The 8 Best Boat Cleaning Products

Paul Stockdale Author Avatar
Reviewed by Paul Stockdale | April 17, 2023
Top Boat Cleaning Products

The best boat cleaning products are below.

  1. Best Overall: Meguiar's M43 Boat Wash
  2. Best For Seats: 303 Marine Spray
  3. Best For Hull: Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner
  4. Best For Deck: Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner
  5. Best For Boat Vinyl: Meguiar's Marine M57 Vinyl Cleaner
  6. Best For Boat Waxing: Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax
  7. Best For Fuel Tank: Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner
  8. Best For Marine Carpet: Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover

Using these products should help clean and remove all dirt, grime, mold and stains from your boat

The polish will add a nice shine to the exterior and have the vessel look new.

These cleaning supplies work best in particular parts of the boat from the interior to the exterior of the boat.

For example, a boat seat cleaner works best on the marine seats whereas a deck cleaner works best on the boat deck surface.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.

1. Meguiar's M43 Boat Wash

Best Overall Cleaning Products

The top overall boat cleaning product is Meguiar's M43 Marine Boat Wash. This cleaner is the best all-round marine cleaning product.

Meguiar's M43 boat wash is manufactured by the brand Meguiar's in America and sold worldwide.

It can be used on all boat surfaces including fiberglass, gelcoat, plastic, rubber, metals, wood, etc.

It comes in 3 sizes which are 32 ounce, 64 ounce and 1 gallon.

Most retailers price Meguiar's M43 Marine Boat Wash between $20 and $35. It can clean a surface area of up to 800 sq. feet before it is empty.

The Meguiar's M43 boat wash is great for washing down hard surfaces on both the interior and exterior of the boat.

The benefits of the Meguiar's M43 Boat Wash are:

  • Helps remove dirt and sludge from the exterior: This cleaner will help remove stubborn dirt from the boat exterior at ease including dirt, grime, sludge and mildew
  • Adds a nice scent: Using this cleaner will add a nice fruit scent after cleaning the boat
  • Helps remove stains from the exterior: This boat wash is great for removing the yellow, brown and greenish stains that typically show on a boat's exterior
  • 64 oz container allows for cleaning larger boat sizes: The size of Meguiar's boat wash at 64oz means there is enough boat wash to clean larger boats with one container
  • PH neutral formula won't strip away boat wax: The PH neutral formula will not strip away any previous boat wax that was applied to the boat surface

One disadvantage of Meguiar's M43 Boat Wash is the formula used in this boat wash contains anionic surfactant and alkanolamide.

To use the Meguiar's M43 Boat Wash:

  1. Mix 1 oz of the boat wash with 1 gallon of water in a bucket
  2. Use a wash pad and dip the soapy water onto the dirty boat surface and wash with the pad
  3. Rinse with a hose of water or pressure washer
  4. Dry off the boat surface with a microfiber cloth

Meguiar's Boat Wash on Amazon →

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Summary
The Meguiar's Boat Wash is the best overall cleaning product to use when scrubbing your boat. This will remove dirt from hard surfaces and leave a nice scented smell

2. 303 Marine Clear Vinyl Cleaner

Best Cleaning Product For Boat Seat

The top boat seat cleaning products is the 303 Marine Spray. The 303 Marine Clear Vinyl cleaner works best on vinyl boat seats.

The Marine Clear Vinyl Protective Cleaner is manufactured by the cleaning brand 303 Products. It is made in the United States Of America and sold worldwide. It comes in 2 sizes which are a 16-ounce spray bottle and a 32-ounce spray bottle.

Most retailers price the 303 Marine Spray between $20 and $25.

The 303 Marine Clear Vinyl Protective cleaner is mainly used on marine vinyl surfaces but it can also be used on plastic and rubber. It can not be used on the wooden surfaces on a boat.

The 303 Marine Vinyl Cleaner will keep boat seats shined for up to 2 months before reapplication will be needed. It can clean a boat seat surface area of up to 600 sq. feet before it is empty.

The benefits of the 303 Marine Clear Vinyl Cleaner are:

  • UV Protection: This cleaner adds a protective coating to the vinyl seats against the sun
  • Removes dirt and stains: This cleaning spray will help remove dirt and yellow and green stains from the boat seats
  • Easy to apply: Simply spray it onto the dirty seats and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off
  • Prevents color fading: The protective spray will help prevent the vinyl seats from fading or cracking due to the sun
  • Provides a matte finish: The cleaner will create a great matte finish and have the seats looking like new

One disadvantage of the 303 Marine Clear Vinyl Protective Cleaner is streaking occurs if the product is not applied exactly right.

To use the 303 Marine Cleaner Spray:

  1. Ensure the vinyl boat seats are dry and clear
  2. Spray the 303 Marine cleaner onto the surface in sections
  3. Wipe it off with a towel or cleaning cloth and ensure it's fully clean
  4. Dry the remaining surface with a microfiber cloth

303 Marine Cleaner Spray on Amazon →

303 Marine Cleaner Spray on Walmart →

Summary
The 303 Marine Cleaner Spray will help clean and remove dirt from vinyl boat seats. It also protects from color fading and seat cracking.

3. Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner

Best For Boat Hull

The best boat hull cleaner is the Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner.

Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner is manufactured by the brand Star Brite in America and sold worldwide. It comes in 2 sizes which are a 32 ounce container and a 1 gallon container.

The Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner can be used on fiberglass, metal and fiberglass, metal, and gelcoat hull surfaces. It is not used on wooden hull surfaces.

Most retailers price the Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner between $20 and $50.

The Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner will keep a boat hull cleaned for up to 3 months before it will need to be reapplied to the hull. It can clean a boat hull surface area up to 800 sq. feet before it is empty.

The benefits of the Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner are:

  • Removes scum lines from the hull: This cleaner will help remove those dirty scum lines from the boat hull
  • Removes rust staining from hull: This cleaner will help remove the stubborn rust stains on the hull
  • Works on multiple boat materials: This cleaner can be used on fiberglass, metal and painted surfaces without causing any damage
  • Smells nice: There is a nice fruit scent when applying this cleaner to the hull

One con of the Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner is it can struggle to remove extremely stained hulls with deep water lines.

To use the Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner:

  1. Pour some of the cleaner onto a sponge and wipe it into the hull surface. Dirtier surfaces may require additional applications of the product
  2. Once the Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner is wiped onto the hull, let it sit for approximately 2 minutes
  3. After 2 minutes, rinse it with fresh water and dry it with a towel

Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner on Amazon →

Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner on Walmart →

Summary
The Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner is the best cleaning product for the boat hull. It will easily wash away tough dirt and scum from the hull.

4. Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner

Best For Boat Deck

The top boat deck cleaner is the Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner.

The Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner is manufactured by the boat cleaning brand Star Brite in America and sold worldwide.

It comes in 3 sizes which are a 22 oz., 32 oz. and 1-gallon container.

The Star Brite Non-Skid Deck cleaner can be used on non-skid boat decks but it can also be used on other surfaces including fiberglass, gelcoat, wood, vinyl, painted surfaces and plastic. It is not used on marine carpets.

The majority of retailers price the Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner between $30 and $40.

The Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner will keep a boat deck cleaned for up to 3 months before it will need to be reapplied to the deck. It can clean a boat deck surface area up to 900 sq. feet before it is empty.

The benefits of the Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner are:

  • Removes dirt, stains and grease: This cleaner will help remove stains, grease and dirt from the boat's deck
  • Adds a protective layer to the deck: This cleaner provides an additional layer of protective coating to the boat deck against stains and dirt
  • No harsh chemicals: Safe to use formula with no damaging chemicals
  • Value for money: The 1-gallon container allows for 900 sq. feet of surface area washes before needing to replace it

One disadvantage of the Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner is it struggles to remove deep rust stains from the boat's deck.

To use the Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner:

  1. Wet the boat deck with water
  2. Pour the deck cleaner onto the deck and scrub with a deck brush
  3. After scrubbing, let it sit for 3 minutes
  4. Rinse with water

Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner on Amazon →

Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner on Walmart →

Summary
The Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner is the best cleaning product for cleaning a boat deck. It will remove ground in dirt and stains for the deck.

5. Meguiar's Marine M57 Vinyl Cleaner

Best For Boat Vinyl

The best boat vinyl cleaning product is Meguiar's Marine M57 Vinyl Cleaner.

The M57 Marine Vinyl Cleaner is manufactured by the brand Meguiar's in America and sold worldwide. It comes in 2 sizes which are a 16-ounce spray bottle and a 32-ounce spray bottle.

It can be used on multiple types of surfaces including vinyl, rubber and plastic. It can not be used on wood.

Meguiar's M57 Marine Vinyl Cleaner will keep a shine on a boat's vinyl surface for up to 6 weeks. It can clean a boat vinyl surface area up to 700 sq. feet before it is empty.

Most retailers price Meguiar's M57 Marine Vinyl Cleaner between $20 and $25.

The benefits of using Meguiar's Marine M57 Vinyl Cleaner are:

  • Removes dirt and stains from boat vinyl: This cleaner will help remove deep stains and dirt from the boat's vinyl
  • Can be used on multiple surfaces: This cleaner can be used on multiple surfaces including vinyl, rubber and plastics
  • Specially formulated for harsh marine environments: This is specially produced to withstand the rough sea waters and harsh marine environment

One disadvantage of Meguiar's M57 Marine Vinyl Cleaner is the 16-ounce container will typically be empty are using it for 5 large vinyl cleans which is not a long time if you clean your boat vinyl regularly.

To use Meguiar's Marine M57:

  1. Apply the cleaner to a towel or cloth
  2. Wipe the cleaner onto the surface evenly in sections
  3. Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes
  4. Wipe it off with a different towel or cloth

Meguiar's Marine M57 on Amazon →

Summary
The Meguiar's Vinyl Cleaner will easily remove tough stains and dirt from the boat's vinyl surfaces.

6. Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax

Best For Boat Waxing

The best boat wax to use on your boat is Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax.

Boaters will need a great boat buffer to assit with applying the wax to the surface.

Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax is manufactured by manufacturer Meguiar's in America and sold worldwide.

This boat wax is used on the majority of boat exterior surfaces like fiberglass, metals, painted surfaces, and plastics. It can not be used on carpets, boat interior surfaces like wood or any type of vinyl surface.

It comes in 3 container sizes which are 11 oz., 16 oz., and 32 ounces. It can cover up to 700 sq. feet of coverage of a boat's surface. It will keep a shine on the boat's surface for up to 3 weeks.

The majority of retailers price Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax between $45 to $60.

The benefits of using Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax are:

  • Adds a shine to the exterior of the boat: Buffering this polish onto the boat will add a shine and gloss to the boat's exterior
  • Improves discoloration of the boat: This polish helps bring the boat back to its original color and remove the dull look
  • UV Protection: The polish will help protect the boat material from UV damage
  • Works on multiple materials: This polish can be used on both gel coat and fiberglass surfaces

The cons of Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax are:

  • The shine only lasts 3 weeks when applied to a surface: The wax did not last more than 3 weeks before needing to be re-applied which is something to be aware of
  • Buffering it in properly can take up to 20 minutes: Getting the wax buffered in can take up to 20 minutes to complete and it requires elbow grease

To use Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax:

  1. Wash and remove all dirt from the boat surface
  2. Pour Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax onto a microfiber cloth
  3. Wipe it onto the boat surface in sections in a circular motion
  4. Let it dry for 5 minutes
  5. Use another towel to wipe it off

Meguiar's Marine Wax on Amazon →

Meguiar's Marine Wax on Walmart →

Summary
The Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax is a great wax to use for cleaning and waxing a boat. It will add a shine and have the boat looking like new.

7. Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner

Best For Boat Fuel Tank

The top cleaning product for boat fuel tanks is the Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner.

The Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner is manufactured by by the brand Star Tron in America and sold worldwide.

It is used on marine fuel tanks including gasoline and diesel tanks. It can not be used on any boat surfaces like fiberglass, wood, gelcoat, etc.

Most retailers price the Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner between $40 and $65. It comes in 2 sizes which are a 64 ounce container and a 1-gallon container. A 64 oz. container can treat a fuel tank up to 250 gallons and a 1 gallon container can treat a fuel tank up to 500 gallons.

The benefits of the Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner are:

  • Removes dirt, sludge, grime and varnish from all marine engines and fuel types: This cleaner will help clean out dirt from the fuel tank and unclog dirty pumps
  • Improves fuel quality: A clean fuel tank means better and cleaner fuels for the motor
  • Great value for money: One 64 oz. container of this cleaner can treat up to a 250-gallon tank

One disadvantage of the Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner is it will only last for 2 months before the fuel tank will need to be treated again.

To use Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner:

  1. Add 1 fl oz. for every 4 gallons of gasoline
  2. Let it sit in the fuel tank for a minimum of 24 hours
  3. Start motor and use the engine as normal

Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner on Amazon →

Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner on Walmart →

Summary
The Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner is a great cleaning product for cleaning boat's fuel tank. It will remove dirt and clear clogged-up pumps.

8. Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover

Best Product For Marine Carpet

The top cleaning product for marine carpets is the Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover.

The Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover is manufactured by the brand Folex in America and sold worldwide.

It can be used on all marine carpet surfaces and upholstery. It can not be used on fiberglass, rubber, plastic, gelcoat or metals.

It comes in 2 sizes which are a 16 oz. and 32 oz. bottle. It can cover a carpet surface area up to 500 sq. feet before it is empty.

It will keep a marine carpet clean for up to 3 months before it will need to be reapplied.

Most retailers price the Folex Instant Carpet spot remover between $20 and $35.

The benefits of using the Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover are:

  • Removes dirt and stains from carpet: This cleaner will remove spots on your marine carpet
  • Removes faded carpet color: This cleaner will help remove dull carpet color and add a shine
  • No harmful chemicals: The cleaner has no harsh chemicals in it
  • Odor free: No nasty smells with this cleaner

One disadvantage is it can remove the marine carpet original color if it is used aggressively in one section of boat carpet.

To use the Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover:

  1. Spray the product onto the stained area of the carpet
  2. Let it sit for 5 minutes
  3. Scrub it off with a scrub or brush

Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover on Amazon →

Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover on Walmart →

Summary
The Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover is a great cleaner for removing carpet spots on a boat.

Best Boat Cleaning Products Comparison Table

Boat Cleaning Product Best For Price Range
Meguiar's M43 Boat Wash Cleaning all boat surfaces $20 - $35
303 Marine Clear Vinyl Cleaner Boat seat cleaning $20 - $25
Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner Best for the hull $20 - $30
Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner Boat decks $30 - $40
Meguiar's Marine M57 Vinyl Cleaner Boat vinyl surface cleaning $20 - $25
Meguiar's Premium Marine Wax Boat waxing $45 - $60
Star Tron Fuel Tank Cleaner Marine fuel tank cleaning $40 - $65
Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover Marine carpet cleaning $20 - $35

What To Look For In Top Boat Cleaning Products

There are a 4 main factors to be aware of when looking for a top boat cleaning products which are:

  • Use Case: The use case of the cleaning product is important. Some boat soaps or waxes are only suitable for certain surfaces so ensure you pick a cleaning product that meets your needs and works on your specific boat surfaces.
  • Price: The price is important when choosing a boat cleaning product. While most boat cleaning products are under $100, shop around to find the cheapest option.
  • Ease Of Use: Ease of use is important when using a boat cleaning product. The majority of boat cleaning products are simple to apply to various boat surfaces. However, some products may have specific instructions that need to be followed and a buyer should be aware of this
  • Formula Used: The formula used in a boat cleaning product is impportant as the product may be restircted for us if cleaning in a boat in the water if it contains harmful substances