Why don't deck cleaners work like they used to?

LaRea

Did somebody change the regulations on products for cleaning non-skid decks? 

Star Brite used to work great.  Wet the deck, brush lightly with deck cleaner, wait five minutes, rinse.  The deck would shine like brand new.  Over the past few years, they changed something and now it doesn't work as well as I remember.  I mean, it hardly does anything at all.   

A couple years ago I discovered Home Armor, and it was absolutely amazing.  Then they took it off the market and replaced it with products that don't work.  

Handymans342

EPA

PickleRick

The EPA ruins all good things

LaRea

Well yeah, but that's more general than I was looking for.  Is there some specific legislation that is causing this? 

Or, even worse ... is it me?  Is my 13-year-old non-skid suddenly absorbing mildew in a way that I can't overcome?

Ian

I know they changed dishwasher products chemical make up a couple of years ago due to NY laws, there was a news article about why your dishes may not clean as easily and thoroughly as they did.

Liberty44140

Agree, star brite used to be like magic, worth the money, now it’s still a better wash but not at all like it used to be. So I also buy star brite mildew spray and hit spots on the deck after washing and then rinse after 5 min or so. 

Handymans342

Use pool bleach. 12% sodium hypochlorite 

Handymans342

LaRea

Ever used it on boat non-skid?

Willhound

Agree it's likely changes to cleaners but I also believe that as the non skid ages it gets harder to clean. Almost like it gets more porous or something.

aero3113

@LaRea , I was using Starbrite deck cleaner this whole season and was saying the same thing to myself. It just doesn’t seem as powerful as it used to be.

YYZRC

Ugh. Agreed. 

Liberty44140

Just be careful with any bleach product. On my 342 I was using starbrite mildew remover on the black spec's on the foredeck but I ran out and tried bathroom tilex for tub mildew. Worked great on the mildew, but it made the acrylic side windows cloudy. Luckely the cloudiness polished off with headlight polish. 

I'd like to know what professional boat washers use. Lots of people around me pay for their boats to be washed weekly and I cant figure out what they use, but it works A LOT better than deck wash, any meguires boat wash, etc...

aero3113

My coworker found out that his cleaner uses Purple Power on his EVA foam and it comes out great every time. Maybe that’s what we need to use on the deck?

Aqua_Aura

Purple power is really good but I wouldn't think it's good for a boat, I have some in my shop I'll have to read the bottle. On my SeaDek water and a brush works great for now. 

Liberty44140

Have to be careful to use something that wont strip your wax. I know some guys use dawn, and their boats look good, but dawn will remove wax after several washes. 

earl1z19

I use Westley's Bleach White on my non-skid surfaces. works well. I make sure that the surrounding areas are wet and then only apply it to the areas I want to clean. That way it is diluted enough that it wont strip the wax off.

Dream_Inn

I think it may be more mildew, cause I use it and things stay pretty clean.  But, the last year or two I've had more mildew and yes, starbrite doesn't touch it.  Home armor (or Zep, which I think works better because it won't mess other things up like Liberty stated) works great for it.  But, I think the starbrite still leaves a nice shine afterwards.  I only use purple power in the engine room, not the outside of boat.

PickleRick

I use dollar General 2 dollar bathroom cleaner on my boat.  I always wet it then spray. Scrub with soft bristle brush and let it sit as long as possible before it dries. Usually just a few min max.  Then rinse off.  

Sadly the black spots come back.  The South is very humid.  I always park boats under garage, current boat under tarp.  


I think this year I'll poliglow the boat instead of the 3 stage clean, wax and polish.  

I also notice cloudy stains on my helm widows where I rinse the hard top off and it runs off on the them.  I've only needed windix and paper towel to clean them off.

aero3113

@PickleRick try some RainX on the windows. It might help to keep them cleaner when they get wet. 

PickleRick

Rainx is another product that used to last forever but good tip

Aqua_Aura

I have a bunch of rain x for some reason and I didn't think about using it on the boat 👍. Do you think it can be used on the eisenglass? 

YYZRC

They make a special version of Rain X for plastic

aero3113

Only use regular RainX on the glass. I’ll have to look into the RainX for plastic, might be nice to use.

Aqua_Aura

Never came across the rain x for plastic. May give it a try as we will continue our boating into the winter this year. 

earl1z19

https://www.rainx.com/product/plastic-water-repellent/rain-x-plastic-water-repellent/#.X2y8YPlKg2w

mattie

earl1z19 said:

https://www.rainx.com/product/plastic-water-repellent/rain-x-plastic-water-repellent/#.X2y8YPlKg2w

Used this RainX for plastic. Worked awesome on my snowmobile helmets in the winter.

mattie

Canadian StarBrite Deck Cleaner still works awesome. Maybe the environmental production rules haven't changed here yet.

Want me to hoard some for RBO members?

YYZRC

mattie said:

Canadian StarBrite Deck Cleaner still works awesome. Maybe the environmental production rules haven't changed here yet.

Want me to hoard some for RBO members?

I’m not so sure! Maybe you have last years batch?!

mattie

Probably, I always operate on a lag.

PickleRick

I hear the Canadian version bud lite is actually real beer.