Choosing Marine Cleaning Products With the Right pH Level

Balance pH products are effective but will not harm surfaces on your boat.

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When choosing a multi-purpose cleaning product, its a good idea to look for one where the pH level is balanced so that it is an effective cleaner but isn’t so strong that it will harm the surface being cleaned. This is especially important if the surface has a sealant or wax coating.

The pH scale runs from zero to 14. The mid point of the range, 7, is considered neutral; pure water is a neutral liquid. Liquids that have a pH higher than 7 are considered to be basic, or alkaline; most hand soaps and bleach are alkaline cleaners.

Basic or alkaline cleaners do well at removing oils and fats, so if you’re looking to degrease your engine, try a cleaner with a high pH.

Solutions with pH levels measuring zero to 6 are considered acidic; coffee, sodas, and lemon juice are examples. Acids break down difficult stains, making them easier to remove. So if you’re looking to get some rust off your deck or scrub away a waterline stain, a cleaner with a low pH will do a better job than one with a high pH.

Anytime you use an acidic cleaner, however, be sure to rinse the area being cleaned with fresh water afterward.

For more on the right cleaner for the specific job on your boat, read Essential Marine Cleaners today!

Image Credit: Getty/pialhovik
Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him at darrellnicholson.com.