Stains 101
dirt & grime
Rust & Tannic
Mold & Mildew
Scuff Marks
Identify your stain
When it comes to cleaning, identifying the type of stain is essential for getting it removed successfully. The most common boat stains are rust & tannic, dirt & grime, mildew & mold, lastly scuff marks or caked on crud. Each type of stain requires a different method of removal; Star brite offers specialized solutions to tackle each one effectively.
Please choose your stain above, don’t see your stain? Keep scrolling!
dirt & grime
Surface
Technology
THE STAIN:
Dirt, grime, gunk, muck. Fish blood, food, drinks. These are your surface stains.
THE SCIENCE:
Most surface dirt will wash right off with boat soap and water. However, some gets ground in, especially on non- skid surfaces. That’s where surfactants come in. Surfac- tant molecules fully surround the dirt molecules and lift them from the surface that you’re cleaning. This allows them to be washed away with water. Chelating agents are supercharged surfactants for specialized cleaning.
THE SOLUTION:
Star brite Boat Wash will definitely remove most surface dirt. For tough grime and gunk, use a cleaner/ degreaser, such as Star brite Xtreme Clean or choose a surfactant based on the surface: Non-Skid, Deck Cleaner for non-skid, Vinyl Cleaner for vinyl, etc.
Rust & Tannic
THE STAIN:
Tree leaves, hull stains, rust stains, waterline stains, hard water stains, orange stains.
THE SCIENCE:
Tannins are naturally pro- duced in the decomposition of plant-based matter, and their signature orange- hued stains are dying your hull and fiberglass. Rust stains occur on the fiber- glass around metal, where water leaches color from underneath the metal and deposits it on the surface. Removing these stains requires a chemical reaction with an acid.
THE SOLUTION:
Star brite Instant Hull Cleaner contains a modified oxalic acid that safely neutralizes tannins and rust. There’s much more science behind it but trust us on this one, simply spray or wipe on and watch the stain disappear.
Acid
Technology
Mold & Mildew
Bleaching
Technology
THE STAIN:
Black, brown, green, and pink mold and mildew stains.
THE SCIENCE:
Similar to grass stains, these stains are caused by organic material, and need something stronger than a surfactant alone to remove them. The oxygen in a bleaching agent attacks and breaks up these types of stains, and removes any discoloration.
THE SOLUTION:
While most people believe that regular chlorine bleach is the answer, it also causes a lot of problems, such as breaking down fabrics and stitching and destroying gelcoats. Instead use Star brite Mildew Stain Remover a buffered bleach formula — that attacks the stain without harming the surface.
Scuff Marks
THE STAIN:
Black shoe marks, rub rail and bumper scuffs, marks left from dragging hoses and equipment.
THE SCIENCE:
Scuff marks or “transfer stains” happen when material is transferred onto a surface and is mechanically bonded. Chemicals are rarely strong enough to remove these marks, since many times the material that has transferred is chemical resistant (think of a rubber shoe). These abrasive marks require the same to remove them: abrasion.
THE SOLUTION:
Star brite Ultimate Magic Sponge uses nano-sized scrubbers to grab hold and erase most marks easily. For your hull, use Premium Cleaner Wax to buff the stain away.
Abrasion
Technology
