Ecofriendly and Effective Boat Cleaners
In 2009, the Boat US Foundation did a brilliant analysis of green boat cleaners. Please click this link to see their product evaluations:
A lot has changed since 2009, but their approach of evaluating the effectiveness AND the environmental impact of the product are still both very important to whether a product is good. Green Yachts hopes that the information about green cleaners on this page is helpful in finding products that both clean well and are not harmful to our oceans when used.
Our philosophy at Green Yachts is that it is not fair to ask boaters to use inferior products because they are ecofriendly. We only recommend and sell products that work.
At the same time, we also believe it is unfair for boaters NOT to consider the environmental impact of a cleaning product. If you have a choice between a cleaner that is biodegradable and one that is not, we ask you to play a role in protecting our oceans from pollution even if the green product is a couple dollars more. We all have to do our part.
With that, we hope the up to date information on green products below is helpful. And, boaters who participate in our community forum, profile their electric boat on our website, buy a boat from Green Yachts or list their electric boat for sale with us get Green Points that can be used to get most of the products on this page for FREE!
Green Cleaners
Wash/Spray Exterior and Interior Surface Cleaners
Better Boat Boat Soap Concentrate
Premium boat soap removes salt, sludge and mud from everything and anything above to below deck and is a staple in a kit of boat cleaning supplies. It works to remove salt away from seats and cushions, as a hull cleaner, boat hull cleaner and boat deck cleaner. This boat soap removes dirt and grime from fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum and painted surfaces.
Better Life All-purpose Cleaner
Safe andeffective cleaner for all surfaces including fiberglass, wood, canvas, running rigging, countertops, floors, tables, showers and marine equipment, it effortlessly cuts through grease, grime, soapscum, hardwater stains and can even be used as a laundry pre-spotter. Biodegrades 2-5 times faster than other natural and conventional cleaners.
Star Brite Sea Safe Hull Cleaner
Biodegradable formula that instantly removes scum lines and stains caused by dirty water, rust, dried leaves and algae.
Star Brite Super Orange Biodegradable Boat Wash
Citrus extract formula whisks away dirt, grease and oil, leaves a long lasting polymer shine and will not remove existing wax
Star Brite Aluminum Cleaner & Restorer
Formulated to clean and restore stained or dull aluminum pontoon boats and canoes
TotalBoat White Knight Fiberglass Stain Remover
Gel stain cleaner for use on fiberglass, gelcoat, and painted surfaces that works quickly to remove stubborn stains and discoloration and is 100% biodegradable – unbelievable for fiberglass stain removers, which generally rely on harsh chemicals to remove stains. Wet the stained area with water before you start then simply brush a thin layer of White Knight directly on the stain and leave it there for 10-15 minutes to give it time to work.
Green Cleaners
Boat Galley and Head Cleaners
Better Life Galley and Head Scrubber
Combines micro-abrasives and powerful cleansing agents that lifts soils out of tough-to-clean tubs, tile and grout, toilet bowls, stove tops, glass cooking tops, ovens, stainless steel sinks, non-polished counter tops and pots and pans
Better Life Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Grime-busting and grease-kickingBetter Life toilet bowl cleaner is packaged using solar energy and recyclable materials, with formulas that biodegrade two-to-five times faster than leading natural and conventional cleaners.
Green Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Don’t let the Clorox name on this one scare you – there’s no bleach in this product. Like the other Green Works products, it carries the Sierra Club logo and promises natural ingredients. It delivers on Clorox cleaning power, though – producing the cleanest bowl in an independent test of green toilet bowl cleaners done (test is a few years old and did not include Better Life)
Micro Power Kitchen and Bath Cleaner
Micro Power is a specially formulated mixture of bacteria, enzymes and cleaners that is designed to non-abrasively clean and deodorizetubs, toilets, showers, sinks, floors & counter-tops, while at the same time, enhancing bacterial activity in holding tanks, septic systems and their related piping
Mrs Meyer’s CleanDay Liquid Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day liquid toilet bowl cleaner features hard-working and effective cleaning agents that are biodegradable
Green Cleaners
Holding Tank Cleaners
Eco-Smart Toss-Ins
Eco Smart Toss-Ins is a biodegradable 3 in 1 containing a powerful deodorizer, waste digester, and detergentthat keeps holding tank odors under control.
Eco-Smart Liquid Detergent
Eco Smart Free & Clear is a biodegradable 3 in 1 deodorant containing a powerful deodorizer, waste digester, and detergentthat keeps holding tank odors under control.
TankTechsRX RV and Marine Holding Tank Treatment & Cleaner
All Natural, Environmentally Friendly, Made in USAprobiotic bacteria eliminate odor and break down waste to liquid
Unique Marine Digest-It Holding Tank Treatment
Safe, earth friendly formula works quickly to liquefy waste so your tanks empty easily and never backup. You can even stop using expensive 1-ply toilet paper! It eliminates odors unlike many products that just mask the odors with fragrances, but this simply doesn’t work. Marine Digest-It works fast to eliminate odors in holding tanks using the perfect bacteria-enzyme blend.
Green Cleaners
‘Green’ Products we DON’T Recommend
Orpine Boat Soap
Multi-purpose Orpine Boat Soap smells great and works for a wide range of cleaning tasks. However, the Boat US testing determined that it had a “poor” rating for biodegradability and a “poor” rating for cleaning performance
Simply Green All-purpose Cleaner
Simple Green is the safer alternative to toxic cleaners, solvents, and bleaches. However, Boat US testing determined it only had a “fair” rating for biodegradability, which is better than “poor”, but not as biodegradable as the recommended products above
Star Brite Sea Safe Boat Wash
Removes dirt, stains, grease, road grime, oil and salt deposits, is safe for use on fiberglass, vinyl, metal, glass, plastic, rubber and painted surfaces, but will not remove wax or polish. Boat US tests gave it a “poor” rating for biodegradability. We do recommend specialty Star Brite products above for specific uses, but there are better all-purpose green boating cleaners than this one.