Which Boat Hull Cleaner Works Best?  

I'm a new boat owner last year. I just saw your video on cleaning the scum off of the bottom of the boat. My new boat has a lot of it. Thank you for sharing this very welcomed news. I am going to use the Lysol Toilet Bowl cleaner to clean the hull of my boat before putting it in the water this year. Thanks again.

Excellent comparison. I always use slimy grimey but now I'm gonna try the lysol. Thanks for doing this video.

Great review! Thanks for sharing. I power washed my boat last night and didn't see much success, so I bought the

Thanks for the video. I love testing products and methods.

Thanks for the video!

Just in the process of doing my Pontoon boat. 1989 vintage. I have owned it for 10 years. It was sitting for approx 15 years before that. Uncleaned. I am using No name Toilet bowl with 6 x 4 brillow pad (s) stapled to standing block. Dampened thepontoons and applied cleaner along top of pontoon. Start scrubbing and it required way less work than I thought. Amazing. I also tried WD-40 and it worked amazingly well but likely more expensive. Nothing ventured nothing gained!

I love it, thank you!! That last boat is in need of a wool pad and some compound 😆

Thank you so much for providing this information! We were preparing our boat for sale and were appalled when we saw the staining on the hull. Other options didn't touch the stains. We ran right out -- literally -- and tried the Lysol (which we had on hand) and could not BELIEVE our eyes! So refreshing to see something that works as 'advertised' and so effortlessly. We will follow the recommendation to seal the hull afterward to prevent deeper staining in the future. Thank you again for taking the time to post this -- a real lifesaver!

"Have fun cleaning your boat" - John. hahahahaha. Thanks John.

(Continued) ..Bought a gallon of star brite instant hull cleaner (before I watched your video). Either way, I learned alot. Thank-you!

Love seeing the comparison, and I already have Lysol, can't wait to see what it does to my boat!

Make sure you seal or wax the boat after you clean it or next trip you will get such a bad stain you may never get it off. It seams to open the “pores” of the gelclote

Thanks for the video. Lysol bowl cleaner and a wet sponge did the best. Let it sit for about five minutes then rinse. May have to repeat.

Just bought a 1990 macgreger 26' sail boat. Inside flooring had some bad black stains.... Used the Lysol toilet bowl cleaner....Came out white as new......

Thank you! The toilet boil cleaner worked like a charm!

Terrific educational video! Your presentation was clear and understandable. Appreciate the effort and information.

I use Blackhawk Performances Eco Boat Hull Cleaner on my boat. It is made from sugar, therefore it is eco safe and most importantly will not eat a hole through my trailer. I simply spray it on let sit for 10 minutes then spray it off with the power washer. I only need one coat because I take my boat out of the water regularly. I tried it on a buddy’s boat that sat in the lake for 2 years, it took 2.5 coats, but still there was minimal scrubbing!

I tell people toilet bowl cleaner all the time. They look at me like im crazy. Nice video. Thanks!

Thank you! The toilet bowl cleaner is the ticket. Easy to use and clean without the toxic acid fumes of my old Zing.

Why didn't you use a wet sponge to wipe off the lysol ? You wiped up the other 3 with a wet sponge which diluted the 3 . You left the lysol bleach to keep working without diluting it . Not a fair test . Do the something on all 4 and see what happens .If course the longer you leave a chemical on without diluting it like you did with the lysol the more time it has to kill the bacteria . By using a wet sponge on the last 3 you only give the chemical 2 minutes to work before you diluted it with water and wiped it off the boat . When you are doing a comparison put them all on at the same time wait the 2 minutes and wipe them all off the same way .

fantastic video . thanks a million got my jetski and boat sparkling .. thanks from dan in Australia

great video!

You can get toilet bowl cleaner at a dollar store sometimes even branded ones like Lysol. Great bang for the buck.

Nice one

Lysol, who would have thought? Thanks for the comparisons

Oxalic acid vapor is used in beekeeping to rid the bees of varoa mites (suspected cause of Colony Collapse Disorder). It kills the mites but doesn't harm the bees. That said, there are lots of warnings about using the stuff and wearing protective items such as the rubber gloves and also a full respirator. The stuff will do a job on your lungs. While in this use it isn't vaporized intentionally, it would probably be a good idea to wear some form of mask.

Just buy Oxalic acid from Walmart. $19 for 5 lbs, several-year supply. Spray on, wipe, then rinse. Or power wash after letting it sit a while.

Use muriatic acid. Works fantastic. The label actually says it’s for fiberglass hulls. I use it every year. Cheap and does the best job.

clr works a treat

I am going to clean my fiberglass dingy next year with the TBC, My aluminum boat has 4 layers of paint and it looks like camo my friend George likes it like that lol

My fiberglass Key West is like that... I stupidly tried all the "boat cleaners" with no success. I do use Soft Scrub on the inside floors and decks and it cleans like brand new because it contains bleach. BUT, it has abrasives in it also so I won't use it on the outside of the hull. I'm definitely going to grab the toilet cleaner from the bathroom! Bleach is obviously the ticket...I just never thought of it till now. Then I'll wax the hell out of it this Spring and maybe it won't get so stained again. 👍🏼

Try pool acid and shop degreaser.

Bar Keepers Friend is hands down the best hull cleaner you can use. Mix with a little water and you don't even need to scrub, just wet the hull, and apply it with a rag and let it sit for a few minutes. For tougher stains some very light scrubbing may be required. Best part is that it is inexpensive.

How did you apply lysol to the entire bottom of the boat? Seems tedious. I use the instant hull cleaner on a paint roller with an extension pole. Curious as to how you did it.

What about the spots where the hull is sitting on the trailer bunks? Is that hull cleaner just sitting in there on the carpet slowly eating into the gel coat?

I’ve tried all the home concoctions and toilet bowl cleaner and other products that could damage the gel coat and or fiberglass . My boat sits in the Lahr for about 6 months . I went to the dealer I bought my boat from after nothing worked . They suggested on / off hull and bottom cleaver . Worked Ten times better and easier then anything else . You won’t be sorry .

Toilet bowl cleaner will etch the gel coat and will make your trailer rust plus it will mess up a concrete driveway I use slimy grimy.

Is it safe for inflatable bottoms? Non fiberglass. Gonna try that lysol!

My $.02- You should never use Oxalic Acid on aluminum or a painted surface. Including on an outboard lower unit. It will pit the aluminum.

Hello John Came across your video when having a browse. Those products have to be used with great caution and even greater caution, if at all, on a boat. The product acid contents are more than high enough to cause havoc. Aluminium alloys (engine outdrive, window frames, etc) are only corrosion resistant as far as the hard surface oxide layer can be maintained. Any strong acid or alkali will damage the protective layer and thereafter there will not much you can do to remedy the damage done. Corrosion pitting can be rapid and easily deep enough to go right through the unit. Stainless steel will also be affected in exactly the same way. The products you are using will also rapidly destroy the strength of any cordage and webbing straps. This damage is often invisible with the first indication only being the moment the strap or rope breaks. Additionally, it is a very bad practice to have such products kept on board. Just the fumes from the product container inside a closed locker for any time will destroy the strength of any rope or webbing stored inside the same locker. Wishing you happy boating .. Nick

StarBrit is the best

Try Marine31

You scrubbed those like you were washing a sunburn.

Keep acidic toilet bowl cleaner works well.

Lysol clearly the winner

Toilet bowl cleaner is acid unless you get the non acid cleaner

Mary Kate hull cleaner worked wonders for me toilet bowl cleaner was not as good

Not a real great comparison, methods of application differ with each product.

I don't think you are giving them a chance. Give it ten minutes, not one minute. Americans are always in a rush!

LEAVING IT IN THE WATER USEING chemicals.

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