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Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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Best Mildew Remover for Boat Seats
Your boat is an expensive investment, so the last thing you want is for it to depreciate or lose its luster. However, boating conditions expose your boat to moisture and other elements that promote mildew growth.
While most boat seats use mold-resistant materials, they are not entirely mold-proof. With time, mold can grow on the seats.
Removing mildew from Vinyl boat seats can be challenging, especially if you don’t know the right products.
If you are looking to restore and maintain your Vinyl boat seats’ aesthetics, here are the top 10 best mildew and mold removers for boat seats:
1. Star Brite Mildew Remover
This Star Brite Mildew Remover is a widely recognized product for mildew removal on Vinyl boat seats. Thanks to its effectiveness and ease of use.
The formula is one of my favorite mildew removers for my boat since it’s specifically made for marine use. It’s harsh on mildew stains but soft on Vinyl seat covers.
I love using the Star Brite Mildew Remover because it’s easy to apply yet very effective. You don’t need harsh scrubbing to remove the stubborn mildew. Simply spray the product on the infected parts and wait several minutes before wiping. Then rinse with clean water, and voila! The mildew stains magically disappear.
Deep-seated stains on the moldy surface may require reapplying the mildew remover, but you will love the results.
This mildew cleaner is incredibly versatile. It works on mildew and eliminates dirt and grease to restore the boat seat’s showroom shine. I also use it at home to clean other surfaces, such as fiberglass, tiles, roofs, outdoor fabrics, plastic, and wood.
2. Better Boat Mildew Remover
If you have delicate or old boat seats and are worried that harsh cleaning products will damage the Vinyl, I highly recommend this Better Boat Mildew Remover.
The Better Boat Mildew Remover is a high-quality formula with exceptional cleaning capability. It offers quick results, even in tough infestations.
This cleaner is safe for various materials and will not ruin your boat’s interior. It won’t damage the seat’s stitching, upholstery, deck, wood, carpet, flooring, rubber, or life jackets.
The Better Boat Mildew Remover makes my cleaning work effortless. It’s easy to use: I spray it on the boat seats or carpet, wait for 3 to 5 minutes, and then rinse it with clean water.
However, sometimes, I use a soft bristle brush to scrub off stubborn mildew stains and eradicate the contamination. This is usually when the infestation is severe, and the light scrubbing pays off as it restores the surface and prevents mildew from returning anytime soon.
Overall, the formula is perfect for an easy-to-use, versatile mildew remover for indoor and outdoor applications. It can clean bathrooms, kitchens, patio furniture, camping gear, cars, RVs, and Bimini tops.
3. Star Brite Ultimate Mildew Remover
The Star Brite Ultimate Mildew Remover uses a gel formula to ensure that it dwells well on the cleaned surface for reliable cleaning results. It also doesn’t damage the boat seats’ thread, stitches, or Vinyl material.
It’s applicable on rubber, plastic, fabrics like shower curtains, and surfaces prone to mold growth.
Just like the first Star Brite product, this cleaner produces faster results. Once you spray it on the infested areas, please rest for 1 to 2 minutes before wiping and rinsing with clean water. It’s easy to use and provides impressive results.
My only concern is it has an overpowering smell and may irritate your skin. But that’s not a deal breaker; handle it carefully and wash your hands properly.
4. CLR Mildew Remover
If you hate using smelly and extremely harsh cleaning products, you’ll love working with the CLR Mildew Remover. But it doesn’t hurt to wear gloves and a mask when cleaning boat seats with this product.
While I don’t usually recommend non-marine-specific products for boat cleaning, this mildew cleaner from CLR is an excellent choice for removing boat seat mildew.
It’s a safe and effective product for household applications, but many boaters report that it works magic on boat seats. So, this is a safe bet if you want a mildew remover that is not too overpowering but efficient.
To use the CLR Mildew Remover, spray it evenly on the boat’s seat, leave it for several minutes, and then wipe it with a dry rag. Again, when dealing with severe mold and mildew, light scrubbing will be worth it.
This versatile cleaner can be used on almost any surface to eliminate mold and mildew. It can be used on boat seats, glass, countertops and tiles, painted walls, rubber, hardwood floors, and outdoor furniture. However, the manufacturer cautions against using this product on stainless steel.
5. 3M Marine Mildew Remover
Made by a popular and trusted brand, 3M Marine Mildew Remover is a reliable boat seat mildew remover. It’s a great product for someone looking to revive their Vinyl seats.
If you find removing darkened spots from your boat difficult, you can purchase this cleaner. It’s specifically made for marine and outdoor use, so you can be confident of getting great results with a single application.
Along with removing dark mildew stains, 3M Marine Mildew Remover has ingredients that act on greasy components and dirt. This means it can easily brighten the seats and give them a new look.
The product is a great way to provide the seats with lasting protection from mold and mildew, eliminating all the layers that could lead to future growth.
Application is a breeze! You need to spray, wait for 10 to 15 minutes, and wipe with a rag to see what it looks like. I use it on white boat seats and usually clean them within an hour.
Nonetheless, if your seats have deeper stains, it may take longer to clean them as the formula may need more time to soak. You can also scrub after application, and you won’t have to deal with mildew soon.
The product smells intense, but you’ll be fine with protective gear and good ventilation.
6. Boater’s EDGE Mildew Remover
Formulated with buffered bleach technology, the Boaters EDGE Mildew Remover is a highly effective product for marine upholstery and outdoor fabrics.
For users sensitive to chemical smells, it’s good to wear protective equipment when using this remover since it smells a bit. But it’s a more user-friendly formula than other bleach-based mildew removers.
I’ve used this product several times, and multiple applications aren’t usually necessary unless my boat has a heavily mildew-infested area.
For tough dark stains, usually less than 5% after the first application, you may need to spray and wipe several times to remove mildew and revive the surface.
The Boater’s EDGE Mildew Remover is versatile. It can eliminate mildew on tiles, stained showers, wood, and markings on fiberglass and acrylic fabrics. However, it can cause discolorations in some fabrics, so testing before use is crucial.
7. Marine 31 Mildew Remover
Removing mildew stains from Vinyl seats can be strenuous if you don’t have the right cleaner. But you don’t have to go through that since the Marine 31 Mildew Remover has your back.
The cleaner has a higher viscosity than regular formulas, allowing it to sit on the surface longer and soak in vertical surfaces to act on any hidden mildew.
When dealing with light mildew stains, one application is sufficient. The product provides quick results, but multiple applications may be needed for heavy and old mildew.
To clean your Vinyl boat seats with the Marine 31 Mildew Remover, put it in a spray bottle, spray the affected areas, wait for 3 to 5 minutes, and rinse.
Since it’s a ready-to-use formula, you don’t need to dilute the cleaner or mix it with anything before application. And it won’t discolor or dull the Vinyl seats.
8. Spray Nine Marine Cleaner
Are you tired of cleaning your Vinyl boat seats with weak, ineffective mildew removers? The Spray Nine Marine Cleaner is tough yet very affordable.
The ammonia-based mold and mildew cleaner is powerful and quickly removes all types of mold on different surfaces.
That’s not all. The Spray Nine Marine Cleaner is an effective degreaser and disinfectant. It will kill all fungi and harmful organisms on your Vinyl boat seats, from E. coli to listeria.
In just 30 seconds of application, this product will remove bacterial odors by destroying germs and viruses nesting on your boat furniture, something regular cleaning products may not do.
Besides removing mildew from Vinyl boat seats, you can use the Spray Nine Marine Cleaner to shine up your boating gear and other boat parts. It works well on plastic, cushions, canvas, inflatables, rubber, and hard surfaces.
Using this product on different surfaces is easy; spray and let it soak before wiping. In most cases, you won’t need any scrubbing, as the formula will do the magic.
With the Spray Nine Marine Cleaner, your Vinyl boat seats will be mold and mildew-free for up to a year or more.
9. McKee’s MKRV-1001 Mildew Remover
A friend has been using this MKRV-1001 Mildew Remover from McKee’s for a long time, and it has never disappointed him.
When he recommended it to me, I was skeptical, but to my surprise, it worked great on my pontoon boat furniture, and I couldn’t be more satisfied.
The remover is easy to use. I sprayed it on the moldy parts of the seats and left it to sit for about 5 minutes before rinsing and wiping.
I was also pleased that the product had no overly pungent smell or harsh chemicals. It won’t burn your skin, but I recommend wearing gloves to be cautious.
The package includes additional items, including a soft scrub brush and quality microfiber towels.
10. IOSSO Mildew Remover
The IOSSO Mildew Remover is an excellent cleaning product. It doesn’t weaken or discolor my fabrics at all.
It uses non-chlorine and biodegradable compounds, making it an environmentally friendly product for marine and household applications.
This product is incredibly versatile, so I use it to eliminate stains on different surfaces on my boat, from cushions to the hull.
To clean Vinyl seats with this product, mix it with warm water and put it in a spray bottle for easier sprinkling. About 4 to 5 scoops are enough for one gallon of water. Once applied, this product will work on mold, mildew, dirt, grease, oil, and bird droppings, leaving the boat seats or canvas shiny.
Even so, the cleaner may require multiple applications, and it may take longer to remove the stronger stains. But you’ll love it if you aren’t in a hurry.
For the best results, spray the solution on the seats for several hours or overnight before rinsing. You can also use a soft brush to scrub heavy mold and achieve the desired results.
Best Mildew Remover for Boat Seats: Buying Guide
You’ll find many brands out there when buying a mildew remover for boat seats. And since most of them claim to sell the best products for boat maintenance, it can be hard to decide what to buy.
However, you can buy the best mildew and mold remover for your Vinyl boat seats by considering these factors:
Ease of Use
Some mold removers are applicable out of the box, while others require mixing work before application.
If you want an effortless method of eliminating mildew from a boat, you should buy a ready-to-use product.
Effectiveness and Speed
You also need to consider whether the product is effective on its own or requires scrubbing to remove the mildew stains.
For a quick and effective application, look for a mildew remover that requires less to no scrubbing and revives the surface rather than just removing the stains.
Quick mildew removers can act on the mildew within seconds, while others may take 10 to 15 minutes. If you don’t want to dwell much on the seat cleaning work, look for one that removes the mildew in less than 5 minutes.
Type of the Formula
Some mildew removers have bleach and harsh chemicals, while others use natural ingredients. Most brands advertise their products as bleach-free, but you may still notice a decolorizing effect when using them.
So, it’s important to check the reviews before buying a certain type of mildew remover to see other users’ experiences using the product. This will improve your chances of buying a bleach-free cleaner.
When dealing with severe mold and mildew, the gel formula is ideal as it sits on vertical surfaces longer to remove all the stains.
Versatility
The product’s versatility is crucial, as some mildew removers can deal with multiple problems on the boat seats, including dirt and grease.
If you have other areas on the boat or at home affected by mildew, you need to choose a versatile product for different surfaces, such as aluminum and wood.
Safety
The whole point of removing mildew from your boat furniture is to restore and keep your watercraft shiny. So, you’ll want to avoid buying a mildew remover that will damage your boat’s interior.
To maintain the interior, you should look for a safe product for all marine-grade upholstery fabrics.
Mildew and Mold Blockage
Finally, it would help to consider whether the product you want to buy can prevent mildew and other types of mold from growing back for a longer time.
Even if a product effectively removes mold and mildew, I wouldn’t recommend buying it if it doesn’t block mildew growth for an extended period. Otherwise, you must apply it regularly to protect your boat furniture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How Do You Clean Stubborn Mildew from Boat Seats?
A: To remove stubborn mildew from boat seats, buy a bleach-free remover from a trusted brand like the ones reviewed in this article.
Before removing the mold, clean the seats with soapy water to eliminate excess dirt and debris. Then, apply the mildew remover to the infested areas and let it sit on the surface for about 5 to 10 minutes, or the manufacturer’s recommended time, before wiping.
Once you wipe the cleaning product off, rinse it off with clean water as directed in the instructions, and leave the seats to dry.
If there are more mildew stains, you can apply the product multiple times on the specific parts until you achieve your anticipated results.
For those who don’t want commercial formulas, homemade cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, and bleach solutions can be used.
Magic eraser (melamine foam) also removes mildew on boat seats incredibly well, but given its abrasive nature, you shouldn’t use it too often. You can use it occasionally for stubborn mildew stains since many people have had great results.
Finally, when the seats are clean and shiny again, applying a UV protectant is essential to maintaining their sparkle and extending their longevity.
Q: Will Vinegar Remove Mildew and Mold from Boat Seats?
A: Yes, vinegar will remove mildew and mold from Boat Seats. It may not be the best mold remover, but many boaters swear by vinegar.
To clean your Vinyl boat seats, spray undiluted vinegar on the mold-infested areas and allow it to sit for about an hour before scrubbing the mildew away. Please do not mix it with water for quick results.
Since vinegar is barely effective against heavy mold and mildew, baking soda or borax can boost its cleaning power.
I recommend buying a strong product like the Star Brite Mildew Remover when dealing with a massive infestation.
Q: Will Baking Soda Clean Boat Seats?
A: Yes, baking soda will clean boat seats. Mix it with dishwashing soap and water to create a thick cleaning paste.
Then, apply the paste and let it sit before scrubbing and rinsing it off. This will leave the seats looking tidy and fresh.
Even so, baking soda may not produce the best results for mold and mildew, so you may need to invest in a mildew remover if that is what you are dealing with.
Conclusion
Are you struggling with dark mildew stains on boat seats? There is nothing you cannot overcome! You need to know the right products to use. We use the 3m products and highly recommend these cleaners and protectors.
Before budgeting for new furniture for your boat, change your cleaning routine by investing in the best mildew remover to restore your Vinyl seats.
Cleaning your Vinyl boat seats regularly with mildew remover will keep them looking new and shiny. It will also extend the seats’ durability and improve your boating experience.
