Every now and again even the scruffies hippy boat needs a clean...
- Commercial car and boat cleaners are usually based on detergents which can contain phosphates. Phosphates can cause local oxygen depletions and may result in the localised suffocation of aquatic life.
- Products used on boat hulls and decks may contain chlorine, ammonia, potassium hydroxide and solvents, all harmful to the aquatic environment
- Degreasers dry the natural oils that fish need for their gills to take in oxygen
- Most cleaning products contain chemicals (hormone disrupters) which disrupt the reproductive cycle of fish
Alternatives
- If you use cleaning products select environmentally sensitive ones - Bio-D or Clearspring are available from health food stores and are relatively environmentally friendly.
- Ideally use fresh water or non-toxic solutions to clean your boat wherever possible – see the list of alternatives in the Hygiene and Cleaning section.
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