Spray it on and wipe it off with Purosol's Ultra-Fine Microfiber Cloth or a soft, lint-free cloth of your choice. The cleaner is available at marine retailers and through the company's website (see link below).

THE SANITARY SYSTEM

If there's one area you want to keep clean at all times, it's the head. Fortunately, the task is neither particularly time-consuming nor difficult. Most standard bathroom cleaners will work.

Keep in mind, however, that most marine systems have rubber gaskets and flexible tubing that may not react well to harsh chemicals, and that anything flushed down the toilet is going to land in a tank or in the sea. Avoid bleach and ammonia. Clean the bowl and flush with water. On larger boats, there is apt to be a shower head nearby that can facilitate the operation handily.

To clean the holding tank, have the system pumped out at an approved station. You can get this service free in many areas with a fuel stop – and dumping waste into waterways is often a crime. While the pump is running, you can flush fresh water into the toilet to help clean out the lines and tank.

There are a bevy of commercial products available to care for your sanitary system, including enzymes, deodorants and lubricants. Before applying a product, check the manufacturer's literature (usually available on the company website) for warnings and read the label on the product, so that you know what you are adding to the system. Follow the directions carefully, use only recommended amounts and try to work with only one product at a time.

THE BILGE

There's no question about it, a dirty bilge is a problem. It can cause unpleasant odors that start off as a sort of musty damp smell and progress to something downright putrid. The associated gunk from a dirty bilge can clog the bilge pump, and you can face stiff fines if oily bilge water is pumped out of your boat and into sea.

Of course, there are several ways to avoid all this. The simple answer to a mild problem is to pump the bilge dry, clean the strainer on the pump, remove any loose dirt and debris and then use a commercial bilge cleaner to scour and remove oil stains. Pay attention to the area around the limber holes, the drains between compartments, which have a tendency to become incrusted with oil, grease and miscellaneous marine goo. Be sure that the float switches operate properly. You can then remove any remaining dirty water and rinse the bilge thoroughly.

Another strategy is to use one of the many cleaning products designed to do the work for you. These degreasing products – Meguiar's No. 60, Heller Glanz or Starbrite Super Orange Bilge Cleaner are just a few – are designed to work while you are boating. Just pour the recommended quantity into the bilge prior to your departure and the rolling action of your boat will churn the solution, cleansing the inner hull of oil and grime. Back at the dock, you can pump the solution out and dispose of it properly (remember, pumping waste into a waterway is often a crime). You can then clean the pump and check for any remaining debris.

Whatever method you use, a hand-operated pump or a small wet-and-dry vacuum can help a great deal.

IS THAT ALL?

Of course, the things on a boat that need cleaning can seem endless. Raw-water strainers need maintenance, the tender needs scrubbing – many mechanics even recommend cleaning your boat's engine at least once a year. The sheer number of these chores can be daunting.

One option is to hire some help. Marinas, detailers and maintenance companies are available to take over basic cleaning for those who are willing to pay. Prices vary by region, but you can expect to lay out $70 to $150 for a basic exterior scrub. Special services, such as interiors or bilges, cost more.

For those who prefer to do it themselves – or who have to – a few minutes of organization can go far. List the items that require attention, the products needed to clean them and then rough out a schedule for the work. Strainers can be inspected regularly, when you check the oil. The engine can be wiped down during winterization. The idea is to spread out tasks – and the costs. If you have family or crew to shoulder some of the burden, so much the better.

While you are making your list, devote some time to choosing the right cleaning products. A little research, whether online or at a marine store, can insure you don't make costly mistakes, and that the products you use are safe and environmentally friendly. After that, as the saying goes, there's nothing to it except to do it – the drink and the sunset are waiting.