What is the best way to get stains out of a sailboat sail?

Question

My father recently inherited a sailboat from his grandfather. The sails were stored in a garage inside a cardboard barrel and now have dark stains (rust?) on them.

We're trying to figure out the best way to remove the stains without damaging the sails. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Lemon juice will remove some if not to bad>>Let sit not in the sun>>repeat>> Also call a sail loft and see what's new on the market>>

Answer 2

The safest way to clean a sail is to use mild detergent and warm water. Scrub with a soft brush. You can get special sail-wash detergents but they are basically a mild detergent, you don't need to spend the extra $'s  ... DO NOT USE ANY solvents or acids. Bleach will damage the fiber.

Answer 3

I have a sail boat and I've found that by using a stain spray that you buy for cloths works. However, you may want to make sure the stain spray is safe for your sail material  depending on what brand you buy and how bad the stain is. Try a little tiny drop of the stain spray  in a corner on the sail first if its stained there and see what happens. Or, I would call and ask a professional dry cleaner what they recommend. Good luck. Sailing is fun!