5 Boat Cleaning Tips To Keep Your Deck Looking Its Best

Keeping a boat clean and protected from the elements is essential if you own a boat. A clean boat looks better and helps protect your investment and maintain its value. In this post, we’ll share five boat cleaning tips to help you keep your deck looking top-notch.

We’ll start with the basics – how to clean your boat’s deck, what products to use for stubborn stains, and how to protect your deck from UV rays and salt water. We’ll also discuss some advanced techniques, such as refinishing a wood deck and waxing your boat’s exterior. With our simple tips, you’ll be able to keep your boat looking brand new for years to come.

Cleaning Debris

First, you want to ensure you sweep off any loose debris on the deck of your boat, such as leaves or dirt. This can prevent you from using a stiff scrub brush later and will help avoid damage to your boat’s finish. Next, when heavier materials like wet leaves are harder to remove with a broom, a leaf blower effectively gets them off the surface without scratching them.

Be sure to set the leaf blower at least two feet away from the boat so you don’t cause any accidental damage. Finally, you may have to use a pressure washer for more stubborn debris that isn’t easily removed by hand. This is especially effective if you’ve got something sticky or caked on, like bird droppings. Use a lower setting to avoid damaging your boat’s paint job! 

Power Washing 

Before using a power washer, choose the right one for the job; some are too powerful for boats, while others may not be strong enough for more stubborn spots. Test out different settings on a small area before washing the entire deck of your boat to ensure you don’t damage it with too high of pressure or heat.

When pressure washing your boat’s deck, it’s essential to test the pressure and chemical mixture before applying it to an entire section of your boat. This will help ensure that it won’t be too strong or harsh on any part of your vessel and will keep any damage from occurring. After power washing, it’s vital that you rinse off any remaining soap and then dry off your deck correctly before moving on to the next step in cleaning and protecting it. 

Brightening & Polishing 

To brighten and polish your boat’s deck, clean it with an appropriate cleaner and a soft rag or sponge designed for boats. This will help remove any dirt, grime, and residue that build up over time without causing scratches or abrasions on your vessel’s surfaces. Next, Polish the cleaned area with a sealant designed for use on boats; this will help form an additional layer of protection against future dirt buildup and give your deck a beautiful shine!

You may also opt for wax-based sealants that provide extra UV protection against sun fading and surface cracking over prolonged periods outdoors in direct sunlight. After polishing with sealant, it’s essential that you rinse off any excess sealant with water and then thoroughly dry off your deck before moving on to protecting its surfaces further with additional coatings or treatments if desired. 

Protecting Surfaces 

When protecting surfaces from weathering conditions such as sun fading or excessive moisture build-up, it’s essential to first choose the proper sealant for the job based on whether you need UV protection from sun exposure or waterproofing from moisture absorption depending on what type of environment your vessel is exposed to regularly (such as saltwater). There are wide varieties specifically designed for boat decks, so research beforehand to ensure you purchase what is best suited for yours.

Next, once you have chosen an appropriate sealant for protecting your vessel’s surfaces, apply it generously but evenly around the entire area with either a brush or roller, depending on preference; this will help create an even layer that will last longer against external elements such as UV rays, or moisture builds up over time as opposed to spots that were missed during application processes.

Finally, allow adequate time for the sealant applied around your vessel’s decks to set appropriately before allowing anyone onto them; this is usually done by not allowing people onboard for at least 24 hours after application so that it has time to dry entirely without getting wet or scratched in between coats if needed! The last thing anyone wants is their beautiful deck marred by scuffs and scratches right after giving it some extra TLC! 

Maintaining Cleanliness 

Keeping up with regular cleaning routines is critical when trying to maintain a pristine-looking deck; this means taking time each month (or week, depending on usage) to rinse off any debris buildup, such as leaves or dirt, with fresh water using either a hose or bucket depending on preference! In addition, a designated “boat trash can” should be kept onboard at all times for collecting any garbage that might find its way onto the deck due to wind gusts or other causes.

Spills should also be handled quickly to minimize staining and messes left behind; this can be done by blotting up excess liquid immediately after they occur using either paper towels or absorbent cloths designed explicitly for boats before attempting any heavy scrubbing if necessary!

If possible, try not to let spills remain untreated overnight so they don’t have time to set in permanently. Finally, inspect all areas around your vessel, including decks and windows, regularly to stay aware of changes such as new stains or fading paint caused by prolonged exposure to certain elements; this can help ensure peace of mind knowing that minor maintenance or repairs can be done before any more significant damage has occurred if necessary.

Conclusion

With these five tips, you can keep your deck looking its best. You can protect your boat from the elements and enjoy its beauty for years.