Looking for an easy way to clean teak boat decks that have turned green over time? You’re in luck. Reader Susie Burall sent me a note with an easy way to clean green teak. (I’m guessing/hoping it might also work on fiberglass that’s picked up green, too).
Cruiser’s Tip
Our teak gets very green in the winter and we don’t like to pressure hose it or scrub it. A good Dutch friend gave us this tip and it works really well.
Put one part vinegar (I use white or distilled) to three parts water and simply spray on and leave.
The next visit, just hose down and it will be free of verdigris! You might want to eat fish and chips at the same time!
We don’t teak oil the deck because we prefer the grey colour. We use the same method on our teak garden furniture in the spring.
I cleaned and rejuvenated our interior teak. And I can tell you it was not as easy as this easy deck cleaning method.
Results
Susie also sent me this photo of their boat Kerenza (Cornish for ‘much loved’) on her journey back to the UK from Sweden where she was built. They took the picture in the Kiel Canal. She is a 38ft Najad – the same size and type of boat that Jeanne Socrates sailed single handed round the world.
I love the gorgeous teak decks, but yes, it would be a lot of work to scrub them free of green every spring. I love the idea of just spraying as you’re ready to leave the boat one visit, and then rinsing on the next visit! If anyone has an easier way to clean teak boat decks, I’d love to hear about it.
She and her David have been sailing/cruising for 25 years out of the UK — first on a 29 foot Beneteau, then a 36ft Sigma, 2 Oysters (one 43 and the other 47 ft) and now the Najad. In 1992 they sailed round Britain and did the ARC in 1999, in addition to chartering in various locations around the world.
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Lynne says
Thanks for taking the time to respond. We’ve also been out of internet range. I like the idea of keeping zippers partially open. Lack of circulation may be our problem. Thanks for the tip.
Tim Wenham says
I had someone tell me about using OXY Clean on my exterior teak. It did an amazing job cleaning the teak. Spray it on, brush the teak and hose off using a stream of water. I use a hosewand to rinse. This process cleans the teak to a nice natural color with minimum work or damage to the teak.