How to Clean Your Boat Without Dirtying the Environment

Any boater who has navigated a pristine waterway, experienced life below the water’s surface, or anchored off a picturesque beach likely appreciates nature’s beauty. Yet some of those very same boaters wash their hulls and swab their decks with cleaning products that do Mother Nature dirty.

Yup, when it comes to environmental impact, sometimes clean…is mean. Harsh ingredients like phosphates lead to algae blooms and oxygen depletion that harm aquatic life. Surfactants are slow to degrade and accumulate in the food chain. And many of these chemicals not only hurt the environment we boat in, they also may come back to haunt us later in life.

If you think there’s got to be a greener way, you’re right. There are plenty of eco-friendly cleaning products on the market, non-toxic solutions that promise to keep our waterways and shorelines healthy and welcoming. Separating the good from the bad, however, isn’t always easy. Labels and terms can be misleading, and even how we use them can determine a lot about their ultimate impact.

Looking to keep your boat beautiful without sullying the sea? Here’s how to wash your boat from keel to top with the least environmental impact.

Defining Eco-Friendly

Surprisingly, there are no federal requirements or standards that a manufacturer must meet in order to tout their product as environmentally safe, non-toxic, or even biodegradable. The Federal Trade Commission simply requires that a manufacturer’s claims be backed up by “competent and reliable” scientific evidence. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a voluntary labeling initiative in the early ‘90s (retooled as “Safer Choice” in 2015) for products with ingredients that have been screened by the EPA. To get the label, manufacturers have to disclose all ingredients. In many cases, that’s proprietary information, and relatively few marine products carry the label. Some notable exceptions are Booyah Clean and Simple Green.

One of the most common eco terms used by manufacturers is biodegradable. In terms of cleaning products, that means that ingredients can be broken down naturally by microorganisms (bacteria and fungi), and returned to the environment within a relatively short time span as simpler compounds like water, carbon dioxide and organic matter. It’s a term open to abuse, however, as its vague definition often doesn’t specify the time or conditions required for the ingredients to break down. (Once again, Simple Green is an exception – its maker certifies the cleaner is 80-percent biodegradable within 28 days.) Still, many of these claims are based on the product making its way into municipal waste treatment systems, not waterways.

You can choose a reputable brand and trust they live up to their claims, or you can ask for an individual product’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). It will list any ingredients considered hazardous substances by the federal government. Specific ingredients to avoid include ammonia, bleach, chlorine-based solvents, alcohol-based cleaners, petroleum distillates, phosphates, potassium hydroxide (lye), and synthetic dyes.

Cleaner Cleaning Methods

Using products according to the manufacturer’s directions also affects just how environmentally friendly they end up being. Typically, using more of a product than recommended doesn’t improve its effectiveness; it just means more of the runoff makes its way into the environment. Most manufacturers suggest a specific amount or ratio of product to water for best results. Some cleaning experts, however, contend those suggestions are still more product than is necessary. Don’t be afraid to tinker with the mix. Start off with less product or consider putting the product in a utility spray bottle and using it more sparingly. If it does the job, you’ll not only put less of the cleaner into the environment, you’ll also spend less at the marine supply store.

Speaking of putting less product into the environment, consider changing a few of your cleaning habits. Start by rinsing your boat with fresh water from the top down to minimize re-soiling after every trip. This will wash away dirt and contaminants and allow you to extend the time between washes with cleaning products. When you do wash with a soap or cleaner, do so with the boat out of the water if possible so residue doesn’t immediately find its way into waterways. Many marinas, launch ramps and boat storage areas offer designated wash areas for this purpose. For smaller jobs, consider spot cleaning areas and wiping away residue with a rag, rather than rinsing. The rag can be disposed of later on shore. If you must wash your boat in the water in a coastal area, do it on the outgoing tide so that runoff is carried away from the shore and into deeper waters to minimize environmental impact.

Finally, prioritize regular, more minimal cleaning to prevent the need for larger cleaning jobs later. Tackling stains when they’re fresh will make for a simpler job than if you allow those stains to set in. Remember the adage about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. Keeping your boat clean and regularly protecting the finish with a coat of wax will not only prevent fading and oxidation, it will also ward off much of the dirt and stains you reach for cleaners to solve, even create a slicker surface that will limit, and make it easier to clean, scum lines and marine growth. So, too, will covering the boat or specific areas like seats and consoles when not in use.

Choose the Right Cleaner For the Job

As to what specific “eco-friendly” products are best for different areas of your boat, the choices are many. A concentrated, multipurpose cleaner like Z-Tuff’s Z-Cleaner, Star Brite’s Power Pine or Simple Green’s All-Purpose Cleaner can handle basic cleaning duties for everything from your hull to vinyl upholstery and even the engine compartment. They’re also typically suitable for rubber, composite marine lumber, mold and mildew stains, and fenders and power cords. For rust and stain removal on fiberglass, consider a more powerful gel formulation like Z-Clean’s Z-Rust & Stain Remover, or Star Brite’s Rust Stain Remover spray. Both are biodegradable and can be applied in a targeted fashion, eliminating excess product.

As to more difficult-to-clean areas, as you might expect from its textured finish nonskid can be one of the more challenging surfaces to clean. There’s just more nooks and crannies to attract and hold dirt. Start by cleaning away as much residue as possible with a brush. Then dip a brush or rag into a diluted mix of an eco-friendly cleaner, like Booyah Clean Deck Cleaner, and gently scrub the area. Teak? Eco-friendly products like DiTEC’s Teak Clean are an alternative to phosphoric acid or other caustic cleaners, but keep away from aluminum, brass, or other soft or finished metals. Good old-fashioned elbow grease is also eco-friendly. Just make sure the products you’re using are appropriate for the finish. Scrubbers like melamine foam pads can be great at their job, but may dull a glossy finish.

Intrigued by the DIY route? While commercial cleaners often offer the greatest cleaning power, natural substances can be fashioned into cleaners and protectants. Check out the adjacent sidebar for cheap, easy-to-make solutions fashioned from common household items like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, even olive oil. When it comes to cleaning your boat the most environmentally friendly way available, they just may be the ultimate “eco” wash warriors.

Natural Cleaning Solutions

If you go totally green, so too may your boat. However, there are some choices we can make that may be less harmful to Mother Ocean. Check out these DIY solutions.

Note: Always test an inconspicuous area first to ensure no damage to the surface. Rinse thoroughly to remove residue.

Vinegar

One of the most eco-friendly cleaners there is, white vinegar can be combined with water in equal parts to produce a versatile, multipurpose cleaner that disinfects and even removes mildew stains and water spots.

Why it works? Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is a powerful but non-toxic cleaner without harmful byproducts. Always dilute with water. Add a small amount of lemon juice to scent. Keep in a spray bottle for all-purpose use.

Use On: Gelcoat, fiberglass, aluminum, chrome, glass, mildew, varnish, plumbing, teak, glass, spot-treating canvas, Starboard.

Baking Soda

Baking soda has mildly abrasive properties but is typically gentle enough to remove dirt, stains and grease. Use lightly as a scouring powder, or mix with water to form a paste. Baking soda can also help combat odor.

Why It Works? Baking soda’s mildly abrasive texture provides scouring power and lifts away dirt, while its mild alkalinity helps dissolve grime.

Use On: Fiberglass, stainless steel, mildew. Delicate areas include vinyl and fabric. Avoid use on aluminum.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice’s natural acidity has many benefits, including breaking down grease, removing stains, killing bacteria, deodorizing, even combating rust and polishing metal surfaces. Combine with borax for overall cleaning and breaking down grease, or salt for polishing metal and tackling mildew stains on canvas.

Why It Works? Lemon juice is mildly acidic. It’s also a reducing agent, able to unravel proteins, as well as a chelating agent, a substance that attacks the magnesium and calcium in hard water that creates buildup like limescale.

Use On: Rust, mildew, metal polishing, odors, spot-treating canvas.

Olive Oil

Olive oil can prevent rust on metal surfaces, shine, and leave a protective film. Mix three parts olive oil to one part vinegar to clean wood, or substitute lemon juice to polish. On stainless steel, use straight with a rag to shine.

Why It Works? Olive oil has a high concentration of fatty acids, including oleic acid, a natural lubricant and moisturizer.

Works On: Stainless Steel, Unvarnished Interior Wood