Removing mildew from sails

murphym7

Does anyone have a good method for removing meldew from sails?

Silver Breeze

Assuming you have dacron or terylene white sails:

The most common chemical used to remove mildew is sodium hypochlorite—commonly known as bleach, a 5.25% solution.

DO NOT use a scrub brush, soak the sail.

Most mildew disappears after soaking with diluted bleach: approx 25 parts water to 1 part bleach. If it doesn’t, the stain probably will not come off. A thorough rinsing is needed after applying bleach.

Note: Bleach will not affect polyester (Dacron), Spectra, or Vectran fabrics. DO NOT use bleach on nylon, aramids (such as Kevlar or Twaron), or Technora or laminate sails. Bleach will destroy these fabrics.

Prevention: wash, dry the sails before packing away in winter.

noby

As Sillver Breeze said.

Into the bath with the bleach solution. Give it a few pokes with the handle of a brush, then cover the bath with towels and leave it overnight.

murphym7

Thanks lads - I made a big boo boo this year and left the sails in the cabin. I haven't been down to the yard yet and I know whats going to face me.

cbreeze

noby wrote: »

As Sillver Breeze said.

Into the bath with the bleach solution. Give it a few pokes with the handle of a brush, then cover the bath with towels and leave it overnight.

Plus your bath gets clean too - CIF is good for any tough muck