cleaning oily fiberglass

[jflatt]

i need to clean up around my hydraulics and other surfaces. i have used bilge cleaner but it is not aggressive enough for the grease. I have a bunch of leaves and tree debris in my boat from the PO that replaced the floor and left the boat open to the trees in fall. I have a couple surfaces that won't hold the cleaner in for the hour recommended like around the battery and pumps in the back of the boat. i don't mind using elbow grease on this but i'm new to clean fiber glassed surfaces. can you guys suggest cleaners that will help me with this? Thanks

 

[Molson]

I good degreaser will work, put it on thick and let it soak then hit it with a brush if you can, power washer if you cant.

 

[Gofirstclass]

If the cleaner you're using wont stick around for the hour that's recommended is that because it's evaporating too fast?

If so, try putting down some paper towels or rags and soaking them with the cleaner.

 

[bbwhitejr]

FWIW-Dawn dishwashing liquid is great for grease/oil in a bilge.

Bennett

 

[wayne0]

FWIW-Dawn dishwashing liquid is great for grease/oil in a bilge.

Bennett

This!

 

[juggernaut1]

I used simple green recently in my bilge and gave it a scrub with a toilet brush. Read the instructions though as you only leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing.

 

[Lazy Daze]

All of the above are great suggestions. Another product you can use is Brakleen. But use the green can (no chlorine) so you don't die from chlorine gas inhalation. It can get expensive if you're going through a bunch of cans of this (about $4 per can and they don't last very long... but they are immediately effective), but it works great for those really hard areas and crevices because it sprays out with a strong stream.

But... you mentioned "oily" fiberglass, but then made a point to talk about the leaves. Is it truly grease and oil that you're trying to get rid of or is it leaf staining? If it's leaf staining, a 4:1 mixture of water and bleach will magically do the trick if you spray it on and let it set for about 5 minutes, then rinse.