Hello Larry

I asked our sail maker the same question. We had considered having the sail cleaned professionally and he dissuaded us.

He said to use a mild solution of cloths washing soap, no bleach just soap etc. Rinse thoroughly he said there should be no soap residue. When done take the sail and hang it he suggested going for a sail to dry it.

Hope this helps

Happy 2013 to you.

Downloaded from a sail manufacturer/repairer that I know: NOTE - AVOID PAVEMENT!

Cleaning Dacron sails:
 Clean sails on a smooth surface. Avoid pavement and gravel or you will find
yourself sanding the back of your sail as you meticulously clean the front.
 Use a mild soap solution and fresh water.
 Use a soft bristle brush to remove dirt and salt.
 Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Keep rinsing until all soap residue is removed.
 To remove oil or tar stains use a small amount of lighter fluid.
 To remove mildew sailcloth manufacturers recommend a highly diluted solution of
Sodium Hypochlorite (3-5%). Because it is toxic to you and the environment, we
(Port Townsend Sails) object to the use of bleach except as a last resort. We have also
heard and common sense leads us to concur that bleach strips the coating from
thread and leaves stitching vulnerable to UV damage.
Never use bleach on nylon or laminated sails!
 A hot tip for cleaning sails from PT Sails staff: Dilute 2Tbs Woolite and 1-2 cups
vinegar in 1 gallon water. Some of our customers have had great luck with this
solution.

I tried Fels Naptha soap on any stubborn spots. someone on the list had mentioned it last year. Great stain remover on laundry too.

I usually put mine in the grass and use Oxyclean. Let dry and turn over and do the other side.

.

What I did was to lay drop cloths on my patio, then placed the mainsail accordion-style on that. Avoided grass due to possible green stains.

One section at a time I gently scrubbed the sailcloth with dilute oxyclean in warm water, taking care not to abrade while working out most of the dirt.

Oxyclean does a quick number on any black mildew spots (oxyclean contains a stable form of hydrogen peroxide).

I also used Oxalic Acid (USP powder dissolved in water) to take care of the rust spots.

This from Wikipedia:

[I]Oxalic acid's main applications include cleaning or bleaching, especially for the removal of rust (iron complexing agent), e.g. Bar Keepers Friend is an example of a household cleaner containing oxalic acid. Its utility in a rust removal agents is due to its forming a stable, water soluble salt with ferric iron, ferrioxalate ion.[/I]

After rinsing well with fresh water, I hung the mainsail to dry in the backyard.

It was summertime, so it made a great shade cover for the yard!

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