| There's nothing like riding the waves on the open | | | | ready to apply some elbow grease! |
| sea, feeling the wind in your hair and the ocean | | | | Make sure you have the proper equipment |
| spray on your skin. The experience is heightened | | | | including brushes, adaptors, rags and towels. If |
| if the boat you're riding is your own! You may | | | | you plan on using some of the following |
| already own your own boat, or you may be | | | | suggestions for creating your own environmentally |
| thinking about getting one. Chances are that if you | | | | safe cleansers, you'll also need buckets, plenty of |
| are reading this, a passion for the water and | | | | clean water, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and |
| sport have brought you here. If you're wondering | | | | laundry detergent. |
| how much of a difference can be made by | | | | Get to Scrubbin' |
| cleaning and maintaining a used boat, read on. | | | | * Clean the heads by mixing a solution of baking |
| Whether you've owned a boat for many years or | | | | soda and water and using a scrub brush |
| you have just purchased a used boat, nothing will | | | | * Dirty canvas can be made to look near-new by |
| give your watercraft that showroom shine like a | | | | following these instructions: |
| proper cleaning. A really good cleaning will pay off | | | | - Mix ? cup of hydrogen peroxide with 3 |
| should you ever decide to resell your boat. Or, if | | | | tablespoons of laundry detergent |
| you're thinking about buying a used boat and have | | | | - Apply mixture to canvas, wait 30 minutes, then |
| found a great deal on one that looks somewhat | | | | brush off. |
| dingy - a good cleaning can add sparkle and make | | | | - Repeat |
| your deal seem even better. In order to achieve | | | | * Stay away from bleach, as it is harmful for the |
| optimum results without spending days scrubbing | | | | environment and the canvas on your boat |
| and polishing, read the following information. | | | | * To clean windows, mix 1 cup of white vinegar |
| Go Green | | | | with 1 quart of water and scrub all windows with |
| To the best of your ability, try to make sure that | | | | this solution. |
| cleaning your boat has the minimum impact on | | | | * For vinyl tile and linoleum floors, use 1 cup of |
| the environment. Remember that many bodies of | | | | white vinegar with 1 cup of baking soda and dilute |
| water are full of living things that depend on clean | | | | in 1 gallon of warm water. Scuff marks can often |
| water. Other bodies of water lead into larger | | | | be removed by applying toothpaste and scrubbing |
| bodies that contain wildlife or that funnel into | | | | with a bristled brush. |
| drinking supplies. No matter where you dock and | | | | * Make sure to pay attention to details, clean and |
| ride your boat, it is best to be conscious of the | | | | polish all chrome to make your used boat shine. |
| environment when planning to clean or wash your | | | | You can clean chrome with apple cider vinegar |
| boat. Clean your boat out of the water unless | | | | and polish it to a sparkle with baby oil. |
| you are only using water to clean it. Cleaning | | | | * Instead of using chemical cleaners on the wood |
| solutions and wax polishes can harm wildlife. | | | | in your boat, consider polishing it with almond, |
| Since achieving the best results will most likely | | | | walnut or olive oil. |
| require the use of cleaning solutions, look for boat | | | | * Wax your boat, if appropriate. A coat of good |
| cleaning products that are safe for the | | | | wax will not only help your used boat look brand |
| environment. Invest in cleaner, waxes and polishes | | | | new, but will also prevent surface dirt from |
| that are non-toxic and earth-friendly. Many of | | | | becoming ingrained. |
| these products can be found online. Alternatively, | | | | * If you are willing to spend a little to achieve a |
| there are safe and effective solutions that can be | | | | better result or don't trust your amateur boat |
| made from things you probably have in your | | | | cleaning skills, it is a good idea to contract a |
| house or garage. Many of these home-made | | | | professional boat cleaner. If you take this route, |
| solutions will work just as well to make your boat | | | | make sure to interview a couple of different |
| look great, reduce the impact on the | | | | vendors, ask about their methods, and make sure |
| environment, and save you some cash. Below are | | | | they use only environmentally safe products . |
| some tips for some solutions you can prepare | | | | Accessorize |
| yourself and directions on how to use them. | | | | After you've scrubbed your used boat, polished |
| Let Cleaners Do Their Work | | | | every part and waxed the entire thing to a |
| Start out by removing all dust and grit from | | | | dazzling shine, you should see a great difference |
| every surface of the boat. You can use brooms | | | | from before you started. You may think you are |
| and brushes for this first step. Whether you'll be | | | | finished revitalizing your used boat, but guess |
| using a home-made solution or you found suitable, | | | | what? There's more you can do to breathe new |
| earth-friendly cleaning products, start by applying | | | | life into that watercraft. Investing in some new |
| the soap to the deck and sides of your boat. | | | | boat accessories can add some sparkle and make |
| After applying the solution or soap, wait about | | | | your older boat feel brand new. Often, you can |
| five minutes before you start to scrub. Giving the | | | | even find newer used accessories to buy from |
| cleaning product time to set in and start working | | | | people that took up boating on a whim, bought a |
| before scrubbing will make the cleaning job a bit | | | | bunch of stuff, then decided to drop the hobby in |
| easier and provide a better result. Tough dirt and | | | | the end. You can get great deals on used boat |
| grime begin to dissolve after a few minutes of | | | | accessories by looking through the classifieds in |
| being soaked in cleaning solution, so get your | | | | your local newspaper or even by browsing the |
| rubber gloves on, grab your brushes and get | | | | boating section of online classifieds. |