Cleaning Products for a Boat

With limited space, it’s important to consider the best cleaning products for a boat. I frequently get asked what general cleaning products and supplies I use most. Since everything drains into the water, I try to use the least-toxic solutions. Here are my core supplies and products:

Reusable Tools

Bar rags (Amazon) – cheap, terry cloth rags that are great for cleaning; I like them much better than rags made of old t-shirts as they have more texture.
Nail brush (Amazon) – it’s a tiny scrub brush – we have one in the galley, one in the head, and a couple just for general cleaning.
Hand-held vacuum – hair, dust, dry spills in the galley and cockpit. Over the years we’ve had many different brands and our favorite, hands down, is our Dyson (Amazon). It was the most expensive initially but per year of use, it’s close to the least expensive . . . and it does the best job of cleaning of any of them!
Hand brush and dustpan (Amazon) – mostly as a backup to the vacuum, or when something is damp.

Consumable Cleaning Products

Vinegar (Amazon) – kills mold and mildew and is otherwise a great cleaner too. I often use it straight or mix it 50/50 with hot water to clean up anything sticky. Do not mix with bleach or anything containing bleach.
Bleach (Amazon) – it’s good for disinfecting food surfaces and cleaning the head, mixed 1:10 with water. It will remove mold and mildew stains (but be careful as it will remove color from many materials.) Contrary to what many people think, it does NOT kill mold and mildew. Absolutely do not mix with vinegar.
Borax (Amazon) – kills mold and mildew and removes the stains left behind. Mix with hot water according to package directions. Can be used on fabric as well as hard surfaces. (I also use Concrobium (Amazon) as a mold/mildew preventive.) Buy it wherever you buy laundry detergent.
Krud Kutter (Amazon) – the best degreaser I know of. If hot water, soap, and vinegar doesn’t get the grease off, I turn to Krud Kutter.
Spotless Stainless – cleans stainless (including galley pans and grills) and protects from rust. Easy to use – just wipe on, wait, rinse off. Non-toxic.
Water – it’s amazing how much a damp rag will clean . . . or a damp rag and a bit of a scrub with the nail brush! By far, what I use the most often. Hot water poured down a drain will cure clogs arising from soap and grease build-up.

The one thing NOT to use? Ammonia. It is very harmful to fish gills, even in very dilute solutions.

Did I miss any of your favorite cleaning products for a boat? Leave a comment.

Here’s your “Quick Start” to everything you need to know when living on a boat: