Boat Cover Care

In order to keep your boat covers in great shape and delay the need for really deep cleaning, it is important that you hose them off thoroughly about once a month. The method that has worked the best for us, in most cases, is to leave the covers on the boat and using a nozzle at the end of your hose to add a bit of water pressure and squirt them down well. Leave them on to dry out after first swiping or spilling off any excess water accumulation. This also helps maintain the shape of the covers and might avoid any shrinkage. If you are about to use or work on the boat and you have a safe place to lay out your cover or covers, that is fine. Just make sure that the covers will be in a safe place and take into account that the wind might kick up and blow them around a bit. Placing some kind of weights or weighted objects on them might be a good idea.

When it is time for a more through cleaning, you can still usually leave the covers on the boat. Brush off loose dirt, hose down completely, put about ¼ cup mild soap such as Dreft, Woolite, or Ivory Snow (never detergent) in a gallon of water and use a soft bristle brush to clean. Using a long handle on this brush is very helpful because it extends your reach. Allow soap mixture to soak in. Rinse completely. Allow to air dry. Never put your boat cover in a dryer. This can lead to the breakdown of the fabric and can cause shrinking.

To remove stubborn stains, it is advised that you contact the manufacturer for their recommendations. Remember to protect any other surfaces close to the cover when using any mixture that includes chlorine bleach or and other chemicals that could fade or discolor your boat. Also, always try a test area first to protect the cover and follow directions completely.

Most boat cover materials are treated in the manufacturing process with a finish that increases water repellency and helps protect against he U.V. rays. This should be replenished every few years or after a through cleaning. "Sunbrella" produces much of the fabric used in the industry today and they recommend "303 High Tech Fabric Guard." As stated before, you should contact the manufacturer of the boat covers you have purchased for their stand on this subject. Most of the internet companies will have very useful information.

If you find professional cover cleaning companies and would like to utilize their services, make sure they have a good working knowledge of the product and type of fabric that you have and that they have a firm grasp of cleaning and re-treatment requirements.