Two weeks alongside in a humid marina, boat closed up, AC on economy. You open the VIP for a pre-arrival check and it smells. There is a faint bloom on the leather headboard, the carpet feels cold and slightly damp underfoot, and the wardrobe smells of nothing you want a guest to smell.
Upholstery and soft furnishings
- Identify the cleaning code first — many marine fabrics are solvent-clean (S) or water-clean (W) only, and cushions are foam-cored and slow to dry.
- Vacuum with an upholstery head before any wet work. Wet dirt becomes a stain.
- Test any product on a hidden seam. Watch for colour lift and for a ring at the edge of the treated area.
- Clean the whole panel or cushion face, not a spot, to avoid a halo.
- Dry with airflow. A cushion put back damp is tomorrow mould.
- Curtains, blinds and loose covers go to professional cleaners; shrinkage and lining distortion are common with amateur washing.
Carpet care and extraction
| Method | Use for | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum (beater/brush) | Daily and detail | Slow passes; edges and under furniture |
| Dry compound / encapsulation | Wool, sisal, quick turnaround | Sisal must stay dry |
| Hot-water extraction | Deep clean, wool and synthetics, planned windows | Over-wetting; leaves latex backing and subfloor damp; needs long drying |
| Spotting | Immediate spills | Blot outside-in, never rub |
Extraction is a deep-clean-window job: it needs pre-vacuum, pre-spray, correct pH for wool, a proper rinse pass and 12-24 hours of airflow. An over-wet carpet on a boat, in an enclosed steel or GRP space, is a guaranteed mould and odour problem.
Mould and humidity
- Target roughly 45-60% relative humidity. Above about 70% for a sustained period, mould germinates.
- Cold spots — hull sides behind wardrobes, lockers against the shell, under mattresses on solid bases — condense first. Leave air gaps, use slatted bases, run dehumidifiers in layup.
- Clean visible mould with the approved biocide and correct PPE, then fix the moisture source. Killing the bloom without curing the damp just delays it.
- Never seal a wet space "to keep the smell in".
Odour
Odour is information. Trace it — do not mask it.
- Common sources: grey and black water traps, dry shower drains, bilges, fridge drip trays, laundry drums, wet lockers, food in cabins, smoking on balconies.
- Fix the source, ventilate, then use approved neutralisers rather than heavy fragrance. Guests notice cover-up scent instantly.
Pest control
- Prevention: rigorous stores inspection at the passerelle, no cardboard aboard (roach eggs travel in corrugations), sealed dry goods, crumb discipline, hawser rat guards.
- Record any sighting. One cockroach is a report, not a private problem.
- Treatment is by licensed contractors; log chemicals used and keep the certificate.
Onboard Notes
- Do not deploy a steam cleaner near veneers, lacquer, leather or headlining. Heat and moisture lift finishes.
- Sisal and water do not mix — including in an "emergency".
- If a cabin smells and you cannot find the source in ten minutes, escalate. Musty smells frequently mean a leak, a failed condensate drain or standing water someone else needs to fix.