Canvas Cleaning and Waterproofing

Attention to Detail
By Jeff Paxson
Spring Cleaning Part 1:
Canvas Cleaning and Waterproofing
C
anvas is often one of the most expensive aftermarket
upgrades that a boater will buy for their boat. If properly cared for bimini tops, dodgers, and windshield
covers will last for many years out in the elements. Proper
care includes both regular maintenance and occasional restorative cleaning.
Preventative Maintenance
Regular maintenance is important to prolong the life of
your canvas. The simplest thing you can do is washing your
canvas at the same time as you wash your boat. Washing
every two weeks is ideal, but unrealistic for many busy boat
owners, so a minimum of once per month is recommended.
Simply hosing fabric down to wash off any loose dirt and
lightly scrubbing dirty areas with a medium stiff brush will
keep the canvas maintained. It is important to remove the
light layer of dirt that settles on the canvas; if not removed
Even canvas with mildew spots or algae like this can be
this dirt will become the soil for mildew and algae to take restored. Remove it from the boat and proceed as
root. Mold spores are everywhere in the air, looking for an illustrated in the following photos.
appealing place to land. On canvas this will be the most dirty
and shaded area. Cleaning regularly will prevent you from
having to use harsher chemicals which strip away the waterproof coating on the fabric. The Sunbrella care guide recommends using only mild soap such as Ivory soap on their material. Even with regular gentle cleaning your canvas will
eventually lose its ability to shed water. Treating your fabric
with a waterproofing spray may become necessary to maintain the performance as the canvas ages.
Restoring Your Canvas
If your canvas is covered with mildew and algae, and you
have tried the gentle cleansing technique with little success,
you will probably have to step up to a stronger cleaning solution. I have found that the most effective way to really clean
canvas in this condition is to first remove it from the boat. You
will need to be able to put a little elbow grease into a hand
scrub brush to fully get the mildew out. Set up an area to
work on the canvas that is out of the sun, will protect the
canvas from damage, and is safe to get wet. The best surface Step 1: Pre-spray the fabric with a solution of two parts
that I have found to clean on is foam garage floor tiles. These water and one part 30 Seconds Cleaner (available at most
hardware stores).
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relatively inexpensive interlocking mats, which you can find
at Costco or Walmart, are approximately two feet by two feet
square and three quarters of an inch thick. Hook a pack of
them together to form a large square or rectangle. The mats
create a cushioned surface that is smooth and forgiving, but
stiff enough to allow for strong scrubbing.
Pre-spray the canvas while it is dry with “30 Seconds
Cleaner” diluted 2:1 (two parts water to one part cleaner concentrate). 30 Seconds Cleaner can be found at most hardware
stores for a very reasonable price. Make sure to wear old
clothes and spray downwind, because the cleaner does contain
bleach. Make sure that you check a small area for color fastness on your canvas before using! The cleaner will do the work
of killing and loosening up the mildew and algae, but you will
most likely still have to scrub. A hand-held, stiff, nylon bristled brush is ideal for this task. Depending on how thick the Step 2: After pre-spray has set for two to five minutes spray the canvas with
more water and scrub using a handheld, stiff, nylon bristled scrub brush.
mildew and algae is you may have to re-apply the 30 Seconds
cleaner and scrub multiple times. If you are working on a
“Mold spores are everywhere in
the air, looking for an appealing
place to land.”
large piece of canvas scrub in sections and rinse each section
after cleaning. Be careful not to scrub too hard on seams,
especially on older canvas, you may pull the threads. Thoroughly rinse the entire piece of canvas when you are done.
Once the canvas is rinsed and free of mildew and dirt, hang
the canvas on a railing, over the rigging, or engineer a clothesline. After 2 to 12 hours, depending on the temperature and
air flow, you should have a clean, dry piece of canvas. Because
you had to use bleach on the material it has likely lost its
waterproof qualities. The next step is to re-waterproof with a
spray waterproofer. Starbrite and 303 both make a good quality waterproofing spray. Both are guaranteed safe on Sunbrella. Lay the canvas out as flat as possible in a well ventilated area. Spray the canvas with the waterproofer until you
have soaked every square inch. Allow to sit and dry for at
least 12 hours before re-installing the canvas.
Using these methods you can restore canvas that may otherwise need to be replaced. Now that you have restored your
canvas it is important to maintain it using the preventative
maintenance section of this article as a guide. While you have
the canvas off you may want to look for any loose or torn
seams or areas that need to be re-stitched, as having these
issues taken care of now could save damage and possible
replacement.
Step 3: Rinse canvas thoroughly with lots of water. If you find
spots that need additional cleaning, repeat Steps 1 and 2.
Step 4: Hang the canvas to dry (rails, rigging, or a
makeshift clothesline are all great places).
Nor’westing • March 17 - April 14, 2010
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Photo caption Step 5: Once the canvas has completely dried treat the fabric with a waterproofing spray in a well
ventilated area. Allow to dry completely before re-installing on boat.
Find Your Treasures.....
Jeff Paxson is owner of Marine Detail Specialists, Professional Yacht Detailing and Brightwork. He can be reached by phone
■
at 206-617-4930, by email at [email protected] or by Internet at www.MarineDetailSpecialists.com.
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March 17 - April 14, 2010 • Nor’westing