Well Mark,
I followed this handwritten recipe:
(Dacron)
General Cleaning:
Mix a mild soap solution in a bucket, or use this solution: Dilute 2 Tbs Woolite and 1-2 cups vinegar in 1 gallon water
Spot Cleaning:
Rust: Soak the area in a 5% solution of oxalic acid dissolved in hot water. Follow this with a 2% solution of hydrochloric acid in warm water and, finally, and then rinse the spot well with clear water.
Number adhesive: Soak the area in cleaner's benzene until the adhesive can be rubbed away with a rag.
Oil, tar, and varnish: Use trichloroethylene either by itself or in solution with a liquid detergent.
Mildew: "To remove mildew sailcloth manufacturers recommend a highly diluted solution of Sodium Hypochlorite (3-5%). Because it is toxic to you and the environment, I object to the use of bleach, whether Chlorine or Peroxide, except as a last resort. I have also heard and common sense leads me to believe that bleach strips the coating from thread and leaves stitching vulnerable to UV damage. Never use bleach on nylon or laminated sails!"
As far as my sails were concerned: I used the woolight/vinegar solution on all sails, which worked very well. on my Chinese knock-off jib I did use some OXY-clean on bad areas where there were no seams. On my main I did the same. On my gorgeous Hood Loft 170 Genoa, I used the woolight/vinegar and that was all I was willing to risk. It then got a nice shot of McLube. (the most expensive and wonderful stuff). When I have time to work on the others some more I will again start with the woolight/vinegar, then possibly move on to the other chemicals. After which McLube for all!
Wow, that was long winded, don't share that recipe with just anyone
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