Clean Your Boat The Green Way
Having found this blog, it should come as no surprise that a good part of our discussion will center on the many evils of modern day cleaning products. If there is one element of the green movement that is gaining more momentum than any other it is probably this area alone. That industrial strength clean smell we all grew up with is quite literally poisoning our bodies and destroying our environment.
Listed below are a wide variety of common cleaning products. Along with their name is a brief description of how they harm the environment. If you are really committed to being green you will not be able to scrub your boat again with any of this stuff without a very guilty conscience. Here we go.All Purpose Cleaners
How They Harm - Many contain toxins that enter the body when we breathe or through skin contact. May contain synthetic surfactants, which may mimic hormones, possibly leading to gender abnormalities in humans and animals. May contain neurotoxins such as benzene, a known carcinogen.
Ammonia
How It Harms - Found in many cleaning products, this chemical compound easily converts from a liquid to a gas, producing toxic fumes. Highly poisonous to marine life. Can cause eye, skin, and respiratory problems in humans.
Anti-Bacterial Soaps and Lotions
How They Harm - Many are made with pesticides and ammonia. May contribute to the evolution of "super-bugs", germs that are resistant to modern antibiotics.
Chlorine Bleach
How It Harms - Originally developed for chemical warfare use in World War I, chlorine is one of the most toxic creations of modern science. Deadly to all aquatic life. Even small doses may cause immune, endocrine, and reproductive system damage in all life forms.
Commercial Carpet Cleaners
How They Harm - Many contain naphthalene, a chemical cousin of the neurotoxin benzene. May be linked to eye, skin, and kidney problems.
Room and Carpet Deodorizers
How They Harm - Many contain formaldehyde and/or napthalene, both known carcionogens.
Disinfectants
How They Harm - Many contain ammonia, chlorine, cresol, formaldehyde, and phenol, all really nasty stuff. Can damage internal organs and the central nervous system.
Dish-washing Detergents
How They Harm - Many are non-biodegradable and made from petroleum products. Often contain chlorine, surfactants, and phosphates, all substances that cause varying amounts of damage.
Drain Cleaners
How They Harm - One of the most toxic products around. Usually made with lye and hydrochloric and sulphuric acid.
Floor and Furniture Polish
How They Harm - Many contain amyl acetate, benzene, cresol, organic solvents, and petroleum distillates, all highly toxic. Fumes can linger for days, especially in the confines of a boat cabin, causing eye, skin, and nervous system disorders.
Glass Cleaners
How They Harm - Many contain ammonia, methanol, and dioxane, products all believed to cause cancer, skin, lung, immune system and vision disorders, including blindness.
Laundry Detergents
How They Harm - Many contain synthetic surfactants, which may be linked to genetic disorders and cancer. Many contain non-biodegradable petroleum compounds, along with aggravating artificial colors and fragrances.
Metal Polish
How It Harms - May contain ammonia, diethanolamines, phosphoric acid, and sulphuric acid, all of which are toxic.
Mold and Mildew Removers
How They Harm - Many contain pesticides and chlorine. May cause eye, skin, and respiratory system damage.
Mothballs
How They Harm - Usually contain napthalene and paradichlorobenzene, both highly toxic compounds.
Optical Brighteners
How They Harm - Found in many laundry detergents, these chemicals make fabric look white but do not actually clean anything. Can cause skin rashes. Toxic to fish.
Oven Cleaners
How They Harm - Right up there with drain cleaners for toxicity. Most contain lye, sodium hydroxide and benzene. Can irreparable damage eyes, skin, and internal organs. Deadly to all marine life.
Phosphates
How They Harm - Found in many detergents, these naturally occurring minerals are not terribly toxic on their own. However, as they accumulate in waterways they often lead to the harmful over-growth of algae. These "algae blooms" lead to oxygen depletion in the water and are responsible for massive amounts of fish kill. This growing problem is creating dead zones of increasing size around the world.
Scouring Powders
How They Harm - Many contain crystalline silica and butyl cellosolve - substances linked to kidney, liver, eye, skin, and respiratory damage in animals and humans.
Toilet Bowl Cleaners
How They Harm - Many contain chlorine and hydrochloric acid. Fumes are toxic and can easily leak from even closed containers.
Tub, Tile, Sink and Shower Cleaners
How They Harm - Many contain chlorine and phosphoric acid. Can cause endocrine, immune, reproductive, and respiratory system disorders in animals and humans.
Had enough?
More, importantly, how did we ever let things get to this point and what do we do about it now?
Without digressing too far, the answer to the first part of this question is as American as apple pie and ice cream. We were sold this stuff.
Before World War II most cleaning products in the United States were homemade recipes of natural ingredients. Baking soda, vinegar, salt, and lemon juice were combined in various forms to make what was needed to keep things spic and span. The industrial buildup during the War led to the development of many of the modern day wonder products we know today.
The post War prosperity presented a perfect marketplace for the chemical companies to continue building their empires. Marketing and advertising did the rest. As housewives were convinced that they needed to make their homes cleaner than ever before they abandoned Grandmother’s mix of common sense and elbow grease for the popular poisons of the day.
The rest is history and here we are.
Now what?
Certainly our elected officials will help us, won’t they?
Unfortunately the same government that seems to regulate every other part of our lives gives the chemical companies a pass when it comes to overseeing most cleaning compounds. Current laws allow manufacturers to claim that the exact ingredients in their products are trade secrets, known only to those at the top. In fact, most cleaning products are not subject to government review before they hit the stores; it is only after consumer complaints are lodged that industry must respond. Some system, huh?
About all we have to protect us are vague requirements on the packaging of these products that use words like “danger, “ “warning,” and “caution.” In a world where there are more warnings on a hot cup of coffee than on a bottle of cancer causing cleaning fluid we are obviously on our own.
While we may not be able to undo the damage that the chemical industry and the complicit consumer has caused, we can certainly take concrete steps to halt any future harm we might inflict.
Instead of perpetuating the cycle of destruction we are on lets remember Grandma. Mother Nature’s cleaning products’ are still in cheap, plentiful supply, why not use them?
Before you roll your eyes at the idea of whipping up your own baking soda paste, rest easy, you don’t have to anymore. You certainly can make your own cleaning products, but the recent explosion of green products on the market offers many choices Grandma would be proud to use. The budget minded boater can save a ton of money by making their own cleaning products, but those of us who may not be so inclined have options too.
Before we discuss what to look for in a store bought, green cleaning product here is a list of simple concoctions that you might want to try on your boat’s exterior. Like most home remedies, some people swear by these recipes, others not so much. Given how cheap and easy it is to try any of these ideas though, why not?
Abbreviations
BSP=Baking Soda Paste
ACV=Apple Cider Vinegar
WV= White Vinegar
Gal=Gallon
Qt=Quart
TBS=Tablespoon
Tsp=Teaspoon
Unless otherwise noted, always rinse with clean water.
Use Recipe Application
Baking Soda Paste 3 Parts BS/ 1 Part Water Mix to paste like consistency.
Black Scuff Undiluted Rub on with a
Remover - lemon clean, dry cloth.
Light Duty extract. Rinse.
Black Scuff Baking Scrub w/ damp
Remover - Soda sponge. Rinse.
Heavy Duty Paste
Brass 1 part water Mix to paste, Apply with
Cleaner 1 part salt clean dry rag. Rinse.
1 part WV
Chrome Undiluted Rub on with a
Cleaner ACV clean, dry rag.
Rinse w/ water.
Fiberglass 3TBS WV Rub on with a
Oxidation 1 Gal water damp sponge.
Stain Rinse.
Remover
Frost ½ cup WV Rub on with a
Remover 1 Gal warm water damp sponge.
Buff with a dry cloth.
Fuel/Oil Baking Pour straight BS
Stain Soda on stain, wait 15
Cleaner minutes, wipe clean. Rinse.
Hard 1Tsp BS Mix to paste.
Water Stain 1Tsp toothpaste Scrub with a damp cloth.
Remover
Hull 1 part WV Mix in bucket,
Cleaner 1 part water apply with scrub
Light brush. Rinse.
Duty
Hull 1 1/2 cup BS Mix in bucket,
Cleaner 1 Gal water apply with scrub
Heavy brush. Rinse.
Duty
Hull-Ring Baking Apply with damp
Stain Soda cloth, scrub,
Remover Paste Rinse.
Hull 1/4 cup BS After cleaning,
Brightener 1 gal water apply to rinse water.
Inflatable WV Apply WV with
Boat Baking Soda damp sponge.
Cleaner Dust with BS.
Rinse.
Metal Undiluted Dip sponge in
Polish lemon oil oil, apply, rinse.
Rust BSP Apply with a damp cloth.
Remover Elbow Grease Scrub lightly with
aluminum foil. Rinse. Buff dry.
Saltwater Baking Scrub with damp
Stain Soda cloth. Rinse.
Remover Paste
Scouring Baking Scrub with damp
Powder Soda sponge. Rinse.
Stainless Baking Rub on with
Steel Soda damp cloth.
Polish Paste Rinse.
Suntan Oil Baking Dust with BS,
Stain Soda wait 15 minutes.
Remover Rinse.
Tar 1 part water Scrub with damp
Remover 1 part ACV cloth. Rinse.
Teak Baking Rub in BS with
Deodorizer Soda damp sponge.
Let sit 15 minutes.
Rinse.
Vinyl Baking Wipe down
Cleaner Soda with damp cloth.
Paste Rinse, buff with
dry cloth.
Window 1 cup WV Apply with damp cloth.
Cleaner 1 QT warm water Buff dry.
One of the most important ingredients in all these recipes is good old-fashioned elbow grease. As consumers we have become conditioned to expect that the better cleaning products can simply be applied and rubbed off ten seconds later. As I hope I have made clear, this is sure possible if you don’t mind exposing yourself to cancer causing acids and all sorts of other terrible stuff. Expect to have to scrub a little more than you may be used to with any homemade cleaners, but also expect to save plenty of money and the Earth at the same time.
For those of you who are more comfortable using store bought cleaning products you have plenty to choose from these days. But be very careful before you buy. The growing popularity of green products has led to the inevitable deceptions and exaggerated claims that unethical manufacturers are more than willing to employ.
The same marketing geniuses that convinced consumers to willingly fill their home with deadly poisons in fancy bottles are at it again. Remember, the chemical giants can play fast and loose with labeling the ingredients they put in their products. Bear this in mind the next time you see a bottle of anything labeled with the common green buzzwords “earth-friendly,” “natural,” or “biodegradable.”
To be fair, many reputable companies use these terms accurately. Unfortunately many more do not. Once again, we consumers are left to navigate the marketplace pretty much on our own. If you look closely at the packaging of many so-called organic products the actual word “organic” is ten times bigger than the qualifiers that say things like “made with” or “contains some, ‘ when referring to the organic ingredients they contain. In many cases a product carrying the word organic on the label has one or two such ingredients combined with other typical chemical compounds.
Study after study has shown that consumer packaging success is all about grabbing the buyers attention just long enough for them to toss the product in a shopping cart. The chemical companies do not want you to take thirty seconds to read a label, they want you to take half a second to spot the word or phrase you need to see to feel good about their product and move on.
If you are forced to choose among all the buzzwords in use, however, “organic” probably carries more weight than any of the other terms. This is because there are some standards that are necessary for producers to meet in order to receive some of the precious seals of approval that are conveyable by certain watchdog groups. Unfortunately, however, even these standards are put to the test all the time. If there is a good place to start your search for green commercial cleaning products, however, those labeled “organic” typically have a higher chance of being truly good for the environment than those carrying other descriptions.
Products labeled “natural” or “biodegradable” are much more likely to be chemicals in disguise. Currently there is no legal definition of either term. According to the publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, “there are no specific standards for the biodegradable claim, and no official organization exists to verify the use of the claim.”
Oh the technical definition is clear enough; a substance is biodegradable according to the dictionary if it can be broken down or decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. At first glance this sure sounds pretty green. After all, isn’t Nature all about the circle of life? Soil to grass to cows to people to soil and all that. Well of course it is, but just because a substance can be broken down in Nature does not mean that substance should be broken down by Nature.
On the most basic level, every substance we know of, whether found in the ground or made in a lab comes from the Earth. Advertisers love to remind us that this or that product is “ natural.” Well of course it is, but all things natural are not good for you. Arsenic is natural, chlorine is natural, uranium is natural, but sprinkle any of them on your granola and it’s all over.
Once you get past the labeling gauntlet there are some basic ingredient choices you need to make. The first thing to look for is any type of ingredient list at all. Remember, these are trade secrets according to the chemical industry and they do not have to disclose what is in their product. As a simple litmus test, however, it should be obvious that those companies that choose not to disclose what their products contain probably do not want you to know what their products contain. Look at the label on any reputable brand of green cleaner and you will find a clear disclosure of what it contains.
One of my all time favorite soaps, Dr Bronner’s Peppermint Soap tells you on the bottle that their product contains Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Olive oils (w/ retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil, Organic Mentha Arvensis, Citric Acid and Vitamin E. Go ahead and grab a bottle of any traditional, name-brand all-purpose cleaner at the store and see if they tell you as much about what is in their product. Ask your common sense which company is more interested in you and the environment, those who practice full disclosure or those who do not?
Another choice to make is between soaps and detergents? What is the difference you may ask? Soaps are generally made from materials found in nature that have not been modified, detergents are typically made from synthetic (man made) components, many of which are toxic. The history of these two rivals once again began during World War II when the materials need to make soap were also need for the military. Detergents were developed to fill the need to keep things clean and they evolved from there. Most detergents are made from petroleum products, so if you have any trouble pouring a cup of gasoline in your favorite fishing hole think twice before doing the same when you wash your boat.
There are new plant based detergents on the market that are more Earth friendly than their petroleum cousins, but be careful. As a general rule, however, soaps do much less harm than detergents. The main drawback to soap is that if they are used in hard water it can be difficult to completely rinse their residue away. The resulting soap scum that can build up on hard surfaces and in fabrics is a negative for some people. This problem often comes about simply through over-use of the soap product. Somewhere along the way the marketing gurus trained us to think using more of something was better. Instead of pouring a little soap on a rag and really working it in we pour a bottle of it in a bucket and lather it on. Not only does this cost more money, but in most cases it is completely ineffective in getting a surface any cleaner than a smaller dose of the same substance would. Used sparingly and rinsed well, most of the complaints about soap build up can be easily addressed.
For those boaters who swear by a certain brand they have always used or a method of application they are accustomed to, once again that difficult word, choice, raises its’ ugly head. Would you rather have a bright and shiny toxic toy or a less than dazzling water borne sanctuary you can be proud of? The next time you are lucky enough to cruise through a school of dolphins or simply watch your kids dive off the side in a secluded cove, ask yourself this question.
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