Cleaning Sails

Hi everyone, I recently purchased an old hobie with white sails that have a good amount of rust stains on them. Any household products that will remove them without damaging the sails? Also, the hobie emblem is coming off on one side, can I just silicone it back onto the sail? thanks

I had real good luck with West Marine FSR (fiberglass stain remover). It is a gel you just blot it on the rust stains, wait a few minutes and rinse. On heavy stains you might have to do it more than once. No damage at all to my dacron sails. When you put the sails up for the season, do not store them with the boom, block and/or any metal fittings. Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel will rust.

Barkeeper's Friend will take out iron based (rust, blood) stains easily and gently. Put some water on the spot, sprinkle on some BF, scrub gently with a soft brush and rinse.

I gashed a finger once and bled all over a white sail, it took it right out. Took the rust off my bathtub with very little elbow grease too.

You can get it at the grocery store.

The key ingredient in all of these is oxalic acid.

BKF is probably the most gentle.

This also works well, but distribution is somewhat regional.

Yup Oxalic acid is the stuff. I used Rust Off and some other products. You can tell when you got the good stuff- IT REALLY STINKS!

I had some really severe rust stains on a couple of sets of old sails I picked up and now they are like new spot and cleanliness wise.

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057