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Last Updated on August 22, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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How to clean vinyl boat seats of mildew? Fail-Safe Methods
Mildew can cause unsightly stains and degrade the quality of your vinyl boat seats. Therefore, understanding how to clean vinyl boat seats of mildew is essential for every boat owner. This guide will provide comprehensive steps to effectively remove mold and prevent future growth, ensuring your boat seats remain pristine.
- Remove dirt with a soft brush or cloth.
- Mix mild detergent and water in a bucket.
- Avoid harsh chemicals or bleach for cleaning.
- Use a dampened cloth and gently scrub affected vinyl areas.
- Rinse seats thoroughly to remove soap residue.
- Allow seats to fully dry before covering.
- Expose seats to sunlight to inhibit mildew.
- Regularly wipe the seats with a damp cloth.
What if I tell you that prolonged exposure to mildew can cause health problems for any age group?
This may include:
- Skin irritation
- Eye redness
- Congestion
- Throat infection
- Nose bleeding
- Asthma
- Headache
- Watery eyes
Alarming – isn’t it?
I will tell you how mere spots and stains on your vinyl boat seats affect your well-being.
Mildew – The Basics You Should Know
Mildew is a fungus that usually grows on the surface due to moisture. It usually begins in yellow, white, or grey but turns brown or black afterward.
Since its growth is flat on the surface, it can be easily removed.
You can come into contact by touching fungus-stricken surfaces. And you know that dirty hands are the primary source of getting yourself infected.
Mildew causes foul odor for travelers, and sitting on mildew-infested boat seats doesn’t seem very kind.
Well, you must be thinking about how to get rid of mildew from your vinyl boat seats. Otherwise, you would decide to replace not only the vinyl coverings but also the seat foam.
Don’t worry!
I would be your helping hand to get your stress away and save some money.
Look at the stepwise tips below to keep your boat clean and ready to sail wherever you go.
Factors Behind Mildew
Before the steps, understand what factors trigger mildew to appear and grow on vinyl boat seats.
Too Much Moisture in the Air
The probability of growing mildew on vinyl boat seats, where the air has more moisture, is very high. Since boats are water vessels, it’s inevitable for you to avoid the moisturizing air.
So, it’s an uncontrollable thing for you. What you can only do here is to be cautious whenever mildew starts appearing on your vinyl coverings.
Hot Weather
Some microorganisms are livable in winter, while some are in summer. Mildew likes to grow in scorching weather. So, it’s likely to hit your seats on hot summer days.
Also, the body’s sweat in the hot weather makes a breeding ground for mildew.
But, being vigilant and taking proactive steps would stop the mildew’s growth.
How to Clean Mildew: A Stepwise Procedure
No matter which vinyl material you choose for your boat seats, the above two factors remain beyond your control.
Mildew is a recurring thing you might face twice in the summer, depending on the humidity and temperature.
How do we get rid of this fungus, keeping in view the low-cost budget and on-the-spot results?
Let’s dive into the much-awaited steps to clean your vinyl boat seats.
1. Spraying by Vinyl Cleaner
Roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Get the cleaner spray that is specially made for vinyl. It’s better to use non-greasy spray, readily available in the market.
The chemical substances in the spray would help restore the vinyl coverings’ color and luster. Also, the spray contains ingredients that are not harmful to vinyl material.
All you need to do is to spray all over the boat seats without dilution. Leave it for about 10 minutes or longer so that chemical particles penetrate the vinyl completely.
Some people use regular household detergents or bleach to clean the vinyl seats. But believe me, this would turn into a complete mess.
Bleach contains powerful chemical substances that can destroy your seat’s appearance.
Don’t get yourself involved in experimenting by making a mixture of different detergents and bleach.
Trying to save a little money would drag you down a blind alley.
2. Scrubbing Softly With a Brush
When you feel that spray has taken enough time to take its effect on vinyl, it’s the right time to move into the next step.
Apply a flexible brush on the vinyl and make sure that the spray fumes cover every inch of your seat covers. I would recommend that the brush should have:
- non-scratch scrubber
- non-slip handle
- comfortable grip
Now, start scrubbing softly with a brush on the affected patches. Don’t get rough while doing so. Otherwise, you may end up damaging the boat seat’s surface.
Don’t use a Drill Brush on vinyl seats, even if it has fast rotary power. Nevertheless, it helps in cleaning quickly with little effort.
Some people would suggest using a hard-pointed brush instead of a delicate brush for scrubbing. However, I won’t.
Scrubbing with a hard-pointed brush would create much friction, with a higher chance of damaging the vinyl.
3. Wiping off Mildew With a Microfiber Cloth
Once you’ve scrubbed, the next step is unpleasant but viable.
Wipe off the mildew patches by using a microfiber cloth. Apply a piece of cloth firmly on your boat seats in a circular motion. Using fingers would also help in increasing the penetration of mildew.
Repeat the process repeatedly unless there are no remaining fumes on the vinyl surface.
This step requires soft hands to deal with. You must pay the price if you exert too much force on your seats.
Why should you use a microfiber cloth? Let me get you into the details.
The microfiber fabric is made of polyester and nylon fiber. It’s about one-fifth the diameter of a human hair.
Its smaller diameter, as compared to human hair, penetrates and removes germs so well that cotton and silk cloths can’t compete.
It’s made to wipe off germs and stains without leaving any scratches or spots on the vinyl surface.
There is no need to throw out the used microfiber cloths because they’re washable and can be reused often. They absorb water and any other liquid as well.
Most importantly, microfiber cloths are highly preferred over cotton and silk due to their durability and low pricing.
That’s how the use of microfiber serves as a better tool for removing stains and patches.
4. Using Magic Eraser Just in Case
I’m pretty hopeful you will get rid of mildew if you follow the above steps. This step will do the rest if any stubborn mildew patch remains intact on your vinyl boat seats.
Sometimes, you need powerful cleaning tools to counter stubborn stains. Magic Eraser is one of the cleaning products that would eliminate mildew once and for all.
Apply Magic Eraser on your vinyl boat seats for tough mildew patches. When you wipe it, you will see that mildew has never existed.
Afterward, use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe off the remaining cleaning fluid.
5. Spraying Ultraviolet Protectant
In my opinion, this step is as helpful as the previous ones.
Once you get mildew-free vinyl boat seats, using an ultraviolet protectant spray will hit the right chord.
The spray forms a protective layer on vinyl to offset the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays. It would also help restore the look of your boat seats.
Your vinyl boat seats have direct exposure to sun rays. The sun’s rays usually cause the vinyl seat’s original color to fade and get dull. But the UV spray blocks the rays, which helps restore color and luster.
So, I highly recommend you use UV spray more often because it also helps prevent fading and cracking.
Not-To-Do Steps
While dealing with mildew on vinyl boat seats, I recommend not replacing vinyl coverings and seat foam with new ones. Instead, you should buy the cleaning stuff and get the cleaning done by yourself.
Now, I will give you a precise list of steps to avoid while cleaning vinyl boat seats.
- Using bleach or soap as a vinyl cleaner
- Using home-made vinyl cleaner
- Scrubbing with a stiff brush
- Rubbing with cotton cloths
- Using pointed cleaning tools
- Splashing water onto the vinyl surface
Can You Prevent Mildew for a Lifetime?
The simplest solution to prevent mildew from your vinyl boat seats for a lifetime is to keep your boat in a dry space and never go sailing. But, you know it’s unrealistic.
What you can do is be alert and take proactive steps whenever you see any mildew patches on vinyl boat seats. Don’t let mildew worsen the situation.
A little effort would save your boat, and travelers would have no health problems.
Can You Use Baking Soda on Vinyl Boat Seats?
Yes, you can indeed use baking soda on vinyl boat seats. Baking soda, a natural deodorizer, is an effective solution for removing stubborn mold and mildew spores that tend to live in the foam inside the cushion.
After cleaning the vinyl exterior, you may need to treat the foam directly. If the vinyl shell allows, unzip it and sprinkle baking soda generously over the foam.
This simple yet effective treatment can help clean and prevent the recurrence of mold and mildew, ensuring a longer life for your vinyl boat seats.
Final Words
Cleaning vinyl boat seats of mildew involves a few simple steps that can effectively maintain the cleanliness and longevity of your boat seats. Initially, removing dirt can be accomplished using a soft brush or cloth.
The next step involves mixing a mild detergent with water in a bucket to create a gentle cleansing solution. It is imperative to avoid harsh chemicals or bleach as this can potentially damage the vinyl seats.
Once the solution is prepared, dampen a cloth and gently scrub the affected areas on the vinyl seats. Subsequently, rinse the seats thoroughly to remove any soap residue.
It is crucial to allow the seats to fully dry before covering them again and, if possible, expose the seats to sunlight to inhibit mildew growth.
Regularly wiping the seats with a damp cloth can also help prevent build-up over time. Thus, understanding how to clean vinyl boat seats of mildew not only preserves the aesthetics of your boat but also enhances its durability.
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