Dirity Bimini Top

A

ajschwab

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Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2002
RO Number
7457
Messages
118
Just before I put the boat away for the Winter a flock of geese made a large depoisit on the bimini leaving a white mess about a 1 foot circle of the stuff on the canvas. I would appreciate any suggestions on getting it off without damaging the bimini's canvas
 
If it's like mine, you cannot remove it from the braces. :(

Best I can say is to wash it in place with Ivory Flakes or Dreft and then rinse well using cold water for washing and rinsing. A soft brush may be needed for your 'spot'.
 
Luckily I can remove mine so it will make my job easier. Thank you for the information
 
In that case, you can use your clothes washer. Same directions, but reinstall immediately on boat from the washer and let dry there. (Don't ask how I know this!)
 
I took my large bimini to a laundramat and washed it with Dreft based on what I had learned here many years ago. I had reapplied waterproofing using 303 fabric guard as recommended here. The water proofing was short-lived and when I was discussing with my canvas person recently, I was told that placing a Sunbrellas canvas in a washer actually will damage the canvas by opening the weave to the point where a water proofing product cannot fill the gap created and make it uneffective. I don't know if that is really true, but it seemed to make sense to me and follows my experience. I was also told only to use a soft brush for cleaning-using Dreft or Ivory Snow detergent rather than washing in a machine. Where I live, birds seem to flock here in the winter and find my navy blue bimini the perfect place to make their deposits.
 
Birds can do bad things. I had a neighbor eith a searay flybridge. A pelican did his business on the top not long maybe a day later and when he wet it with a hose and soft brush the canvas dissolved. Sunbrella.
Try the directions on su brella we sitr good luck I had paint come off a car once from a bird so i wash it imidialy now when i see it
 
Cmariner: The Subrella website actually recommends placing canvas in the washer with mild soap for larger stains. They don't say anything about "opening the weave". They do recommend cold water and say not to use the dryer. They do state that 303 will have to be used afterward to make the canvas water proof again. Not sure where your canvas person gets his information, certainly goes against the information put out by the manufacturer.
 
Greg....interesting point. I had used cold water and did not run it through the dryer. I had put two coats of 303 on the bimini and my experience this past summer was very disappointing. The canvas lady has been in business for 25 years and has an excellent reputation. When she told me about the "opening of the weave", it just kinda clicked with what I had experienced. It might be worthwhile to shoot an email to Sunbrella and ask them pointblank?
 
Agree, find it unlikely though that they would recommend something on their website that would damage the canvas. Unless they want to sell more canvas? :)
 
This is right off the Sunbrella website.
Heavy cleaning for
stubborn stains and mildew
Sunbrella fabric does not promote mildew growth,
however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign
substances that are not removed from the fabric. To
clean mildew, or other stubborn stains:
• Prepare a solution of 1 cup bleach and 1/4 cup
of mild detergent per gallon of clean water.
• Soak affected area in solution for 15 minutes.
• Remove stain with a sponge or clean towel.
• Rinse thoroughly to remove all detergent residue.
• Air dry.
Remember to protect the area around your
Sunbrella fabric if using a bleach solution. Carpet
or other fabrics that are not Sunbrella may have an
adverse reaction to the bleach. If a boat cover is
suitable in size for a washing machine, these steps
should be followed:
• Use mild detergent.
• For heavier stains add 1 cup of bleach to wash.
• Wash and rinse in cold water.
• Air dry. Never apply heat to Sunbrella.
• Re-treatment for water and stain resistance
will be necessary after machine washing.
Re-treating the fabric
As part of the finishing process, Sunbrella fabrics are
treated with a fluorocarbon finish, which enhances
water repellency. This finish is designed to last
for several years, but must be replenished after a
thorough cleaning. Based on test results,
Glen Raven recommends 303 High Tech Fabric
Guard™ as the preferred re-treatment product for
Sunbrella fabrics. Fabrics should be re-treated after
thorough cleaning or after five years of use.
 
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