Old-world wisdom helps restore white vinyl
Issue 81 : Nov/Dec 2011
An article of mine entitled “Simply Clean” appeared in the May 2004 issue of Good Old Boat. It detailed recipes for more than two dozen cleansers that can be made from inexpensive natural ingredients. I collected these recipes from my Amish neighbor, Noah Hostetler. These are tried and true cleaners that Noah’s grandmother (and her grandmother) used and Noah still uses today.
After having successfully used these preparations on a variety of applications, it was only natural that I pay Noah a visit to see if he had some homemade elixir for my current cleaning dilemma: removing the black marks from my white vinyl fenders.
I haven’t given up on commercially prepared cleaning products. I tried a few of them fi rst. Two of them worked. However, they also required a considerable application of elbow grease. And, like most products that have the word “marine” on their packaging, they were a bit pricey. Why not stroll across the road and see what I could learn?
A solvent solution
It was a warm and sunny day. I found Noah sitting under a locust tree sipping lemonade. He gave me a warm greeting followed by a quizzical look at the fender hanging from my hand. I quickly explained what it was and then detailed my attempts to clean it.
We headed to Noah’s shop. Once there, he grabbed a jelly jar containing a clear liquid, dipped a rag into it and began wiping the fender. The black spots quickly disappeared. “Wow, what is that stuff?” I asked. “Paintbrush cleaner,” he responded, “Water-rinsable paintbrush cleaner, not that oily stuff.”
Since that exchange, which took place several years ago, I’ve been using water-soluble paintbrush cleaner to keep my fenders clean and white. I also experimented on other vinyl items and found that it works well at removing black marks from vinyl rubrails and shorepower cords.
Water-soluble paintbrush cleaner is a blend of solvents that can quickly evaporate. Use protective gloves and perform your cleaning in a well-ventilated area. Common sense further dictates that before using any cleaner — be it commercial or homemade — first test it on a hidden area to determine its compatibility with the material.
Gregg Nestor , a contributing editor with Good Old Boat, has had a lifelong interest in all things aquatic. He and his wife, Joyce, are currently refitting, upgrading, and sailing Raconteur II, a 1994 Caliber 35.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
