question regrding safe cleaning of bilge and tank area

[DreamCaster]

Hi, new to the site. As I open the rear transom hatch access cover, Starboard side of the live well.. on my 95' 22.5 Osprey, I see the entire rear area were the filter is, lots of wire harness, oil tank ect...very filthy and oily. Is there a product I can use to spay all that down and rinse it or lightly pressure clean it afterwords. (On a trailer so I can easily remove drain plug afterwards).

[Callyb]

I am sure someone will offer up a more aggressive cleaner, but I normally just use dish soap and water. Can't get much safer than that.

[DreamCaster]

Thanks..sound pretty safe.

[RickK]

I had a gallon jug of 2cycle, or the better part of it anyway, somehow develop a split and leak down into the bilge of my 230. NICE!!
Anyway I plugged the drain, poured a quart of Dawn into the bilge, filled my bilge with about 20 gallons of water, let it sit for a while and then took it for a nice long cruise on the trailer through a lot of stop and start and turns, etc. 
It cleaned it out quite well.  I keep a qt of Dawn on the boat just in case now.

[Capt. Bob]

Simple Green full strength.

[Callyb]

Simple Green full strength.

That is good stuff too. As a side note, I don't think it is as strong as it used to be....

[Capt. Bob]

I don't think it is as strong as it used to be....

I agree.
When I first used it several years ago on my motorcycles and lawn equipment, it cut grease just like Gumout Degreaser. Now it utilizes elbow degreaser supplied by the user. Still smells the same.

[GoneFission]

I use the Dawn - run the bilge pump until the bilge is as dry as you can get it, turn the pump off, get some water in there, and go for a "fun ride."  Make sure the water sloshes around a lot.  Then pump out again.     Or put some dishes in there...