Keeping your boat clean is important but many boat cleaning products can be toxic and harm your boat as well as the environment and marine life. Fortunately, natural options are available to protect your boat and the waters it travels through. Green cleaning alternatives have been accepted all over and there are lots of good reasons to go green when it comes to cleaning your boat. Choosing green cleaning alternatives for your routine boat maintenance will help protect surroundings and will save your money too.

You can minimize environmental impacts by using the following alternatives to harmful products.

Replace any scouring powders with baking soda or salt.

• Instead of flour cleaner use a quarter of a cup of white vinegar diluted in 2 litres of water.
• Replace a chemical bleach with hydrogen peroxide.
• Instead of using window cleaner mix two tablespoons vinegar in one litre of water; rub glass with newspaper.
• Instead of brass cleaner use paste made of equal amount of lemon juice vinegar and salt
• Instead of copper cleaner use lemon juice and water.
• Remove mildew by using a paste mixed up of equal parts of lemon juice and salt.
• Instead of using a fibre glass stain remover use baking soda paste.
• For cleaning the surface of the boat mix one cup of vinegar in one quart of warm water.
• Exchange the head cleaner with a brush and baking soda
• The application of a good coat of wax prevents the boat from picking up debris, which in turn prevents the need to use harsh soaps or detergents.
• Use reusable cloths, such as old clothes and towels, rather than disposable paper towels.

Baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice are less toxic than bleaches, scouring powders and detergents and other such products. These natural products should be used in lesser proportion so that the marine flora and fauna is not affected. The alternatives to chemical-based cleaners can sometimes mean a bit more elbow grease but they also mean a cleaner, safer marine environment. Never dispose of any cleaning products down the thru-hull drain; dispose of them on shore! Henceforth chuck the toxic cleaning products and try using eco-friendly cleaning agents on your yacht.

Article compiled by Vishwaja Salian

 

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