Fenders need cleaning. What is an effective but safe cleanser to use?

Posted by Whole-Quick@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 71 comments

On my previous boat I used cleansers that were too harsh and softened the vinyl surface making them even more of an attractant to dirt. Not recommended, I don't want to repeat that.

Dirt is mostly spider poop, atmospheric dust and algae. Freshwater location so no no salt or saltwater critters. On Canada, so our options are a bit limited no West Marine products, for example

Boat is on the hard until May, so lots of time to procrastinate over the winter.

Thanks!

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Came here looking for an answer as my pressure washer isn’t doing it. Hitting it with the yellow nozzle and kept it there for a while to see what would happen and the material itself was coming up. Others recommended bleach. I might give it a go.

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RaleighlovesMako6523@reddit

I think that’s what my husband does. He just hoses them🤔

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EnderDragoon@reddit

This is the correct answer. No chemicals needed. Pressure washers are amazing. Start with the nozzle too far away and get closer till you get the cleaning performance you want.

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SailingAndBailing@reddit

I am not trying to be mean, but my first thought was "who cleans their fenders?"

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Hold_Fast_To_Dreams@reddit

Barkeeper's friend (oxalic acid)

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OSHA_InspectorR6S@reddit

I’d recommend simple green- I use that stuff to clean most everything onboard!

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bobdreb@reddit

Vinyl fenders, vinyl cleaner(in most marine shops, Canadian tire, etc.)

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Hawse_Piper@reddit

Magic eraser. End of story

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lizerdk@reddit

just leave them out & dragging in the water when you're underway like a pro

jokes aside, your idea of "needs cleaning" and mine are...not the same.

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facesofvader@reddit

I used bleach and even an SOS pad, with very little success (mine were black in some areas), but the pressure washer in the end was the best way to make them halfway decent.

I put fabric fender covers on that matched the colour of the side of the boat, much nicer now, good for another 5 years! ;-)

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narwall101@reddit

I typically tie them to my boat and throw them overboard! /s

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Educational_Zebra_66@reddit

Acetone will make them shine like brand new. Gloves, rag, and rub.

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FalconMirage@reddit

It’s going to melt them

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Educational_Zebra_66@reddit

It won't I've done it a thousand times. Its how I clean mine and how I've done it when detailing boats for a living. My fenders are 20 years old and still look brand new.

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goodness247@reddit

Simple green.

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aufstand@reddit

Which is nasty, if you can't spot cyanobacteria on them anymore and accidentally touch that spot. Happened to me this year, as we had a nasty cyano-growth record. I quickly learned to get rid of that by swishing them through the lake a bit (luckily goes off well if fresh) before taking them out.

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_The_Space_Monkey_@reddit

Never washed fenders with it but I use simple green to clean so much of my stuff and it never damages anything and works great so I second this recommendation.

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Aubergine911@reddit

Those look spotless to me!

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J4pes@reddit

There is a product called

ALL-OFF Truly Amazing

White spray bottle, it’s potent stuff.

Works very well for stains on fenders and any vinyl, like on a lot of dinghies.

But don’t use it for anything else and wear gloves.

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SteveDallasEsq@reddit

Would you believe Amazing Roll Off. Not only its name, but an accurate description of how it works. Buy it from your favorite cross-border American chandlery.

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Canuckleheadache@reddit

All-off is Roll off from the states but with French labeling to appease Canada. Exact same product...

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Amity83@reddit

Roll off is cheap, safe for most surfaces and fabrics, and works quite well.

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Mrgod2u82@reddit

Judging by the description, it's likely not allowed in Canada. Will have to look though.

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

This is the kind of suggestion I'm looking for, thanks! Will check it out at The Tire.

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CdnfaS@reddit

Whip-it

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FalconMirage@reddit

A scrub with a cleaning brush and sea water should do the trick

Why do you need chemicals for this ?

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DragonfruitThat1278@reddit

Cleaner wax worked pretty good without damaging them.

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Mr-Term@reddit

Just had to destep my ensign today, fenders weren’t even on my list of things to do. Ah the differences of boat ownership.

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BigDickCain@reddit

My girl says tampons are single use only...

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SgtMarv@reddit

Why do they look like tampons? 😆

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Jefethevol@reddit

trisodium phosphate worked for my fenders

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Late-Feedback3611@reddit

The blue steel wool soap pads, you're welcome.

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YachtRubyRose@reddit

Nail varnish remover

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Proof-Astronomer7733@reddit

Simply Vinegar and dishwasher soap

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Glenbard@reddit

Same. Works very well.

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windoneforme@reddit

So you're mixing a weak acid with your basic dish soap to try and make it neutral?!

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Proof-Astronomer7733@reddit

No, first you clean your fenders with dishwashing soap (the liquid stuff), squeeze some soap into a bucket with handwarm water, take a sponge and clean the fenders, rinse it and the spots which are left you treat with vinegar especially the “greyish” weather mold spots after that rinse it again and ready.

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

I'm going to give that a try. Thanks.

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J-ROON@reddit

I remember an old tip: use butter to clean up grease stains on fenders. Must be a messy job, but if it works…

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solocmv@reddit

My kids put some fenders in our pool for shenanigans, and we discovered a good soak in Chlorine pool water is magic.

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

I kind of worry about the long term effects of the chlorine?

And the town swimming pool might not take kindly to me jumping in with my fenders. Not after the incident with the goldfish. 😅

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yowhywouldyoudothat@reddit

Lets hear the incident with the goldfish?

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insanisprimero@reddit

Get a gel degreaser, apply it and let it work for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with water or a pressure washer. I find it helps to polish them after as you would any part of the gelcoat deck or even some autopolish to help the finish last longer.

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

What is a gel degreaser? Example?

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insanisprimero@reddit

A degreaser that comes in gel form. I source it locally (Argentina) offbrand as its cheaper. Its a clear gel used for cleaning that fights grease but does not attack rubber. Its similar to the foamy aerosols used to clean engines or ovens.

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LigmaSneed@reddit

Dawn soap and a Scrub Daddy

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ufjeff@reddit

Bleach.

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bisonsashimi@reddit

Just stow them when you’re sailing and nobody will notice…

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

We do stow them when sailing. Doesn't keep them from getting grungy at the dock. Not sure what your point is.

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bisonsashimi@reddit

It’s a joke…

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

OK, I get you now. Ha.

I hassle friends about looking like motor boaters. 😕

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bisonsashimi@reddit

Just a joke..

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jpttpj@reddit

Soft scrub

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LameBMX@reddit

let them get grungy

hides the rub rub rail marks better.

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

Ha ha.

We don't clean them during the season, tbh.

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hurricane_zephyr@reddit

These are literally the cleaner fenders I have ever seen lol

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North_Category_5475@reddit

I wish that was all the boatwork i needed to do this winter haha

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Guygan@reddit

Right? Those are literally cleaner than any fender I have ever owned.

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LameBMX@reddit

shit. I wonder how some of these people find time to actually sail their boat. (yea I know what the truth is lol)

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

Our season between launch and haulout is only about 19 weeks long. Boats spend as much time under the tarp and frozen as they do in the water.

I wish we had a lot more time to sail.

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Whole-Quick@reddit (OP)

Ha ha, yeah, I've got lots of other projects for the boat, but it's 150 km away, on the hard, covered, winterized, freezing cold.l and getting snowed on. Can't get too much done on the boat until spring. So basement projects for a while.

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Jillredhanded@reddit

Totally Awesome from the Dollar Store. Had a ski boat in crazy tannic water and it was spray and wipe to clean the hull and fenders.

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FrogFlavor@reddit

soap?

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Realistic-Spend7096@reddit

Acetone

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bisonsashimi@reddit

Acetate

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tcrex2525@reddit

This sucks moisture out of the material pretty harshly. I agree they will look great for a bit, but it drastically shortens the lifespan of the fender before they get brittle and start to lose air.

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Guygan@reddit

Just buy terrycloth fender covers and wash them as needed.

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tcrex2525@reddit

I agree with the cloth covers, but a magic eraser works great with just soap and water to clean them up first. Those things are basically sandpaper though, so watch your finger tips and def don’t use them on any painted surfaces. They work great and vinyl and rubber though. For best results use some sort of vinyl/rubber protection or even regular cleaner wax on them after to help repel future stains.