Is there a bleaching method that would remove dyes or paint from sails? The cat I purchased had some fool paint a rainbow and clouds on the sails...I would prefer white.

Anyone have this experience?

Depends on what type. Pentex/laminate or Dacron?

pentex (mylar) sails or dacron (fabric)?

HA Beat you!

Frankly, I do not know what material my sails are made of. All I know is it is a bitch too push a needle through even with pliers. They feel waxy if that helps.

Is it a woven fabric cloth with a coating on it or a plastic sail with threads (scrim) sandwiched in between.

Being that the sails are most likely 15 yrs old or older, not transparent, I could doubt they are mylar. The staining medium that the previous owner used blead out and could not make a fine line. I have been told that painting on dacron will bleed.

The only removal medium likely to erase the dye defaults to a bleach solution. Only, what strength? Where, if at all, does bleach tend to damage?

I expect that you'll be pretty much stuck with your graphics in one way or the other. Should you be able to remove said paint job, the cloth will have faded differentially between the painted/nonpainted area and you'll at the very least have a 'shadow' of whatever was painted.

That said: First I would try an oxygen or enzymatic bleach before resorting to a hypochlorite bleach.

I have a friend who swears by BIZ bleach formula washing soap (enzymatic) for dacron sails. Worth a try. Should that fail, go to something like Oxiclean.

As a last resort, and in an inconspicuous, lightly-loaded area of the sail, would I try a diluted, I repeat, diluted, hypochlorite bleach solution. Mix up various dilutions: 10, 25, 50 percent. I really don't think I'd go over 50% solution. Ever spilled undiluted bleach on cloth? It'll eat it like acid. (bleach is a strong base.)

edit: it occurs to me that you might also try an oxalic acid dilution - go there as one of your first options before trying hypochlorite.


I do believe, though, at best you're going to end up with something that looks like it's been tie-dyed. Which is just as gay as the rainbow you already have, isn't it? ;-)

Thanks Tami, I kinda figured I am stuck with this so called art work. The sails are in good shape despite their age... and with the cost of a new set... I will just sail faster where people cannot get as good a look.

You could always paint over them with something else

I have painted canvass awnings with Ben Moor Moorguard low lustre in all colours of the rainbow but when I did that sail of your's I'm sorry to say thier was no time to etch the likeness of Clay Aiken in the clouds ,my apologies.

Go with the flow: Add some Grateful Dead graphics and wear a tie-dyed t-shirt.

Painting over paint to remove paint is kinda like digging in a hole to fill it up.