What Are Boat Carpet With Shaving Cream Cleaning Steps?
The 9 steps of cleaning a boat carpet with shaving cream are listed below.
- Vacuum over the marine carpet
- Spray shaving cream onto the boat carpet
- Let the shaving cream sit for 5 minutes
- Scrub the carpet with a soft bristle brush
- Wash the boat carpet with warm water
- Dry the surface with a towel
- Open all windows
- Allow 15 minutes or more for drying
- Vacuum over the boat carpet again
Following this 9-step boat carpet cleaning with shaving cream process leaves the carpet looking like new and removes all dirt and grime.
1. Vacuum Over The Marine Carpet
Vacuum over the entire marine carpet surface to remove all loose dirt and dust. Cover every area and corner to ensure there is no loose dirt remaining. This prepares the carpet for the shaving cream/foam application in later steps.
2. Spray Shaving Cream Onto The Boat Carpet
Spray shaving cream onto the dry boat carpet in 4ft. x 4ft. sections. Cover the entire 4ft. x 4ft. area with the shaving cream. Do not spray the shaving cream onto wet boat carpet surfaces, only dry carpet surfaces.
3. Let The Shaving Cream Sit For 5 Minutes
Let the shaving cream sit on the boat's carpet for 5 minutes. This timeframe allows the shaving cream to soak deeply into the carpet fibers and loosen dirt, grime, and trapped dirt particles.
4. Scrub The Carpet With A Soft Bristle Brush
Scrub the entire 4ft. x 4ft. surface with a soft bristle brush in both a clockwise, anti-clockwise, forward, and backward direction. Keep scrubbing the surface onto all areas are deeply penetrated and the shaving cream turns like a foamy substance.
5. Wash The Boat Carpet With Warm Water
Fill a bucket with warm water. The warm water temperature range is between 100°F (37.77°C) and 150°F (65.55°C). Dip a microfiber cloth into the warm water and agitate the scrubbed carpet surface with warm water and the cloth. The warm water breaks down the dirt and stains further and helps to remove the white foamy substance formed on the carpet from the shaving cream.
6. Dry The Surface With A Towel
After washing the carpet with warm water, dry the boat carpet surface with a towel. Depending on the marine carpet coverage area, 2 or more towels may be required.
7. Open All Windows
Open all the boat's interior windows where the carpet is located to let the carpets air dry out. This helps speed up the drying process and removes any foul odors.
8. Allow 15 Minutes Or More For Drying
Wait for 15 minutes or more for the boat carpet to dry out. Do not walk or place any items on the marine carpet until it is completely dried out.
9. Vacuum Over The Boat Carpet Again
Vacuum over the cleaned and dry boat carpet surface again to remove any leftover residue created by the shaving cream. This final vacuum process takes approximately 5 minutes.
What Types Of Dirt Does Shaving Cream Clean From Boat Carpets?
The 11 types of dirt that shaving cream cleans from boat carpets are listed below.
- Fungus
- Mold
- Mildew
- Oil residue
- Food residue
- Saltwater
- Seaweed particles
- Algae particles
- Sunscreen residue
- Dust
- Sludge
What Types Of Shaving Cream Are Used To Clean A Boat Carpet?
The 4 types of shaving cream that are used to clean boat carpets are listed below.
- Traditional shaving creams: These are shaving products that come in a thick cream-like substance in a canister. These shaving creams are the most effective at cleaning dirty boat carpets and removing all dirt and stains. An example of a traditional shaving cream used to clean boat carpets is Barbasol
- Shaving gel: This is a shaving product in a gel substance in a canister. It can be used for cleaning dirty boat carpets
- Shaving foam: This is a shaving product that forms a foam-like substance when it is applied to the marine carpet surface. It can be used to clean dirty boat carpets and marine flooring surfaces
- Shaving oil: This is a shaving product in an oil-like substance. It can be used to clean boat carpets but it is not as effective as using traditional shaving creams for cleaning
Do You Use Hot Water Or Cold Water For Cleaning Boat Carpets With Shaving Cream?
Warm water with a temperature range of between 100°F (37.77°C) and 150°F (65.55°C) is used to clean a boat carpet with shaving cream. While cold water can be used, using warm water is much better as it breaks down ground in dirt, grease, and sludge much easier than colder water.
However, boiling hot water with a temperature of 212°F (100°C) + is not used for cleaning a boat carpet with shaving cream as this high temperature damages the carpet fibers.
Should A Boat Carpet Be Wet Or Dry Before Cleaning It With Shaving Cream?
A dirty boat carpet should be dry before applying shaving cream to it. Applying the shaving cream to dry marine carpet surfaces allows the shaving cream to soak deeply into the carpet fibers without dilution caused by water.
Applying the shaving cream to wet marine carpet surfaces causes the shaving cream to be less effective and more diluted. It causes the carpet to get water-logged much easier too.
Boat Carpet Cleaning With Shaving Cream Quick Facts
Fact Name Fact Information Difficulty Level: Beginner Items Needed: Shaving cream. Warm water. 1-gallon bucket. Soft bristle brush. 2 microfiber cloths. 2 towels. Vacuum cleaner Items To Avoid: Bleach. Chlorine. Acidic home cleaners Time To Clean: Between 25 minutes and 45 minutes Benefits: Removes dirt. Removes stains. Gentle cleaning formula. Nice scent. Accessible Potential Risks: Damaged carpet. Not a strong enough cleaner. Waterlogged carpet
How Do You Clean Boat Carpet Stains With Shaving Cream?
Boat Carpet Stains Cleaning With Shaving Cream Quick Facts
Fact Name Fact Information Stained Carpet Cleaning With Shaving Cream Steps:
- Vacuum over the stained boat carpet surface area
- Apply the shaving cream directly onto the dry boat carpet stains in 2ft. x 2ft. sections
- Let the shaving cream sit on the stained surface for 6 minutes
- Scrub the treated stained surface with a soft bristle brush
- Dip a microfiber cloth into a bucket of warm water and wipe over the carpet stains directly
- Dry the cleaned carpet stain area with a microfiber towel
- Open all boat interior windows
- Wait for 15 minutes+ for the carpet to dry out
- Vacuum the stained area again
Main Purpose: Cleaning oil, food, fish, blood, wine, sunscreen, algae, seaweed, saltwater, rust, mildew, mold, and cigarette stains Items Needed: Shaving cream/shaving foam. 1 gallon bucket of warm water. Vacuum cleaner. Bristle brush. 1 microfiber cloth. 2 microfiber towels. Items To Avoid: Bleach. Chlorine. Acidic home cleaners Time To Remove Stains: 30 - 45 minutes Difficulty Level: Beginner
To clean boat carpet stains with shaving cream, get a 16-ounce to 1-gallon container of shaving cream, 1 soft bristle brush, a 1-gallon bucket of warm water, 2 microfiber cloths, 1 vacuum cleaner, and 2+ towels.
Vacuum over the stained boat carpet surface area to remove all loose dirt and dust. Apply the shaving cream directly onto the dry boat carpet stains in 2ft. x 2ft. sections to concentrate on the stained area directly. Cover the stained carpet area completely with shaving cream. For oil stains, shaving cream needs to be applied 2 to 4 times as it is harder to get oil stains out of boat carpets.
Let the shaving cream sit on the stained surface for 6 minutes. For oil stains, let the shaving cream sit for 10 minutes on the surface.
Scrub the treated stained surface with a soft bristle brush in a forward and backward motion. Keep scrubbing until the stained area is deeply penetrated and the shaving cream turns to a foam-like state.
Dip a microfiber cloth into a bucket of warm water and wipe over the carpet stains directly. This helps to further loosen deep stains from the boat's carpet fibers. Keep wiping the treated area with warm water until the stained area starts to disappear.
Once the vessel's carpet stains disappear, dry the cleaned carpet stain area with a microfiber towel. Open all boat interior windows to let fresh air into the area where the carpet is located. Wait for 15 minutes+ for the carpet to dry out before walking on it.
Vacuum the stained area again to remove any remaining shaving cream residue.
What Are The Types Of Carpet Stains That Shaving Cream Cleans From Boat Carpets?
The 13 types of carpet stains that shaving cream cleans from boat carpets are listed below.
- Oil stains
- Food stains
- Fish stains
- Blood stains
- Wine stains
- Algae stains
- Seaweed stains
- Saltwater stains
- Rust stains
- Mold stains
- Mildew stains
- Sunscreen stains
- Cigarette stains
Boat owners apply shaving cream 2-4 times on oil-stained carpets as oil is a harder stain to get out of the vessel's carpet compared to other types of stains.
How Do You Clean Foul Odors From A Boat Carpet With Shaving Cream?
Boat Foul Odor Carpet Cleaning With Shaving Cream Quick Facts
Fact Name Fact Information Foul Odor Carpet Cleaning With Shaving Cream Steps:
- Vacuum over the entire boat carpet surface
- Spray the shaving cream over the dry marine carpet surface in 4ft. x 4ft.
- Let the shaving cream sit on the foul odor surface for 5 minutes
- Scrub the shaving cream into the foul odor surface with a soft bristle brush
- Dip a microfiber cloth into a bucket of warm water and rub the wet cloth along the scrubbed surface
- Run a carpet steam cleaner over the cleaned boat carpet surface in 6ft. x 6ft. sections
- Open all the windows for fresh air
- Wait 15 minutes or more for drying
Main Purpose: Cleaning fish, oil, blood, seaweed, saltwater, algae, mold, mildew, food, alcohol, human, sunscreen, and smoke smells Items Needed: Shaving cream/shaving foam. 1 gallon bucket of warm water. Vacuum cleaner. Bristle brush. 1 microfiber cloth. 2 microfiber towels. 1 carpet steam cleaner Items To Avoid: Bleach. Chlorine. Acidic home cleaners Time To Remove Stains: 35 - 45 minutes Difficulty Level: Beginner
To clean foul odors from a boat carpet with shaving cream, get a 16-ounce to a 1-gallon container of shaving cream, a 1-gallon bucket of warm water, 1 carpet steam cleaner, 1 vacuum cleaner, 2 microfiber cloths, and 2 towels.
Vacuum over the entire boat carpet surface to remove all dirt, dust, and residue from the boat carpet.
Spray the shaving cream over the dry marine carpet surface in 4ft. x 4ft. sections. Let the shaving cream sit on the foul odor surface for 5 minutes. This timeframe allows the shaving cream to soak up the areas with a foul odor.
Scrub the shaving cream into the foul odor surface with a soft bristle brush. Scrub in a clockwise, anti-clockwise, forward, and backward motion to get every area and carpet fiber.
Dip a microfiber cloth into a bucket of warm water and rub the wet cloth along the scrubbed surface to wash it.
Once the washing is completed, run a carpet steam cleaner over the cleaned boat carpet surface in 6ft. x 6ft. sections. The carpet steam cleaner kills remaining bacteria and fungus that may be causing the bad odors.
Once the boat carpet is completely steam cleaned, open all the windows on the boat to allow the marine carpet to air dry out.
Allow 15 minutes or more of drying before walking on the carpet again.
What Are The Types Of Boat Carpet Foul Odors That Shaving Cream Cleans?
The 13 types of boat carpet odors that shaving cream cleans from a vessel's carpet are listed below.
- Fish smells
- Oil smells
- Blood smells
- Seaweed smells
- Saltwater smells
- Algae smells
- Mold smells
- Mildew smells
- Food smells
- Alcohol smells
- Human smells
- Sunscreen smells
- Smoke smells
What Items Do You Need To Clean A Boat Carpet With Shaving Cream?
The 7 cleaning items needed to clean boat carpets with shaving cream are listed below.
- 1 Shaving Cream
- 2 Microfiber Cloths
- 2 Microfiber Towels
- 1 Soft Bristle Brush
- 1 Vacuum Cleaner
- 1-Gallon Bucket Of Warm Water
- 1 Steam Cleaner (applicable to cleaning foul odor)
What Items Do You Not Use To Clean A Boat Carpet With Shaving Cream?
The 3 cleaning items not used when cleaning a boat carpet with shaving cream are listed below.
- Chlorine
- Acidic cleaners
- Bleach
What Are The Benefits Of Cleaning A Boat Carpet With Shaving Cream?
The 5 benefits of cleaning a boat carpet are listed below.
- Dirt removal: Shaving creams help to break down, dissolve and remove 11 types of dirt that build up on marine carpet surfaces
- Stain removal: Shaving creams, with surfactants and cleaning agents in the formula, dissolve and remove 13 types of stains from a marine carpet
- Gentle cleaning: Cleaning a boat carpet with shaving cream is a gentle cleaning solution that does not harm the boat carpet surface
- Nice scent: Many shaving creams offer a nice scent. Cleaning with shaving cream leaves a nice scent on the boat carpet which helps to remove 13 types of bad odors from the carpet
- Accessibility: Shaving creams are found at many local retail stores and are accessible to most boat owners whereas a specific boat carpet cleaner is not as readily accessible
What Are The Risks Of Cleaning A Boat Carpet With Shaving Cream?
The 3 potential risks of cleaning a boat carpet are listed below.
- Damaged carpet: A boat carpet can get damaged if it is cleaned with a high concentration of shaving cream in one area
- Waterlogged carpet: A boat carpet can become waterlogged if too much water is used to clean the boat carpet with shaving cream
- Not a strong enough cleaner: Some shaving creams are not strong enough to clean certain stains like oil stains. This means a boat owner may be wasting their time cleaning with some shaving creams that may not be strong enough to get rid of certain types of stains
How Long Does It Take To Clean A Boat Carpet With Shaving Cream?
The boat carpet cleaning with shaving cream process takes between 25 and 45 minutes to complete depending on the size and condition of the marine carpet.
How Long Does A Boat Carpet Remain Cleaned After Using Shaving Cream?
A boat carpet remains cleaned for 6 weeks after cleaning it with shaving cream.
What Are Alternative Ways To Clean A Boat Carpet?
There are 4 main alternative ways to clean a boat carpet instead of cleaning a boat carpet with shaving cream.
The 4 alternative ways to clean a boat carpet are cleaning with a boat carpet cleaner, cleaning with a homemade cleaner, cleaning with a pressure washer, and cleaning with a steam cleaner. We discuss these alternatives in more detail in our boat carpet cleaning guide which breaks down the steps for each alternative boat carpet cleaning method.