Boat Wash Tips: The Best Way to Clean Your Boat

Did you know that the United States alone has a market for the boat-building industry that generates more than $11 billion every year? Almost 40,000 people around the country are employed in building boats to keep up with demand.

On the other hand, one of the reasons that this industry generates so much revenue is that people keep buying new boats. Sometimes, people end up buying a new boat sooner than they expected to. Learning about the best boat wash tips is an efficient way to make sure that your boat stays in good condition for as long as possible. 

On top of that, using the right boat wash tips can allow you to do a better job while putting in less effort. Using the most efficient cleaning techniques and tools will help the whole cleaning process go much more smoothly.

So what kind of tips should you be following when you are washing your boat? Read on to learn all about the most important things to understand about how to keep your boat as clean as possible!

Use the Right Cleaner When Washing a Boat

Before you start the actual cleaning process, it is important to find the right cleaning product. Many people end up picking a random boat-cleaning soap or product. 

However, some products are much less effective than others. You will get much more bang for your buck if you make a point to find the best soap possible for washing your boat.

One easy way to do this is to try out a different soap each time you buy a new cleaning product for your boat. As you try out different options, you will get a sense of which ones make the cleaning process easier for you. 

If scrubbing your boat does not seem to be getting you the results that you want or is taking too much effort, it is possible that finding the right cleaner will make things easier.

However, it is also important to keep in mind the effect of your cleaning products on the water. You may want to consider finding a cleaning product that is both effective and does not pollute the water. 

If you're looking for good all-purpose soap that can be used to clean your boat from top to bottom, look no further! 

Rinse Before You Begin Washing a Boat

Before you scrub your boat or apply cleaning products, it is a good idea to start with a rinse. If you don't start with a rinse first, then some of the dirt and other buildup on your boat might keep the cleaning product from reaching deep down for a thorough cleaning.

Doing a quick rinse first removes everything that will come off your boat the easiest. Once that is done, you can move on to applying your cleaning product without worrying that the buildup on your boat will interfere with the process.

Understand How to Wash a Boat Without Damaging It

Many people find that their boat does not get as clean as they would like it to. Then, they start to scrub harder and harder to try to make up for what is going wrong. However, not only will this often not work, it may damage your boat in the process.

Cleaning products need to be strong and effective to clean the kinds of contamination that boats encounter. If you combine them with rough scrubbing, you can damage the surface and sheen of your boat.

For that reason, it is best to scrub your boat with a soft sponge. That way, your cleaning will not abraid your boat hull.

Some people think that they cannot get their boat clean enough if they use a soft scrubbing product. However, with the right cleaning product and by rinsing in advance, you can get your boat sparkling clean with only gentle scrubbing.

If you have a fiberglass or aluminum boat, you may need to adjust this advice somewhat. Such boats have a tendency to develop stains as they encounter contaminants in the water. For them, it is often a good idea to give a quick wash to your boat every time you use it.

Here's a great video on how to wash your boat using Better Boat cleaning products! 

Apply Wax After Boat Washing

After the actual washing process is complete, you will want to give your boat a thorough rinse. Before you move on to waxing your boat, it is also important to make sure your boat is dry.

If you allow it to air dry, there is a good chance that it will develop streaks. If you want to avoid this, you can use an absorbent cloth to clean your boat manually.

Regardless of how you decide to get your boat dry, it will then be ready for the wax. Waxing a boat is similar to waxing a car.

At first, you apply a sufficient quantity of wax and use a circular rubbing motion to apply it to the whole surface of your boat. Then, you remove any extra wax left over with a cloth. 

Many people think that waxing is a vanity activity. However, just because your boat looks amazing right after a wax does not mean that that is the primary purpose of the wax.

Waxing your boat will also help it to resist collecting dirt, stains, and other contamination. Taking the extra time today to wax your boat after cleaning it will save you time in the long run.

When you give your boat regular waxing, you will find that the cleaning process goes much easier. This can also be a solution if you find that it is difficult to get your boat clean while using a soft scrubbing material.

Focus on the Canvas When You Clean a Boat

As important as the hull of the boat is, people end up a lot closer to the canvas of your boat when you use it. On top of that, while the hull of your boat will tend to look dirty when you don't clean it, your canvas can develop mildew and mold as well as an unsightly appearance.

For all of these reasons, you should make as much of a priority cleaning your canvas as you do cleaning the rest of your boat. Make sure to combine a soap or detergent or some kind with your cleaning process.

This will help make sure that your canvas is not a good environment for future mold or mildew to grow. Keep in mind that once your canvas starts to develop mold or mildew, you have a limited time window to get rid of it.

Left to itself, it will end up staining your canvas. At that point, you may not be able to restore it to its beautiful appearance no matter how hard you try.

On top of that, cleaning your canvas can be an easy process if you do it right from the beginning. As long as you keep your canvas clean from serious soil, it will remain easy to clean for many years.

Take Care of Any Teak

Some people use teak sealers and oils, but these are more about looks than cleanliness. However, it is still important to clean teak. You can do so with a regular bristle brush combined with a gentle cleaner.

As important as it is to be gentle with the hull of your boat, it may be even more important to be careful as you clean teak. The gentler you are, the less likely you are to cause accidental abrasions.

Clean Your Engine

Cleaning your engine may sound a lot more intimidating than cleaning the side of your boat. However, you can limit yourself to cleaning the outside of your engine. All you have to do is apply regular dish soap and use a sponge or brush to remove grease and oil.

Clean Your Boat Seats

Manufacturers design the seats of boats to withstand the elements as well as they can. However, they will still tend to degrade if you do not maintain them. Regular cleaning will help protect your seats from developing mold and mildew, just like your canvas.

You can try our Mildew Stain Remover that inhibits new stains which means less cleaning for you.

On top of that, you can apply a UV protectant to help your seats resist the harsh rays of the sun. Many people do not realize how much damage ultraviolet rays do to seats. In many cases, the degradation that people think is the result of aging is actually the result of unprotected exposure to the sun.

Follow the Best Boat Wash Tips to Keep Your Boat in Shape

The more that you understand about boat wash tips, the better the condition you can keep your boat in. Many people end up failing to enjoy the full potential of their boat because it is often too dirty. In other cases, people have boats that degrade faster than they have to because they do not learn about these kinds of boat wash tips.

Keep your boat in tip-top shape with our selection of essential cleaning products! From brushes and rags to all-natural cleaners, we have everything you need to keep your boat looking great. Shop Better Boat for all your cleaning needs today!