Dodger and Bimini Top Care Tips
Canvas dodgers and bimini tops,
sail and winch covers do not need all that much care and they can last a long
time. The upholstery man I use says that one of the hardest things on covers is
bleach. Bleach will destroy the stitching faster than most anything.
The best thing for these canvas
covers is to wash them with a mild soap and lots of water, to get all the soap
off and out of the canvas. Bleach products are not recommended. Bleach affects
the fabric less than the stitching, and when people wash their covers with
bleach water it is the stitching that goes. Simple cleaning with soapy water is
better. A little ammonia in the wash water will kill mold and mildew and remove
most of the stains from the canvas but it should be well rinsed out of the
canvas. . DO NOT USE AMONIA OR A PRODUCT WITH AMONIA ON THE PLASTIC WINDOWS!
The ammonia will damage the window. There are mildew stain removers that work
well, but check if there is bleach in them and or ammonia in them. If you do
use bleach or a product with bleach try to keep it off the stich lines and rinse
well. When ever you can use a bio-safe cleaner.
Plastic windows on your boat and
in dodgers need special care. They can turn yellow and brittle. The yellow can sometimes
be cleaned. There are special cleaners for the plastic that will take the
yellow out and will not make them brittle. The best three cleaners for plastic
windows that have been recommended are 210, Plexus and Meguiar’s #17 plastic
cleaner.
Zippers need to be lubricated
regularly. You can buy zipper lubricant, and or you can use a bar of soap on
the zipper or wax from a candle. Silicone lubricant can also be used. All of these will make the zipper open and
close better. Most lubricants for plastics will work. DO NOT USE BABY OIL or an
oily product! Baby oil will cook or fry the teeth.
Mild soap and water with good
rinsing is the best way of keeping your canvas looking good. It is easiest to keep them clean than do a big clean up.
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