Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning/Conditioning Canvas
Hi,
I have "full" canvas for my 12ft aluminum skiff. It's in good shape, because it's been stored away. BUT, it's also very stiff and hard to get on (and dirty). Any recommendations for how to clean and condition it? ArmorAll? Lloyd |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning/Conditioning Canvas
Armorall....hell no. Too greasy. I'd clean it with a mild soap like Woolite,
using another piece of rough cloth like a cheap bathroom washcloth. Follow with ScotchGuard, but not until you'd hung it up over a clothesline or something, and let it dry thoroughly. If the Woolite doesn't do the job, baking soda paste may help, especially if you're dealing with mildew stains. Sun will also bleach out a lot of stains, although I have to admit I've observed this mostly with food-based stains. -Doug "Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message news Hi, I have "full" canvas for my 12ft aluminum skiff. It's in good shape, because it's been stored away. BUT, it's also very stiff and hard to get on (and dirty). Any recommendations for how to clean and condition it? ArmorAll? Lloyd |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning/Conditioning Canvas
Thanks, that takes care of the cleaning part! But what about "conditioning" - specifically making it more supple, easier to handle...? Lloyd On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 16:39:32 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote: Armorall....hell no. Too greasy. I'd clean it with a mild soap like Woolite, using another piece of rough cloth like a cheap bathroom washcloth. Follow with ScotchGuard, but not until you'd hung it up over a clothesline or something, and let it dry thoroughly. If the Woolite doesn't do the job, baking soda paste may help, especially if you're dealing with mildew stains. Sun will also bleach out a lot of stains, although I have to admit I've observed this mostly with food-based stains. -Doug "Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message news Hi, I have "full" canvas for my 12ft aluminum skiff. It's in good shape, because it's been stored away. BUT, it's also very stiff and hard to get on (and dirty). Any recommendations for how to clean and condition it? ArmorAll? Lloyd |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning/Conditioning Canvas
"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
news Hi, I have "full" canvas for my 12ft aluminum skiff. It's in good shape, because it's been stored away. BUT, it's also very stiff and hard to get on (and dirty). Any recommendations for how to clean and condition it? ArmorAll? Lloyd Lloyd, I'm assuming this is the typical boat top material - nylon or dacron or whatever it is, not cotton canvas. But maybe you really have cotton canvas, in which case I have no idea of the proper care! I have what is probably a typical "canvas" on my boat - it is a heavy synthetic cloth material like backpacks are made of with an inner waterproof coating. Some tops I've had in the past have an exterior, smooth vinyl coating, and I've always cleaned them both the same way, for better or worse. I've always just washed it with the same stuff I wash down the boat with - a soft/medium brush, with soapy water. I generally use "soap" that is supposed to be for washing cars or boats, or just use some 409 or general household cleaner if that's what I have on hand), and of course rinse thoroughly. I condition with the "303 protectant" stuff that's similar to Armorall, but "better" (it was recommended by the folks who made my boat top.) Now I see they make a "Hi Tech Fabric Guard" which I'm going to try next time I clean the top, since the surface is not smooth like vinyl, but like cloth. FWIW, I use 303 protectant for everything I used to use Armorall before - car dash, plastic stuff I wanted to make look good, etc. etc. The following site seems to be a reasonable guide - since it's similar to what I do 8-). It talks about stains, something I haven't had to deal with. http://www.bestboatcare.com/Cleanyou...tureBiminiTopB By the way, I've found that these synthetic cloth boat tops tend to "shrink" over time and get harder to snap into place. I recommend setting it up regularly even if you don't need it, just to keep it in shape. I don't know why. With a previous boat, I had the main top, plus an extension (with clear side curtains, back curtain, etc) that went all the way back to the transom. Both sections were made of the same material at the same time and fit fine when I first bought the boat. I virtually never used the extension and used the main section regularly. After several years, the main one still fit fine, the extension was nearly impossible to snap into place. Also, it's always easier to put up the top if it's nice and warm outside - this might help the stiffness you're talking about. DJ |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning/Conditioning Canvas
I don't know about the conditioning, Lloyd. In the back of my mind, I'm
remembering camping with my grandfather. When his canvas tent was new, it was stiff. As it aged, it softened. How often do you really need to handle it? For covering a boat, maybe stiffer is better. "Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message news Thanks, that takes care of the cleaning part! But what about "conditioning" - specifically making it more supple, easier to handle...? Lloyd On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 16:39:32 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote: Armorall....hell no. Too greasy. I'd clean it with a mild soap like Woolite, using another piece of rough cloth like a cheap bathroom washcloth. Follow with ScotchGuard, but not until you'd hung it up over a clothesline or something, and let it dry thoroughly. If the Woolite doesn't do the job, baking soda paste may help, especially if you're dealing with mildew stains. Sun will also bleach out a lot of stains, although I have to admit I've observed this mostly with food-based stains. -Doug "Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message news Hi, I have "full" canvas for my 12ft aluminum skiff. It's in good shape, because it's been stored away. BUT, it's also very stiff and hard to get on (and dirty). Any recommendations for how to clean and condition it? ArmorAll? Lloyd |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning/Conditioning Canvas
Sunbrellas web site says to wash with a soft brush and plain soap like ivory
snow. However, ivory snow is more of a detergent now, but it's still gentle so that's what I use. They recommend using 303 waterproofing (NOT 303 protectant, a product that's used like armorall). Be careful with this, one has a green label, the other blue, and they are NOT interchangeable. Don't ask me how I know this. This stuff will work with canvas that is 5 years old or less very well! However, if your canvas is older, it won't work. For that matter, neither will scotchgard, thompson's water seal, or Starbrite's canvas waterproofing. I'm about to try MaryKate's canvas waterproofing... it was recommended by several folks. I'll let everyone know how it works. -- Keith __ If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal? "DJ" wrote in message ... "Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message news Hi, I have "full" canvas for my 12ft aluminum skiff. It's in good shape, because it's been stored away. BUT, it's also very stiff and hard to get on (and dirty). Any recommendations for how to clean and condition it? ArmorAll? Lloyd Lloyd, I'm assuming this is the typical boat top material - nylon or dacron or whatever it is, not cotton canvas. But maybe you really have cotton canvas, in which case I have no idea of the proper care! I have what is probably a typical "canvas" on my boat - it is a heavy synthetic cloth material like backpacks are made of with an inner waterproof coating. Some tops I've had in the past have an exterior, smooth vinyl coating, and I've always cleaned them both the same way, for better or worse. I've always just washed it with the same stuff I wash down the boat with - a soft/medium brush, with soapy water. I generally use "soap" that is supposed to be for washing cars or boats, or just use some 409 or general household cleaner if that's what I have on hand), and of course rinse thoroughly. I condition with the "303 protectant" stuff that's similar to Armorall, but "better" (it was recommended by the folks who made my boat top.) Now I see they make a "Hi Tech Fabric Guard" which I'm going to try next time I clean the top, since the surface is not smooth like vinyl, but like cloth. FWIW, I use 303 protectant for everything I used to use Armorall before - car dash, plastic stuff I wanted to make look good, etc. etc. The following site seems to be a reasonable guide - since it's similar to what I do 8-). It talks about stains, something I haven't had to deal with. http://www.bestboatcare.com/Cleanyou...tureBiminiTopB By the way, I've found that these synthetic cloth boat tops tend to "shrink" over time and get harder to snap into place. I recommend setting it up regularly even if you don't need it, just to keep it in shape. I don't know why. With a previous boat, I had the main top, plus an extension (with clear side curtains, back curtain, etc) that went all the way back to the transom. Both sections were made of the same material at the same time and fit fine when I first bought the boat. I virtually never used the extension and used the main section regularly. After several years, the main one still fit fine, the extension was nearly impossible to snap into place. Also, it's always easier to put up the top if it's nice and warm outside - this might help the stiffness you're talking about. DJ |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|