Marine Boat Wash

Our Review
BoatUS boating safety & clean water foundation is charged with helping educate boaters in keeping our waters safe and clean. In their recent test of boat cleaning products, BoatUS tested 20 general boat soaps and all-purpose cleaners. Coming out on top was Thetfords Marine Boat wash.

Each of us has a cleaner we use and have had good success with. However, with new cleaners on the market “claiming to be good for the environment”, the question becomes are they and how do they compare with your existing cleaner.

Three criteria made up the BoatUS cleaner tests; Cleaning performance, toxicity and bio-degradability. The foundation found that a product that had relatively high toxicity, but broke down quickly was better than a product with low toxicity but did not break down. Hence, the test results concentrated on cleaning effectiveness and bio-degradability.

Thetfords marine boat wash and Meguiars gel wash were nearly 100% biodegradable in 4 weeks. ConcrobiumXT Ecowash was best at 100% break down in just 2 weeks. However when combined with a rating of good cleaning performance Thetford was the number one choice.

So how does this compare to the best cleaner. Soft Scrub with bleach cleaner was one of only two cleaners to rate excellent cleaning performance and came out on top for cleaning ability, but has the highest toxicity and does not beak down well.

” The Boat US foundation findings can be found here ”

Cleaners tested:

1. 3M Marine Boat Soap
2. 4U Concentrated Cleaner
3. Boatlife Boat Cleaner
4. Ecover Heavy Duty Boat Wash
5. Meguiars Gel Wash
6. OrPine Boat Soap
7. Shurholds Yacht Brite Brite Wash
8. Spray Nine Boat Soap
9. Starbrite Sea Safe Boat wash
10. Thetford Marine Boat Wash
11. Trac Green Clean Boat Soap
12. West Marine Pure Oceans Boat Soap
13. West Marine PureOceans Crystal Boat Soap Eco Series\
14. ConcrobiumXT Eco-Wash
15. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner
16. Soft Scrub with Bleach Cleanser
17. Extreme Simple Green Motorpsorts
18. Spray Nine Green Marine Mulit-Purpose Cleaner
19. Thetford Marine Deck Cleaner
20. West Marine Pure Oceans All Surface Cleaner

The publication tested 20 cleaners, including green products and a few tried-and-true cleaning staples. The first tests were conducted in a lab to determine each products toxicity and biodegradability. Thetford Marines Boat Wash was one of the three least toxic, as well as one of the three most biodegradable.

To put each cleaners performance to the test, the publication lined up three boats with varying levels of dirt ranging from a well-cared for craft with minimal filth to an extremely dirty vessel that had been stored, untouched, for two years. After taping off 20 one-foot sections along each boats hull, the testers applied the cleaners per manufacturers instructions.

Weighing all factors, including cleaning performance, toxicity, biodegradability and cost, Thetford Marines Boat Wash came out on top. The judges noted that this cost-effective boat wash cleaned the boats relatively easily and is available nationwide.

Cleaning all boat surfaces, Thetford Marines Boat Wash safely removes dirt, grime, bird droppings and exhaust fallout. Ideal for use on gelcoats and wax finishes, this cleaner works in both fresh and saltwater. DfE-recognized, the Boat Wash is environmentally-friendly and comes in 32 oz. or 128 oz. recyclable bottles.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Thetford Corp. is the worlds leading supplier of sanitation and refrigeration products for the recreational vehicle, marine and heavy-duty truck industries. Thetford is a privately-held company with eight manufacturing facilities in four countries.

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