Less Toxic Products: simple household alternatives to boat cleaning and maintenance products , Clean Boating Program (California Coastal Commission and California. Dept. of Boating and Waterways.

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Less Toxic Products

Simple household alternatives to boat cleaning and maintenance products

Whether you clean your boat in the water or on land, boat cleaning products may end up in your local waterway. The products you purchase to clean and maintain your boat can have an adverse effect on aquatic life, water quality and human health. Many boat cleaning and maintenance products contain chemicals that are poisonous, corrosive, flammable and/or chemically reactive.

When you purchase boat cleaning products, take time to read the label. A signal word, such as “danger/poison,” “warning,” or “caution” can give you a general indication of the toxicity of a product. If you want more information on a product’s contents, ask your retailer or contact the manufacturer for the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The MSDS will list any constituents considered to be hazardous substances by the federal government. .” Avoid products with ingredients known to cause cancer or reproductive harm as listed in California’s Proposition 65: see a complete, updated Proposition 65 list.

If you decide to purchase a soap to clean your boat, choose phosphate-free non-detergent soaps, such as vegetable or citrus-based soaps.

How to be a less toxic consumer:

Reduce your use of toxic cleaning products:

Use elbow grease instead!
Use less toxic alternatives whenever possible.
Buy only the amount that you need.
Properly handle and store materials.
Dispose of hazardous waste legally and safely.
Call (800) CLEANUP for the locations of used oil recycling and hazardous waste disposal facilities.

Alternatives to Traditional Cleaning Products

You can minimize environmental impacts by using the following simple household alternatives to harmful products:

Product	Household Alternative
General cleaner	Mix baking soda and vinegar. Combine lemon juice with borax paste. Dissolve baking soda in hot water for a general cleaner.
Surface cleaner	Mix 1 quart of hot water, 1 tsp. vegetable oil-based soap/detergent, 1 tsp. borax and 2 tbsp. vinegar. Vinegar is used as a mild acid to cut grease, borax is used as a water softener, especially good with hard water, to prevent soapy deposits. Mix 1 cup of vinegar in 1 quart of warm water.
Degreaser	Make a paste of lemon juice and borax. When shopping for degreasing products, look for water-based products or citrus-based degreasers. Avoid products that contain methylene chloride (known to cause cancer in laboratory animals). Do not use gasoline to clean marine parts. Gas contains benzene (carcinogenic to humans),that, upon evaporation, causes air pollution.
Dish cleaner	Use vegetable oil-based soaps/detergents.
Window cleaner	Dilute one cup of white vinegar with 1qt. water.
Floor cleaner	To clean vinyl tile and linoleum, use 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup of washing soda (in laundry section of most supermarkets), in 1 gallon of warm water, or one cup vinegar in 2 gallons of water. Remove scuff marks on linoleum with toothpaste.
Fiberglass cleaner	Use a paste of baking soda and water.
Aluminum cleaner	Mix 1 tbsp. cream of tartar in 1 quart of hot water.
Brass cleaner	Use Worcestershire sauce, or paste made of equal amounts of salt, vinegar and water.
Copper cleaner	Use lemon juice and water, or paste made of equal amounts of lemon juice, salt and flour.
Chrome polish	Use apple cider vinegar to clean; baby oil to polish.
Hand cleaner	Apply baby oil or margarine, then clean with soap and water.
Head and shower	Clean frequently with a mix of baking soda and water; brush thoroughly. Sprinkle baking soda around the rim of the toilet. To clean and deodorize the head, try a mix of 1/2 cup of borax per 1 gallon of water.
Stainless steel cleaner	Mix baking soda or mineral oil for polishing, vinegar to remove spots.
Scouring Powders	Instead of scouring powder, try using baking soda.
Rug/Upholstery cleaner	Sprinkle on dry corn starch; vacuum.
Teak cleaner	Use a biodegradable soap to remove the dirt and salt water. Instead of bleaching teak, try using a mild power soap and scrub with bronze wool.
Fiberglass stain remover	Use a paste of baking soda and water.
Mildew removers	Scrub mildew with borax and water using a nylon scouring pad. Try scrubbing mildew with a vinegar and salt paste (equal parts), if problem is not severe. Try vinegar full strength, then rinse. To inhibit mold and mildew, wash area with 1/2 cup borax /1 gallon hot water.
Wood polish	Use olive, walnut, or almond oil.
Drain opener	Dissemble or use plumber’s snake. Or flush with a mixture of boiling water, one-quarter cup of baking soda and one quarter cup of vinegar.
Paint Products	Avoid paints containing methylene chloride and trichloroethylene (TCE) (suspected carcinogens); benzene (known to cause cancer in humans); 1,1,1- trichloroethane (TCA) (irritant to eyes and tissues); xylene (toxic to drink or breath); or toluene (known to cause birth defects).
Wood Preservatives and stains	Do not use old products that contain pentachlorophenol (PCP) (suspected carcinogen), creosote, tributylin oxide, or folpet. Water-based preservatives are available that can seal wood and protect it from water rot. Use water-based stains. Use finishes derived from natural sources, such as, shellac, tung oil, and linseed oil.

*While baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and vegetable oils are far less harmful than bleaches, scouring powders and detergents, they can still be toxic to aquatic life. Use all cleaning products sparingly and minimize the amount discharged into the water. Never dispose of any cleaning products down the thru-hull drain; dispose of them on shore!

These alternatives have not been tested by either the California Coastal Commission or the California Department of Boating and Waterways. They are offered as suggestions. The sources that were relied upon to develop these suggestions are cited below.

Center for Marine Conservation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, “Tips to Keep Your Boat in Top Shape.”
Flynn, A. A. and Rory E. Kessler. 1992. “A Consumer Guide to Safer Alternatives to Hazardous Household Products.” Take Me Shopping. Department of Planning and Development, Santa Clara County, p. 33.
HometownAnapolis.com, Boat Cleaning Tips, 2000. http://www.capitalonline.com/parks/boating.html
Gordon, Miriam. 1996. Marin County’s Guide to Environmentally Sound Practices in the San Francisco Bay and Delta,” Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Authority.
Maryland Clean Marina Initiative. 2000. “Vessel Cleaning and Maintenance.” http://www.dnr.state.md.us

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