Practical Sailor · video

What this video covers

Cleaning sails requires matching the cleaning method to the specific stain type—physical removal, dissolving, or bleaching—to avoid damaging the fabric or laminate adhesives.1:34 Aggressive scrubbing or machine washing accelerates fiber fatigue and can delaminate sails or degrade resins.7:07 For mildew and algae, soak the sail in oxygen-based bleaches like OxyClean, which are less damaging than chlorine bleach.5:04 Rust stains respond best to a 20:1 dilution of CLR, provided the soak time remains under 15 minutes.6:23 When cleaning polyester or canvas, a mixture of one quart hot water, two tablespoons baking soda, two tablespoons borax, and one tablespoon trisodium phosphate (TSP) effectively kills mildew and leaves an inhibiting residue.6:35 Always maintain a pH above 3 to protect nylon threads from acid damage.3:40 After treatment, rinse thoroughly with fresh water and dry the sail in the sun, avoiding windy conditions that cause flogging.4:52 Proper chemical selection and extended soaking times outperform mechanical scrubbing.7:40

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