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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 reason 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 ensure 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 tips should you follow when washing your boat? Read on to learn the most important things to understand about keeping your boat as clean as possible!
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Use the Right Cleaner When Washing a Boat
Finding the right cleaning product is important before starting the cleaning process. 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 you want or is taking too much effort, finding the right cleaner may make things easier.
However, it's also essential 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 a 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 scrubbing your boat or applying cleaning products, it's a good idea to rinse. If you don't rinse first, some of the dirt and other buildup on your boat might prevent the cleaning product from reaching deep down for a thorough cleaning.
A quick rinse is the easiest way to remove everything that will come off your boat. 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.
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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 must be strong and effective to clean the kinds of contamination boats encounter. Combining them with rough scrubbing can damage your boat's surface and sheen.
For that reason, it is best to scrub your boat with a soft sponge. This will prevent damage to the boat's hull.
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Better Boat Microfiber Sponge Set
Some people think that using a soft scrubbing product does not get their boat clean enough. However, with the right cleaning product and by rinsing in advance, gentle scrubbing can get your boat sparkling clean.
If you have a fiberglass or aluminum boat, you may need to adjust this advice somewhat. Such boats tend to develop stains as they encounter contaminants in the water. For them, it is often a good idea to give your boat a quick wash 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 washing process is complete, you will want to give your boat a thorough rinse. Before you move on to waxing your boat, it's 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. To avoid this, you can clean your boat manually with an absorbent cloth.
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.
First, apply a sufficient quantity of wax and use a circular rubbing motion to cover the whole surface of your boat. Then, you remove any extra wax 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, the cleaning process becomes much easier. This can also be a solution if you find it difficult to get your boat clean while using a soft scrubbing material.
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Focus on the Canvas When You Clean a Boat
As important as the boat's hull 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 prioritize cleaning your canvas as you do the rest of your boat. Make sure to combine soap or detergent with your cleaning process.
This will help ensure that your canvas does not provide 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 be unable to restore it to its beautiful appearance no matter how hard you try.
In addition, cleaning your canvas can be easy 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.
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Take Care of Any Teak
Some people use teak sealers and oils, but these are more about looks than cleanliness. However, it's still essential to clean the teak. You can do so with a regular bristle brush combined with a gentle cleaner.
As important as it is to be gentle with your boat's hull, 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 or marine degreaser and use a sponge or brush to remove grease and oil.
Clean Your Boat Seats
Manufacturers design boat seats to withstand the elements as well as possible. 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.
Try our Mildew Stain Remover, which inhibits new stains and means less cleaning for you.
You can also 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 in which you can keep your boat. Many people fail to enjoy their boat's full potential because it is often too dirty. In other cases, people have boats that degrade faster than they have to because they don't 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!
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Better Boat Exterior Cleaning Kit
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