My sailmaker wanted $75 to clean my mainsail ...Can I just take it to
a commercial laundry and throw it into a washing machine ? It's about 15
years old and Dacron.
Any need to worry about detergents ?

My sailmaker wanted $75 to clean my mainsail ...Can I just take it to
a commercial laundry and throw it into a washing machine ? It's about =
15
years old and Dacron.
Any need to worry about detergents ?

That's an old sail and it could fall apart in a commercial washer grom =
all the tumbling, spinning, and agitating....put it in the bathtub with =
a good laundry detergent and a whitening agent (NOT CHLORINE BLEACH!) =
and stomp around on it, rinse and then hang over your deck or pcinic =
table or solar drier (clothesline)....

--=20
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

I was told by a sailmaker that a small amount of chlorine bleach is
ok as long as the sail doesn't sit in it for more than an hour, the
bleach mix is very weak, and the sail is thoroughly rinsed.

"katysails" wrote in message
...
My sailmaker wanted $75 to clean my mainsail ...Can I just take it to
a commercial laundry and throw it into a washing machine ? It's about 15
years old and Dacron.
Any need to worry about detergents ?

That's an old sail and it could fall apart in a commercial washer grom all
the tumbling, spinning, and agitating....put it in the bathtub with a good
laundry detergent and a whitening agent (NOT CHLORINE BLEACH!) and stomp
around on it, rinse and then hang over your deck or pcinic table or solar
drier (clothesline)....

--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

If you have a friend with a hottub/whirlpool bath, outside preferably, you
can stuff them in there with cleaning agents(soap, non chlorine bleach ect)
for a couple of hours and they will come out clean. The water in the tub
will have to be changed before human occupation of course, but that may be
cheaper than 75 bucks.
"J Bard" wrote in message
ink.net...
My sailmaker wanted $75 to clean my mainsail ...Can I just take it to
a commercial laundry and throw it into a washing machine ? It's about
15
years old and Dacron.
Any need to worry about detergents ?

Buy a bottle of Sail Bath and soak the sail in your bathtub for 24 hrs
agatating a few times during that period. After 24 hrs empty the water and
refil the tub to rinse. Tough part is getting the sail out of the house to dry
without dumping water in route.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

Loco commented: Tough part is getting the sail out of the house to dry

That's why you stuff it through the bathroom window.....
without dumping water in route.


--=20
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

On 02 Feb 2004 16:29:32 GMT, (SAIL LOCO) wrote this
crap:

Buy a bottle of Sail Bath and soak the sail in your bathtub for 24 hrs
agatating a few times during that period. After 24 hrs empty the water and
refil the tub to rinse. Tough part is getting the sail out of the house to dry
without dumping water in route.

How do you fit your sail in a bathtub? On my 25' Hunter, I would have
been able to fit only the smallest jib in a standard bathtub.




This signature is now the ultimate power in the universe

Jon commented: I was told by a sailmaker that a small amount of chlorine =
bleach is
ok as long as the sail doesn't sit in it for more than an hour, the
bleach mix is very weak, and the sail is thoroughly rinsed.

On 15 year old sun saturated thread? Not on your life....

--=20
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

Horvath stumbled:=20
How do you fit your sail in a bathtub? On my 25' Hunter, I would have
been able to fit only the smallest jib in a standard bathtub.

Duh...Horvy...stuff it.....
--=20
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

Well, I did that with my Cal 20 sails...don't think they're 15 years old,
but
probably 5 or 6... seem to be fine.

"katysails" wrote in message
...
Jon commented: I was told by a sailmaker that a small amount of chlorine
bleach is
ok as long as the sail doesn't sit in it for more than an hour, the
bleach mix is very weak, and the sail is thoroughly rinsed.

On 15 year old sun saturated thread? Not on your life....

--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein