How to Inspect and Clean Your Boat Canvas Enclosures

How to Inspect and Clean Your Boat Canvas Enclosures

Canvas enclosures and other types of fabric-based features can have a lot of aesthetic and practical value on your boat. Of course, if you’re going to use these textile features, it’s important that you regularly perform regular maintenance and canvas enclosure inspections in Fort Lauderdale, FL so they’ll last for years to come.

Here’s a quick overview of how you can maintain your boat canvas enclosures:

  • Inspect: Carefully inspect the boat canvas on a regular basis to check for signs of damage before you begin cleaning. If you need to make any repairs, do so before you move on to regular cleaning and maintenance. You don’t want to accidentally worsen the damage during the cleaning process.
  • Brush off dust: Get rid of any loose or caked-on dust or debris before you move forward with a thorough cleaning. You can use a brush or rag to swipe it away and prepare the surface for the application of whatever cleaning product you’ll be using.
  • Cleaning: There are a variety of cleaning products on the market that are ideal for use on canvas and textiles. You can check with the company that installed your canvas enclosure to ask which type of cleaner they would recommend. You might be able to find these cleaners at a boat supply store or marina—otherwise, you should be able to easily find something online. Test the product first on a small, out-of-the-way area to make sure it doesn’t cause any discoloration or damage. If everything looks good to go, you can begin applying it to the entire enclosure with a clean paintbrush.
  • Scrub: Again, check with the installer or supplier of your canvas enclosure to ask about the kind of bristle brush you can use on your boat canvas to get the best results. Once you’ve selected the bristle brush you’ll use, scrub down the enclosure while the cleaning product is on the canvas. Be sure to scrub everywhere, including the seams. Once the process is complete, it will be very noticeable if you missed or skipped over any spots.
  • Let the cleaner work: After you’ve finished the scrubbing process, let the cleaner set for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the instructions that come with the cleaner. This allows it to soak in and react with the fabric and any dirt and debris.
  • Brush with warm water: Use a soft bristle brush and warm water to scrub the canvas once again, which will help you to get rid of some of the more stubborn dirt and grime.
  • Spray: When you’ve finished this second round of scrubbing, you can spray the enclosure with clean water as a sort of rinse.
  • Repeat: Repeat any steps of the process as necessary to ensure you get the best results possible out of your cleaning.

Again, some of the processes you use or types of cleaners you go with will vary based on the kind of fabric you have. Talk to your manufacturer for more specific guidance.

To learn more about cleaning boat canvas enclosures in Fort Lauderdale, FL, contact the team at Starboard Yacht Group LLC today.