Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

bub77

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Jul 20, 2011
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What is the best way to remove mold and mildew from vinyl boat seats. I know bleach will do the trick, but I'm afraid it might damage color and material. Please help!
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Magic Eraser from Mr Clean
 

45Auto

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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

The Wal Mart here sells some marine mold and mildew remover made by Attwood (blue spray bottle) in their boat department. It's the best stuff I've found, works better than straight bleach!! We have SERIOUS mildew problems down here in New Orleans and I've tried about everything.
 

yetiman

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May 14, 2011
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

3M also has some mildew remover and preventer that works good
 

TEutis

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Oct 28, 2010
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Agree on the Magic Eraser, I haven't found anything that works better.
 

Fireman431

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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Magic Erasers will remove the spots, but they will come right back. It doesn't kill the bacteria that's causing the mold in the first place. You need something with Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) in it. Clorox Clean-Up only has 1% bleach so it won't destroy the threads or fibers in the material or the stitching. The other cleaners in it will also get rid of the spots.
 

Tahorover

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Mar 7, 2011
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Magic Erasers will remove the spots, but they will come right back. It doesn't kill the bacteria that's causing the mold in the first place. You need something with Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) in it. Clorox Clean-Up only has 1% bleach so it won't destroy the threads or fibers in the material or the stitching. The other cleaners in it will also get rid of the spots.
Quaternary Sanitizers work much better than bleach. Bleach kills for less than 10 minutes and a 1000ppm**of quat will kill for days! Quat has a neutral Ph and will not harm anything that is not harmed by water.

** (1 oz of quat to 1 gallon of water)
 

mike343

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May 4, 2009
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Start by putting it out it the hot sun to kill the growth. Then use a good vinyl cleaner
 

RIDEPATE

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Jul 8, 2001
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Like someone else said, Do Not use bleach. It will rot your threads.
 

jvigier

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Mar 16, 2009
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

I second the magic eraser note.

Did you ever try warm soapy water with a soft bristle brush?
 

ewenm

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Mar 30, 2005
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

second on the dont use bleach or any products with bleach in it
 

Bamaman1

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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Go to Dollar General and buy a $1 spray bottle of Awesome--a yellow colored liquid. It works like a charm on upholstery.

It's the only cleaner to remove the black streaks on the side of my travel trailer. A RV dealer told me the other day that he buys it by the case.
 

Fireman431

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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Bleach will not rot your threads if it is followed by a bit of clean water. Just don't apply STRAIGHT BLEACH and you'll be fine. I reduce it down to 1 cup per gallon and rinse with clean water. I have NEVER had a thread issue in any boat I've owned over the last 20+ years.
 

bub77

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Jul 20, 2011
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Thanks for all the advice guys!! I'll be trying these suggestions this weekend. Wish me luck!!
 

bnicov

Petty Officer 1st Class
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May 25, 2009
Messages
348
Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

I don't know if you can get VIM where you are. The regular stuff cleaned the vinyl on my 10 year old boat and made it look like new.
 

brick75

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Apr 21, 2010
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Magic eraser and a basic vinyl cleaner works amazingly well. I just had this same issue and it works like a charm. Been about a month now, and nothing has reappeared, so not sure you need a bleach like some suggest to keep it away. Maybe there are certain types, or certain levels that do, but mine still looks great.
 

sbooy42

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May 24, 2009
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

spray9
 

jeeperman

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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

Have you ever looked at the cut edge of upholstery vinyl with a magnifying glass?
It is basically a thin foamed plastic sponge.

Abrade the surface with Magic Eraser or Comet/Bar Keepers friend, etc. and you wear away the outer surface that is smooth and is a solid barrier.
Once that solid outer skin is worn off, you have millions of open pores that become micro sized planters for growth of the fungi aka "mold and mildew". After that happens, it is virtually impossible to get the mold and dirt out from the bottom of all those pores.

Use a liquid cleaner made for mold and mildew removal and a soft brush.
Then treat with a mold preventer, not just more of the mold remover as they are not one and the same.
 

jayhanig

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Jun 27, 2010
Messages
836
Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

What is the best way to remove mold and mildew from vinyl boat seats. I know bleach will do the trick, but I'm afraid it might damage color and material. Please help!


I am a big believer in Marine Spray Nine. Won't damage anything, smells OK, and does a great job getting rid of mildew and mold.
 

ronwc

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Feb 1, 2006
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Re: Need to remove mold and mildew from vinyl seats

3M also has some mildew remover and preventer that works good

After trying MANY different mold/mildew/vinyl cleaners, bought the 3M Mildew Remover and it worked unbelievably great. I bought a used 2004 BL 185 BR, and although the original owner kept it under cover on a lake, I don't believe he ever cleaned it. Nice boat with fiberglass floors and larger 4.3L engine. All the seats had a mildew problem and all looked dirty. Went out this morning with a bottle of the 3M product, a scrub brush and hose spray. Got seats a little wet, sprayed mildew remover on, light scrubed in and let sit for about 5 minutes. Spray off with water, seats look like new. As I did the seats, I started doing the deck and inside/under the seats, even in bilge/storge locker. Got the whole boat and seats done in about 1 1/2 hrs, and it is day and night. All is perfectly clean, just need to go back and Armorall.
 

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