How to Clean Pontoon Boat Carpet USA UK 2023

The deck of your pontoon is the major attraction when it comes to a nice outdoor trip with friends and family. You would want it to look shiny and brand new every time you hit that excursion mode on! Most commonly, a carpet would constitute your pontoon deck, so how to clean a pontoon boat carpet?

Carpets start showing wear and tear quite early. Factors such as wet feet, muddy boots, spillage, saltwater splashes, and live baits affect the carpeting on your pontoon boat adversely.

But, don’t fret!

Cleaning carpets on your pontoon boat deck doesn’t have to be hard. 

Importance of cleaning your Pontoon boat carpet

Carpeting is a good attraction to the deck of your pontoon boat. Here are some reasons why it is important to get them cleaned regularly:

• Protects and covers the deck

• Adds comfort and value to your boat

• Provides an aesthetic feel
• Carpets are expensive

A dirty carpet is of no use on your pontoon deck. 

How are carpets at risk?

Carpets on your pontoon boat decks have a lot to withstand. From soiled human feet to pet paws, dirt can accumulate on them. As such, not only do they look bad, but they may also harbor bacteria and mold that can eat away at your carpet. 

Additionally, carpets are exposed to nature. That means it would be subject to rain and sun on a regular basis, as well as snow and ice during the winters. Without proper storage, issues like molds and mildews can creep up and prove detrimental to your carpets. 

The above reasons are enough to start caring for your carpets on the pontoon deck. Not only does such maintenance extend the life of the carpet, keeping it free from mos and mildew but also increases your pontoon boat’s resale value. 

This is why you need to regularly clean the carpet on your pontoon boat. 

Ways to clean carpet on a pontoon boat

Now, your carpet on the pontoon boat can get dirty in numerous ways. Let us discuss each one individually and the best practices to remove them.

 

i) Removing debris

Once you are done with your outdoor excursion, you can be certain to find all kinds of trash, dirt and debris on the carpet of your pontoon boat. 

 

The first thing is first! Start by removing all pieces of trash. Next up, you remove all the unsecured items off your pontoon deck like chairs, coolers, and umbrellas. Now that you’re left with just  the carpet, you can use any of the following to get them cleaned:

• Dustpan and brooms

• Cordless stick vacuum

• Cordless blower

• Wet/Dry shop vacuum

 

ii) Carpet stains

Now, this is the part where it gets tricky. Carpet stains are simply unavoidable and can be caused by:

• Pets

• Food and beverage spills

• Sand 

• Dirt

• Mold/Mildew/Algae

 

Out of all these, mold and mildew are the ones you should be most worried about. They can accumulate on your pontoon deck carpets and eat away at them with time. This may also cause an unnatural stench that can put off your guests. 

In order to remove stains from the carpet, you can:

• You can use natural remedies like white vinegar by spraying it on the carpet and leaving them out for 20 mins. You can then use a medium-stiff brush and scrub the stain. 

• Use commercial boat carpet stain removers like marine-grade cleaners. Once done, you can use anti-moss and anti-mildew coatings on your carpet to prevent them from coming back. 

iii) Deep cleaning the carpet

While the above cleaning procedures are good on a bi-weekly basis during the boating season, you still need to deep clean the carpet on your boat every once in a while to prevent any sustaining damage. 

So, in order to get your carpet deep cleaned, you can opt for any of the following ways:

• Hand scrubbing

The good old way of getting things cleaned up! For this classic, just grab a stiff brush, a mild detergent, a water hose, and elbow grease to get your carpets deep cleaned. Although it is a cheap way of getting the carpet deep cleaned, it may consume time and can hurt your back.

• Commercial carpet cleaners

If you are not willing to do the hard work, you can always hire professional help to get your carpets cleaned. This is a quick and efficient way of doing it, however, it may be an expensive venture for you. 

• A pressure washer

If you have a water pressure hose for your car, then it can also be used to clean the carpet on your pontoon boat. This does not make use of any harmful detergents, but you need access to a water hose and ensure that the correct pressure is being applied, lest it creates a hole in the carpet. It is quite an effective way of getting stuff cleaned on your pontoon boat.  

Now that you have successfully removed dirt, stains and have deep cleaned your carpet, it is time to leave them out in the open to dry up. This prevents any mold or mildew from being accumulated on the carpet. 

Conclusion

Regularly cleaning the carpet on your pontoon boat is important! You should remember to check in with your boat manufacturer while you are cleaning your carpet. There is no rulebook here, it all depends on how dirty the carpet is, what are your pontoon boat guidelines, and the condition of the carpet. 

You can choose the best cleaning method after you have identified all of the above. And once you have got it cleaned, it’s now time to enjoy leisurely escapades out on the open water!

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