold, Algae, and Mildew Control [Also: Keep your deck from turning green...]
- Descaling
- Corrosion Prevention/Removal
- Bronze [and Brass...] Cleaning and Polishing
We have reduced our inventory to the following few products that seem to work the best for us [and are economic, low toxicity and volatility (where possible), and readily available...]
We carry concentrates when available and cost-effective. [e.g., 1 Gallon of bleach concentrate makes up to 100 gallons of household bleach when diluted with water, but is very caustic if spilled... Likewise for vinegar and others as noted, below.]
A wise precaution is to read and download [you may not have internet access when you need the information...] all the Safety Data Sheets [SDS] about each product you keep onboard. It is useful when questions about the product arise, and in case there is an accident.
What are your favorite products? Please also leave a comment if you have used what we list below and have found something better, or have suggested additions.
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Odor Control/ Removal
- PureAyre Marine Enzyme works great for eliminating odors including head, gasoline and diesel
- Medi-Aire Biological Odor Eliminator [Eliminates any odors of biological origin e.g., urine, vomit, smoke, etc.]
- Manufacturer's Info
- We prefer the unscented version
- Pricing varies; Shop carefully.
- Borax for removing diesel fuel odors - works on clothes too
- White Vinegar [See Cleaning/Degreasing, below, for concentrate for diluting]
- Baking Soda
- 55 uses for baking soda [and there are many more...]
- References:
- The New Getting Rid of Boat Odors [By Peggie Hall. Highly recommended]
Cleaning/ Degreasing/ Stain Removal
- ★ Someone To Do It [Cream Cleaner] This is a 'Where have you been all my life' find! [Thank you Robin!] This is the absolute best hull, etc. cleaning product. The only product we have found that easily and completely removes diesel exhaust stains from our AwlGrip painted hull. It reduces the number cleaning products we keep on board, and is cheap!
- Super Clean [
The best we have found so farfor removing most diesel exhaust stains (soot) from the hull... A good degreaser (think BBQ...) and nonskid cleaner; avoid breathing overspray... (consequently we mainly use outdoors)] - Krud Kutter is a great water based cleaner/degreaser for routine cleaning. [No volatile fumes from solvents- but is still smells a little funky to us... ]
- Manufacturer's Info [There are many specific types of Krud Kutter]
- Original Version [the one we typically use...]
- SDS
- Oil Eater [The absolute best stuff for cleaning up oil spills on the boat, and cheap! Although the WD40 Specialist water based Degreaser (further below) is giving it a challenge...]
- Dawn liquid dish detergent [We wish they had an unscented version...]
- White Vinegar [Grocery store vinegar is 3% acetic acid. You can buy concentrated versions...] to reduce storage requirements by making your own batches of 3% by adding water. e.g., 30% Vinegar; [This is non-consumable garden grade vinegar]
- Read this discussion about concentrated vinegar
- Buy food grade and dilute to 3% if you plan to use in food
- Concentrated bleach [Not the grocery store variety... 1 gallon can dilute to make 100 gallons of grocery store bleach.... good for cleaning stubborn deck stains, mold and mildew on non-fabrics, etc. Very caustic! Store carefully...]
- Stains on fiberglass:
- Baking Soda
- Starbrite Rust and Stain Remover [Safely and easily removes rust stains from our AwlGrip painted hull and deck]
- ★ WD40 Specialist [water based] Degreaser and Cleaner [Excellent water based degreaser; can therefore be mailed USPS]
- Available as water soluble pods so we can make it as strong or weak as needed.
- Think engine room, degreasing winches when servicing, etc.
Sanitizing
- White vinegar [See concentrated vinegar info under Cleaning/Degreasing, above]
- Neutra Sul HP41N Professional Grade Oxidizer [shelf stable 7% hydrogen peroxide]
- For treating previously treated potable water for hydrogen sulfide odors and iron contamination.
- Also removes vestiges of bleach after sanitizing with bleach.
- Manufacturer information
- Bleach [We carry a concentrate that makes 50-100+ gallons from 1 gallon...]
- 1 tsp of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite [unscented household bleach] in 50 gallons of water yields ~ 2ppm [the minimum concentration for sanitizing...]
- We use up to 6ppm in potable water for sanitizing water ,tanks, and plumbing.
- Practical Sailor article with detailed instructions for sanitizing water systems.
- Sporicidin [Removes mold, stains, and odors; bacteriostatic for 6 months. Used in hospitals. Available in concentrate. Look for unscented.]
Laundry
- Oxyclean [we prefer unscented; use with your detergent of choice- also add borax for strong odor removal]
- Also good for other cleaning chores- including sails...
- Add ~1/2 tsp to composting toilet urine jug to eliminate odors and scale
- Detergent of choice [we use HE non-scented detergent with our front-loading washer]
- White Vinegar [see info above about concentrate; dilute to use against certain odors]
- Ammonia [Great in super greasy loads... Don't use on wool!]
- Pre-stain treatment: Shout and/or Resolve Stick [Oxyclean also makes a pre-stain treatment]
Toilets, Shower Sumps and Sink Drains
Holding Tanks
- Raritan CP [Bio-enzymatic toilet cleaner; shop around as pricing varies]
- Keeps the shower sump and sink drains crud free too... [And clears plugged drains...]
Holding Tanks
- Marine Digest It Enzyme [Excellent for dissolving soap scum, clogs, liquifying contents, and eliminating odors. Use regularly per instructions. 1 qt bottle lasts us 6+ months. Safe for pets.]
- TUF-ENUF BILGE Natural Bilge Cleaner bacterial bilge cleaner [Eats oil, fuel, etc. Deodorizes. Pricing varies. ]
Sunbrella
- Waterproofing: 303 Fabric Guard
- Mold/Mildew stain removal:
- ★ RMR Brands Complete Mold Killer & Stain Remover Bundle [Excellent results!]
- Two different liquids: Disinfectant and Mold and Mildew remover
- Available cheaply in gallons
- Starbrite mildew stain remover [Usurped by RMR. Now the strong second choice]
- Homemade Formula B [Drew Frye: Borax; TSP; Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate)]
Ropes/Lines
- Cleaning [See this Practical Sailor how-to]
- We achieve good results using our unscented HD plant based laundry detergent, above
- We also treat with Wet & Forget to arrest green growth over time [algae, mildew, etc.]
- See Mold and Mildew Prevention, below
- Conditioning; Improve water resistance and instill freeze proofing [for winter boating]
- NikWax Polar Proof [also for waterproofing fleece garments]
- ★ Nikwax Rope Proof [relatively new; Subjectively we think the results on rope are similar to Polar Proof, above; Practical Sailor review.]
Mold and Mildew Control and Prevention
Removing stains:
- Best at removing stains and initial control: [In order of effectiveness.]
- ★ RMR Brands Complete Mold Killer & Stain Remover Bundle [Excellent results!]
- Two different liquids: Disinfectant and Mold and Mildew remover
- Available cheaply in gallons
- Starbrite mildew stain remover [Strong second choice; formerly first choice]
- Also read this article about making your own formulations
- Heavy duty removal and control: Sporicidin [Removes mold, stains, and odors; bacteriostatic for 6 months. Used in hospitals. Available in concentrate.]
Prevention:
- ★ Best ever treatment for keeping algae and mildew [green] off the deck, out of lines, canvas, sails, etc. Wet & Forget concentrate. [Thank you Mellisa and Mike! We apply this each fall and never have any green develop on our deck, lines, sails, etc. Safe for pets. Cheap. This stuff really works!!]
- ★ RMR Brands Complete Mold Killer & Stain Remover Bundle [Excellent results!]
- Two different liquids: Disinfectant and Mold and Mildew remover
- Available cheaply in gallons
- Long term, economical, non-volatile and non-toxic control: Concrobium Mold Control
- Manufacturer's info
- SDS
- Make your own Concrobium
- SunPac mildewcide and mold inhibitor [For uninhabited spaces. e.g., long term mildew prevention in boat, vehicle, camper, etc. when away for extended periods. Area must be ventilated with fresh air before occupying. [Paraformaldehyde has no detable odor, so leave yourself a note in the treated space...]
Related Resources:
Descaling
- CLR [Calcium, Lime, and Rust remover]
- Safe [for us and metals]; very effective; available most everywhere; cheap vs. specialty products
- Our uses include:
- Descaling plumbing [e.g., A/C coolant plumbing, salt water flush head plumbing, etc.]
- Descaling engine raw water cooling circuits [e.g., heat exchangers, outboard engine flushing, etc.]
- Removing rust stains on fiberglass
- Removing hard water deposits in shower stalls, sinks, etc.
- Practical Sailor article about descaling solutions
Corrosion Prevention/Removal
- Rust Prevention:
- Tools and spare parts:
- ZeRust products of choice
- We use a lot of the ZeRust drawer liner for lining tool boxes and wrapping spare parts before shrink wrapping and/or vacuum bagging
- Corrosion-X
- We even spray our bronze through-hull valves, raw water strainers, etc. to keep them pristine [not green...] Results last for years.
- Rust removal:
- ★ Evapo-Rust Water based; safe; no fumes; can therefore be mailed USPS [Thank you David J!]
- Ospho
- Also great for removing stubborn stains from fiberglass... [rinse immediately...]
- Starbrite Rust and Stain Remover [Safely removes rust from our AwlGrip painted hull and deck. ]
- Spotless Stainless [removes rust stains from stainless steel, and re-passivates the surface to help prevent rust and stains; Manufacturer info]
- Most effective above 70°F...
- CLR [Calcium, Lime, and Rust remover; see Descaling, above]
- Loostening frozen fasteners: PB Blaster
- e.g., loostening stainless steel bolts stuck in aluminum; rusty engine bolts, etc.
- Corrosion and seizing prevention:
- Five proven home brews [Practical Sailor]
- Slice a lemon in half; salt it; rub on bronze to remove green tarnish...
