stain on gelcoat from wet leaves

[starcentral]

Hi, I have a 3 year old boat and this fall some leaves from near by trees sat wet for a few days on the white gelcoat / finish of the boat. There is a prefect outline of the leaves all over the boat in places and wondering what the best way to try and remove the stain is without damaging the gelcoat and finish of the boat.

I tried just some water and lint free cloth and the stain does not lift.

Any advice would be great !

 

[robert graham]

Try some Clorox on a rag....if that doesn’t remove it some automotive polish/wax will work....

 

[dingbat]

Bleach or toilet bowl cleaner for small areas

May be easier to dilute Atwood hull cleaner 25:1 and apply with a garden sprayer. Let set 2-3 minutes and rinse.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I'd try toilet bowl cleaner. Just don't let it get on anything other than the gelcoat (i.e., metal fittings, boat trailer, etc.).

 

[Scott Danforth]

kaboom toilet/bathroom cleaner with bleach. spray it on, wait 5 minutes, rinse.

 

[crazy charlie]

DONT USE TOILET CLEANER!!! . Put some old fashioned bleach,not the concentrated,not the splash proof,just regular bleach in a spray bottle.Spray the leaf marks and have a garden hose in the other hand and give the bleach approx a minute or two tops to work.Rinse immediately after that.Works perfectly.Only use toilet bowl cleaner in place of Marykate on-off .It is for barnacles,fouled bottoms and underwater growth.It is an acid.Way too strong for leaf stains .Bleach above water line and Toilet cleaner below water line.Charlie

 

[starcentral]

Thanks for all the tips, who would have thought leaves could be so damaging !

 

[dingbat]

Thanks for all the tips, who would have thought leaves could be so damaging !

No damage done simple

DONT USE TOILET CLEANER!!! .Only use toilet bowl cleaner in place of Marykate on-off .

I believe your confusing products.
On-off and toilet bowl cleaner are two very different products.

Toilet bowl cleaner is oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is used in tooth whitening products.

On-off is a mixture of hydrochloride and phosphoric acid.

Hydrochloric acid has a corrosive effect on human tissue, with the potential to damage respiratory organs, eyes, skin, and intestines irreversibly.

Have used oxalic acid to clean tannin stains from the boat for years. Have a garden sprayer full of it in the garage right now

 

[dingbat]

No damage done simple to remove

I believe your confusing products.
On-off and toilet bowl cleaner are two very different products.

Toilet bowl cleaner is oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is used in tooth whitening products.

On-off is a mixture of hydrochloride and phosphoric acid.

Hydrochloric acid has a corrosive effect on human tissue, with the potential to damage respiratory organs, eyes, skin, and intestines irreversibly.

Have used oxalic acid to clean tannin stains from the boat for years. Have a garden sprayer full of it in the garage right now

 

[crazy charlie]

Dingbat.... Im Def not confusing products.Both products do the exact same job on fouled fiberglass.I am surprised to see that you have never seen a post here suggesting this.Do a search to satisfy any curiousity.Marykate on-off $20 a bottle and Toilet bowl cleaner $1.00 a bottle do exactly the same job.I never mentioned the chemical composition of either.I do 2 of my boats for an entire $5 bill with toilet bowl cleaner.A leaf stain is exactly like putting a teabag on your deck.Bleach eliminates it immediately and is waaaay less caustic than both other products.BTW if you think Toilet cleaner is used for tooth whitening as you mentioned,feel free to pour some on your finger tips and give it a minute or two and let me know if you would still whiten your teeth with it..lol (hope you dont try that) Charlie