Spring Boat Cleaning

[Juan Grande]

Just wondering how you guys clean your boat carpet? I have access to a power washer and was thinking about using that.

Do you scrub the carpet with dish soap and water and then spray it down?

Do you jack the front of the boat up so all the water runs to the back?

[b1gf1sh1]

any carpet shampoo is ok, just wear dishwashing gloves for most, a stiff brush, a bucket for the water/soap solution, a wash mitt that you wash cars with, and a wet-vac. wet an area with the mitt, scrub it, vacuum it, and repeat over entire boat. i was a detailer and this is how i did it. just did it today to mine, can't wait.

[Dave]

I would try it without any soap, for starters. Could have suds coming out for quite sometime and soap might not be needed when using a power sprayer. Have the bow up so it all runs out the drain plug.

[Matt C]

I am anal. I wash it each time im done with it

Only spring cleaning I have it take the dryer sheets out.

But for stains, i agree... soap and water, and a little scrubbin.

[Sandmannd]

So I took my boat out this morning and like a moran I forgot to take the drain plug out. Had about six inches of water in it. Let it drain out. I usually use carpet cleaner and my shop vac. Anything ese you guys think I should use so it won't smell moldy?

[b1gf1sh1]

 Quote:

So I took my boat out this morning and like a moran I forgot to take the drain plug out. Had about six inches of water in it. Let it drain out. I usually use carpet cleaner and my shop vac. Anything ese you guys think I should use so it won't smell moldy?

sandman, sandman, sandman, history... i was detailer for 18 years and had my own detail/mechanical/towing business for ten years. detailed several hundred boats, some big as houses, thousands of cars and hundreds of r.v.'s and even several planes in my day. ok that said. it would be ill advised to powerspray the inside of a carpeted boat(or anything else for that matter). that carpet is glued down. allthough the glue ''should be'' weatherproof the combination of pressure combined with the water means your risking lifting of the carpet. also if not enough pressure from the sprayer is applied it's not cleaning anything. not to mention the shooting the dirt right through and under the carpet. i advise against it, uneven cleaning also. carpet shampoo when used in the amount specified on the bottle will not suds up enough to worry about. read my prior post... that's how professionals have done it for... i don't know... mabe since carpet has been in boats? a good 5.0 or better wetvac is great, something smaller may be ok for boats as it's very thin carpet and not gonna hold too much water, i've never used smaller.

as far as the wettness. this is tough without seeing it, and the design of your boat but i'll give it a shot. wet-vac everything slowwwwly. your gonna get wet knees. then place as many fans as you can muster everywhere theres carpet. open all compartments, blow fans into it. and if possible park it out in the sun all day. it might rain today, thats what they said friday. anyway good luck.

[b1gf1sh1]

i should also mention that it not be cleaned with anything until it's dry, this may make it hard to tell ''if'' there is a smell. when you think it's dry place a towel in the spot it was most wet and place a coffee can, or even a chunky soup can on it, then put something heavy on the can for 15 mins or so. if the towel is dry after that time, the carpet is too. smell, if it smells at all go get a disinfectant for carpet mold and mildew. a boat dealer should have that, or give you directions to get it. i ordered mine in gallons from a place on payne ave in st. paul, but they only sell to businesses. anyway i hope this helps.

[Sandmannd]

That's what I figured I would do. Thanks Bigfish. I don't use a powerwasher in mine. Just a bucket, brush and my shop vac.

[Hookmaster]

I use the garden hose with a spray nozzle. Wet an area, scrub with plastic brush if needed, let dry. Using a shop vac to suck up all the water it can will speed up the drying process immensely. I've heard not to use detergents/shampoos because the leave a residue that attracts dirt. Don't know if it's true or not. I would only use it if you can't get it clean with water alone.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

For Fall or Spring cleaning:

- I use carpet cleaner on all of the carpet with a moderately stiff brush.

For a stain or blood:

- I use the "Oxypower" first, then a carpet cleaner if that don't get it out.

For small areas on a trip:

- Get those packaged "Shout wipes", they work great too.

[upnorth]

I just cleaned 16" of freakin wet heavy snow off my boat Cripes who would have thunk we would get that much snow in April?

[harvey lee]

I shampoo it and then vac it our with a wet vac after every three to four trips on the river due to mud and sand. Helps keep all the grime and dirt from setting deep into the carpet.

[Sandmannd]

 Quote:

sandman, sandman, sandman, history...

Chock it up to inexperience. First year I stored a boat, last year a friend did it for me. Won't happen again though. I keep learning more about these money buckets everyday.

[Shack]

Ya, Sand!

I have done that a couple times .

I got a little dripping threw the cover in this last week (after I pulled tarp off), walked in it and got shoe tracks. Cleaned yesterday with soap and water/scrub bursh. Turned my cycling fan in my garage and cranked the heater up to 60. It should be nice and dry by to night. Also for moisture issues, I open any and all hatch's during this. Lets air flow threw covered area's inside of boat. I do this every year reguardless of cleaning carpet.

Good luck

[b1gf1sh1]

 Quote:

Cripes who would have thunk we would get that much snow in April?

A Native Minnesoatan