Advice for cleaning shore power cables?

HomePort

New Member
Nov 27, 2012
284
Rock Hall, MD
Boat Info
2015 Prestige 550 Fly
Engines
Cummins QSC 8.3 / 2x600CV + Zeus
Good evening folks. Have any particular cleaning solvent that works well on shore power cables?

Thanks in advance,

- Michael
 
I tried simple green that got off the most. On the tough spots had to finally use acetone. Probably bad, but it worked. See you're in Rock Hall - can't want to run over there next weekend!
 
Thanks, Dale.

We will miss you, unfortunately. On Saturday, we're running the boat up to Philly for the week. We have work there so why stay in a hotel when we can stay on the boat?

- Michael
 
Don't say 'unfortunate'. Sounds like a great trip! I completely agree about staying on a boat instead of a hotel. Being in the hospitality industry, I do what I can to NOT stay at one :) We'll probably swing into Osprey and pick on Will.

Safe travels.
 
I use this, it works great on white fenders too. https://www.auroramarine.com/store/speed-clean.html
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As a preventive, I use 303 aerospace protectant. It helps prevent that black, sticky residue from forming. I use it on a lot of other surfaces as well. Great stuff.
 
Using solvents (acetone, paint thinner, lacquer thinner, etc) will remove the "plasticizers" from the rubber and the insulation will eventually crack due to becoming hard. The best thing I use is regular ol hand cleaner with pumice like that Orange Hand Cleaner you can get at Home Debit; simple, fast, easy, and cheap. It also is what I use to clean the diesel soot from the tender.
 
Some great advice here, thank you.

I'd try all of these solutions now except that we're getting 60mph winds and it's really freaking cold.

- m
 
I put a tablespoon of bleach in a 5 gallon bucket and drop the whole thing in it for an hour or two (leaving the ends hanging out of the bucket, of course).

When its ready, I just hose it off and wipe it with a rag. It usually comes out very clean...
 
Our shore power cords are white... I used WD-40 last year to clean them, and it worked great!
 
Michael, if you have a cable master be careful what you clean it with. We cleaned ours so well the cablemaster was slipping because residue transferred to the rollers..... Mine is white, I gave up cleaning too often.
 
Toluene works as well as acetone but does not cause the cord to become sticky. We have white cords that are twelve years old and still look very nice. It helps that we keep our dock decking clean and do not drag the cords over rough surfaces that scuff the surfaces and then become dirt traps. When we go cruising we take a 50 foot yellow cord that takes somewhat of a beating. Even that cleans up well with toluene. Nice thing about using this solvent is the low price and the quick work it makes of dirt. It must be carefully stored and the rags properly handled. I soak them in a bucket of water, sun dry them on the side walk and then throw them away.
 
On 10 year old cord that had never been touched and One section at a time..... I use a rag soaked in acetone, followed by a thorough water rinse then a Magic Eraser on the real tough spots. When the whole cord is done I use 4-5 coats of PB2. Boat wash'n'wax during the year after that with a coat or 2 of PB2 a few times a year thereafter.

good to learn of the Toulene. Thanks.
 
I have had good success with a small wet sponge(that has a green scotchbright pad on the opposite side).
 
Good evening folks. Have any particular cleaning solvent that works well on shore power cables?

Thanks in advance,

- Michael
Yes. There is a product out there called Marine Strip for cleaning vinyl upholstery and power cords and such. Stuff is amazing. You have to call to order it. Website is restorationtechnology.biz. I used it on my vinyl on a 2005 42 Sundancer I just bought and the seats look amazing. Give it a shot!
 
Michael, if you have a cable master be careful what you clean it with. We cleaned ours so well the cablemaster was slipping because residue transferred to the rollers..... Mine is white, I gave up cleaning too often.

Rocket, thanks for the tip. I do have a cablemaster so that's great to know.

- m
 

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