Best chemicals to clean kayaks and gear?

[Mr. NiceGuy]

I find that it's not so easy to clean black scuff marks and fish blood off my Hobie Outback. My 2014 kayak seems to accumulate what looks like grime marks from handling and usage more than my 2007 did. Slip resistant surfaces is where the stains and grime sticks the most.


What cleaning materials work best for you on kayak plastic?


Folex works for blood stains on fabric. Haven't tried it yet on my kayak.

I'm guessing that bleach is not a good idea because it rots some kinds of rubber and plastic.

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For reels & poles is there anything effective other than fresh water to neutralize salt?

I went to a reel cleaning discussion once, and the Shimano technician uses a spray bottle with 20% windex as his starting point for washing off salt.


Keeping nice gear salt free and corrosion free takes some effort. I think it's not so easy to keep reels working like new without taking them apart for cleaning and oiling.

[Mr. NiceGuy]

A diluted spray bottle of Salt-Away for the poles & reels?

Lemon Joy dish soap?

WD-40?

[YakDout]

I just use warm water and dish soap. Let it sit on rods and reels for a couple minutes, then spray down. For the kayak, a scrub brush and diluted simple green works for me.

[Geno Machino]

I just spray off with fresh water and there you go...plus WD-40 all brass clips and mirage drive.

[maquinapescado]

Simple Green or Dawn dish soap work well and are okay to wash down the gutter. I've washed many boats and these always do the job. Bleach works great but I wouldn't use it on my kayak over and over. A good plastic brush and if you go to West Marine get the white Scotch pads. They don't scratch but are abrasive enough to get blood, squid ink and all that good stuff out of little nooks and crannies.

[JohnMckroidJr]

I just spray off with fresh water and there you go...plus WD-40 all brass clips and mirage drive.

I do the same, plus hit the blood asap with a mini bucket of SaltWater before it dries -- saves on scrubbing time later.