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Author Topic:   Oxalic acid cleaning agent

Mojo posted 03-04-2005 06:02 AM ET (US)
Trying to find the best cleaning solution to clean the non skid floor of my OR24. It's had too many years of hiding under rubber mats (out of sight/out of mind syndrome).
And because we do not have the extensive range of boat cleaning products here in HK it has been suggested to use oxalic acid powder mixed with water.
Anybody able to advise whether this will (1) work and (2) not damage and sealants, floor discolouration etc?
tombro posted 03-04-2005 08:20 AM ET (US)
I've used the BarKeepers Friend product judiciously, with good results. Find it at any grocery.
bigjohn1 posted 03-04-2005 08:29 AM ET (US)
Mojo, like Tombro, I use Barkeepers Friend and it works really well. If I'm not mistaken, the active ingredient in it is oxalic acid but I cannot be certain (I've run out for the time being). Even though you are international, I'd think you could still order it from the states via the web? Might just take a few weeks longer to get there. Since Barkeepers Friend is a household cleaner (ORM-D), it is not a regulated item and should be able to ship international with no issues.
skred posted 03-04-2005 08:43 AM ET (US)
Starbright Hull Cleaner is an oxalic acid solution, and using it without gloves will locate any breaks in you skin very quickly. It works very well - wspecially in combination with Barkeeper's Friend. Just note that if dripped on your galvanized trailer, it oxidizes white spots wherever it lands...
kingfish posted 03-04-2005 09:16 AM ET (US)
There are a number of agents, both marine and not, that have oxalic acid and will work, as will a solution of just oxalic acid and water, but oxalic acid in my experience works best on rust-type stains, and won't get some others. Be aware that Barkeepers Friend has abrasives in it and will wear away your gelcoat over time. Starbright Hull Cleaner works pretty well on a number of different stains, and MaryKate On-Off (which has Oxalic, hydrochloric and phosphoric acid) will get just about anything. Follow directions carefully with any acidic brew. There are lots of discussions in the archives about cleaning non-skid.
erik selis posted 03-04-2005 09:34 AM ET (US)
I recently had a couple of dark marks on my non-skid that I just couldn't get rid of. I tried all kind of cleaning agents but it only lightened the marks and did not get rid of them. My wife suggested I try using something I would never have considered using before because I was sure it wouldn't work.
Mr Clean with "Marseille" soap. I don't know if it's available in the States but we have it here in Europe. It got rid of everything!!! My non-skid has never been this clean since I bought the boat. This Mr Clean is white and looks like shampoo. It's totally non-aggressive and smells great. It's also very inexpensive and bio-degradable. For those who can find it, be sure to try it out. It really works.
Erik

Sheila posted 03-04-2005 03:09 PM ET (US)
This suggestion may not be very helpful to Mojo, with the limited access to marine products, but for anybody else who might be interested:
On LHG's recommendation I bought a bottle of Star-Brite Nonskid Cleaner. The bottle said that very dirty floors might require two rounds of cleaning. But my cockpit sole, which to my mind, at least, was "very dirty," was clean after one round of cleaning.
Whalen posted 03-05-2005 11:02 AM ET (US)
Found barkeepers friend at Wallmart, cheap, anong with the highly recommended Greased lightning spray cleaner. I used both all last summer.
johnr posted 03-05-2005 03:31 PM ET (US)
I use lestoil and then sometimes bleach works on tough spots. Also for rust stains toilet bowl cleaner works. If there are not any spots I use liquid joy.

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Author	Topic: Oxalic acid cleaning agent
Mojo	posted 03-04-2005 06:02 AM ET (US) Trying to find the best cleaning solution to clean the non skid floor of my OR24. It's had too many years of hiding under rubber mats (out of sight/out of mind syndrome). And because we do not have the extensive range of boat cleaning products here in HK it has been suggested to use oxalic acid powder mixed with water. Anybody able to advise whether this will (1) work and (2) not damage and sealants, floor discolouration etc?
tombro	posted 03-04-2005 08:20 AM ET (US) I've used the BarKeepers Friend product judiciously, with good results. Find it at any grocery.
bigjohn1	posted 03-04-2005 08:29 AM ET (US) Mojo, like Tombro, I use Barkeepers Friend and it works really well. If I'm not mistaken, the active ingredient in it is oxalic acid but I cannot be certain (I've run out for the time being). Even though you are international, I'd think you could still order it from the states via the web? Might just take a few weeks longer to get there. Since Barkeepers Friend is a household cleaner (ORM-D), it is not a regulated item and should be able to ship international with no issues.
skred	posted 03-04-2005 08:43 AM ET (US) Starbright Hull Cleaner is an oxalic acid solution, and using it without gloves will locate any breaks in you skin very quickly. It works very well - wspecially in combination with Barkeeper's Friend. Just note that if dripped on your galvanized trailer, it oxidizes white spots wherever it lands...
kingfish	posted 03-04-2005 09:16 AM ET (US) There are a number of agents, both marine and not, that have oxalic acid and will work, as will a solution of just oxalic acid and water, but oxalic acid in my experience works best on rust-type stains, and won't get some others. Be aware that Barkeepers Friend has abrasives in it and will wear away your gelcoat over time. Starbright Hull Cleaner works pretty well on a number of different stains, and MaryKate On-Off (which has Oxalic, hydrochloric and phosphoric acid) will get just about anything. Follow directions carefully with any acidic brew. There are lots of discussions in the archives about cleaning non-skid.
erik selis	posted 03-04-2005 09:34 AM ET (US) I recently had a couple of dark marks on my non-skid that I just couldn't get rid of. I tried all kind of cleaning agents but it only lightened the marks and did not get rid of them. My wife suggested I try using something I would never have considered using before because I was sure it wouldn't work. Mr Clean with "Marseille" soap. I don't know if it's available in the States but we have it here in Europe. It got rid of everything!!! My non-skid has never been this clean since I bought the boat. This Mr Clean is white and looks like shampoo. It's totally non-aggressive and smells great. It's also very inexpensive and bio-degradable. For those who can find it, be sure to try it out. It really works. Erik
Sheila	posted 03-04-2005 03:09 PM ET (US) This suggestion may not be very helpful to Mojo, with the limited access to marine products, but for anybody else who might be interested: On LHG's recommendation I bought a bottle of Star-Brite Nonskid Cleaner. The bottle said that very dirty floors might require two rounds of cleaning. But my cockpit sole, which to my mind, at least, was "very dirty," was clean after one round of cleaning.
Whalen	posted 03-05-2005 11:02 AM ET (US) Found barkeepers friend at Wallmart, cheap, anong with the highly recommended Greased lightning spray cleaner. I used both all last summer.
johnr	posted 03-05-2005 03:31 PM ET (US) I use lestoil and then sometimes bleach works on tough spots. Also for rust stains toilet bowl cleaner works. If there are not any spots I use liquid joy.