Cleaning Teak with TSP powder VS Bleach

[Lyle Lunson]

I have used TSP powder in the past to clean teak and it worked wonders. Does anyone know how harmful this is to teak ? Is using bleach safer ??

Thanks

Lyle
Intrepid 28

[Robert C]

TSP will soften paint. It will take the gloss off paint. Spic and Span uses TSP among other things and diluted doesn't seem to bother paint. My guess is that TSP will not bother teak but be careful of paint.



cha62759@traverse.com

[Larry DeMers]

The usual reasons to use clorox would be to brighten the teak or to remove mildew accumulations. It does this very well..in a highly dilluted state even. TSP is more for general cleaning before refinishing. It's very powerful, but I have had no success using it to remove mildew for instance. So there is room for both products.

Cheers!
Larry DeMErs
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30

I have used TSP powder in the past to clean teak and it worked wonders. Does anyone know how harmful this is to teak ? Is using bleach safer ??

Thanks

Lyle
Intrepid 28

demers@sgi.com

[M. R. Bober]

The "P" is for phosphate. A wonderful cleaning agent that has been banned from laundry powder--for years--because of its effects upon the water and the water borne flora & fauna. Of course the bleach is no walk in the park, either.
TSP is--IMHO--more of a brightener used before applying stain. I'd go with the diluted Clorox.
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330