"Bryan" wrote in message
om...
I saw my wife grab a bucket and a scrubber and a bottle of bleach to go
wash our boat. Her thinking was that since we've been on a lake with an
algae problem the bleach would kill any algae that we brought back with us.

I asked her to stick with liquid detergent since I didn't know what bleach
would do to the paint or decals on the boat.

What would have happened if she had used bleach?

Her motivation is sound, but I think her chemistry could be improved. Since
you trailer your boat (at least I that's the case), long-term algae build up
is probably not at the top of your list of issues. More likely, what you're
really trying to deal with are water spots on the hull. Either way, algae
or hard-water mineral deposits (spots), tend to be alkaline, and the
antidote for alkaline is acid. Sort of a matter/anti-matter thing. If
you're just dealing with water spots, one of the cheapest and most effective
treatments is a vinegar and water solution. Vinegar is a mild acid, and you
can buy mongo-sized bottles of the stuff at Costco for next to nothing. Mix
a solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the hull and wipe
with a clean rag. Have a beer, you're done. In the case of stubborn algae
build-up, such as when a boat has been slipped for a while, you need to step
up to a more robust acidic solution, probably muriatic acid (what you put in
your swimming pool) and water.