Protecting Your Boat Seats From Uv And Dirt
Its easy to be happy and just quit after getting your nasty, moldy boat seats clean. The problem with being satisfied here, is that theyll get dirty very quickly again and be difficult to clean all over again.
After getting the results you were hoping for on you boats interior, you need to take another very important step. You need to apply some vinyl boat seat protectant/conditioner.
The conditioner will do a few things for you:
- It helps keep your boat vinyl pliable. Untreated vinyl will eventually dry out and crack.
- A boat vinyl conditioner will also protect from UV light, which will sunburn and also dry out your boat seats.
- It will also have a protective coating that is guarding against dirt and stains. If conditioned regularly, cleaning your boat seats will take nothing more than a damp cloth to wipe them clean.
So again, youll only have the one time deep cleaning to get it like new. From that point on, its all about just doing a little light cleaning and conditioning.
How To Clean Vinyl Boat Seats With Household Products
Boat seats can take a beating over winter storage and summer use in 2021. Cleaning and maintaining vinyl boat seats are important for you and your guests and lengthening the use of your boat furniture.
There are many boat cleaning products that you can purchase on Amazon or at your local hardware store but we recommend trying something you already have in your house dish soap.
Thank you for visiting us learning some best practices for cleaning boat seats. You may also be interested in our recent posts about bumpers, fenders, and accessories, portable toilets & privacy enclosures, replacement flooring options, and snow covers for the winter.
What Is The Best Method For Removing Mildew From Boat Seats
To clean mildew is a real struggle when it comes to vinyl boat seats. But you can prevent this by planning and being well prepared. You can spray a mildew stain remover instead of using chemicals that can harm it. Leave it for 5 minutes and then take soft brushes and lightly scrub to get the dirt and mold loosened. Then you can have it wiped using a microfiber cloth.
The process above is the best way to remove mildew from vinyl seats and is expected to give excellent results. Lets get into more detail to prevent possible damage and harm on your vinyl, fabric, and upholstered seats.
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Wipe Away Remaining Mildew
Gently scrubbing the vinyl seats as well as the crevices will remove the majority of mildew. However, minor amounts of mildew and mold may linger. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away the remaining mildew. Depending on the extent of mildew, several microfiber cloths may be needed.
Eliminating heavy mildew stains is unlikely to be accomplished in one round of cleaning. Successfully removing the mildew may require repeating the aforementioned steps several times. If a stain is especially stubborn, boat owners have a last line of defensemagic erasers.
A magic eraser sponge is manufactured with cleaners inside. Boat owners often notice good results immediately upon using the magic eraser on problem areas. A few passes may be necessary to get rid of the mildew. Apply gentle pressure to avoid causing further ruin to the vinyl boat seats.
Once the mildew stains are removed, add a vinyl protectant as a preventive measure against future mildew outbreaks. Since mildew thrives in moisture-rich areas, wipe down the vinyl seats after a day on the water. Run a towel along the seats cracks and seams to ensure a thorough dry.
Can You Use Clr On Boat Seats
Yes, you can use CLR Mold & Mildew Clear on boat seats. Ive used this product on one of my boats seat cushions to remove rigid molds and mildews after 10 minutes of resting, all molds and mildews came off the seat cushions neatly.
Although it works perfectly, it may not work on other marine vinyl upholstery. However, one of my friends told me that it worked excellently on his vinyl boat seats. He followed the products instructions and lightly scrubbed his boat seats with a magic eraser.
You can try it on any vinyl surface, but dont expect too much. If you plan to clean your vinyl boat seats with CLR, I suggest using the CLR 8541813620 Mold and Mildew Stain Remover. It is formulated to work well on marine vinyl upholstery.
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How To Remove Mold In Boats
Boating enthusiasts face mold but dont want to use toxic fungicides.
Constant exposure to water and humidity make boat surfaces a haven for mold and mildew. Because it contains no ammonia, bleach, acids or VOCs, Concrobium Mold Control is a great solution for marine enthusiasts looking to control mold without environmentally harmful chemicals.
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Use Concrobium to eliminate mold and mildew on vinyl, canvas, wood, fabric, upholstery and boat covers by following these steps:
- Spray Concrobium Mold Control onto the hard or fabric surface.
- Allow to dry thoroughly.
- Clean the surface with a Concrobium dampened cloth or brush to remove any remaining mold residue. If mold stains have been on canvas, upholstery or other fabric surfaces for an extended time, some residue may remain. Scrub vigorously with Concrobium Mold Control or try Concrobium Mold Stain Eraser to easily remove black mold staining with no scrubbing required.
- Reapply a thin, even application of the solution to help resist mold growth. Reapply as required on surfaces that are frequently doused with water to ensure continuous mold prevention.
TipWhy not be proactive and use Concrobium Mold Control to pre-treat boat surfaces prior to winter storage or after spring launch to protect against mold growth?! Concrobium Mold Control is ideal for use in boathouses and storage facilities. Try fogging boat interiors and marine structures.
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Rub Stains Off With Magic Eraser
Magic Eraser can work wonders to get rid of stubborn stains on vinyl upholstery, but try not to overdo it. The stuff can abrade your seats and cause micro-scratches on the surface where dirt, stains, and other contaminants can settle later on. So it pays to work as gently as possible.
Unlike your brush or spray, Magic Eraser can more effectively work into nooks and crannies to get rid of deep seated dirt. As you work it into the material, youll notice it creates a grayish debris from all the contamination on your seats. When youre done, it would help to take your microfiber cloth and wipe away the stuff to reveal the Erasers effects.
*See our guide on: how to clean boat seats with Magic Eraser
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Combating Mold And Mildew On Boats
Cowl-style vents help to circulate air below decks.
Mold, mildew and the odor they create can be a problem even on boats that appear to be clean and well ventilated. This is because, apart from the visible areas in a boats cabin, there are many areas that offer the dark, moist environment that these fungi crave. Think under quarter berths, v-berths, settees, hanging lockers, lazarettes, under cockpit seats, chain lockers, and a host of other hidden areas, many of which are barely accessible, if at all.
This Advisor discusses tactics and measures you can employ in what amounts to a continuous fight. Once you get a handle on it, your cabin will smell a whole lot fresherand those itchy eyes and that mysterious cough that you may have been experiencing might just go away too.
Wiping Off Mildew With A Microfiber Cloth
Once youve done scrubbing, the next step is quite 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 penetration on mildew.
Repeat the process over and over again unless there are no remaining fumes on the vinyl surface.
This step requires soft hands to deal with. If you exert too much force on your seats, you will have to pay the price.
Why should you use a microfiber cloth? Let me get you into the details.
The microfiber fabric is made of polyester and nylon fiber. Its 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 cant compete.
Its made to wipe off the germs and stains without leaving any scratch or spot on the vinyl surface.
There is no need to throw out the used microfiber cloths because theyre washable and can be reused many times. They absorb water and any other liquid as well.
Most importantly, the microfiber cloths are highly preferred over cotton and silk due to their durability and low pricing.
Thats how the use of microfiber serves as a better tool for removing stains and patches.
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Star Brite Mildew Stain Remover
If your boat seats have suffered from massive mildew, then this Star Brite Mildew Stain Remover is destined for you. We personally love this product because of how easy it is to apply. Just spray it on the affected surface, leave it on for a minute, and rinse when the stain magically disappears.
Aside from saving time, you also conserve energy as mildew is removed on contact. This means that there is no need for heavy brushing, making boat mold removal less laborious.
What makes this product suitable for your boats is that it is particularly made for marine use. Moreover, you wont have to worry about your boat seats delicate threads and upholstery as this vinyl mildew cleaner, as tough as it may be, is friendly with them. If you have already used multiple items and spent a considerable time scrubbing without any satisfying outcome, then it must be time to shift to this.
In addition to vinyl, this boat mildew remover works on many surfaces, including wood, awnings, concrete, fiberglass, and other outdoor acrylic materials. Unlike other commercial brands, its buffered-bleach formula can eliminate any filth instantly. Then again, it is ideal to test it first on inconspicuous areas before use.
- Troublefree application by spraying, waiting and rinsing
- Quickly takes away mildew stain on contact
- Works on many types of surfaces
- Scientifically made for marine upholstery
- Needs second application for stubborn stains to come off
M Mildew Stain Remover
It is tricky to penetrate through those deep, mildew stains and bring back the color of your spotless white vinyl seats. Luckily, this powerful 3M boat mildew remover can help you eliminate those stubborn dark mold stains.
Specifically formulated for marine and outdoor use, it can clean multiple surfaces on your boat, including deck furniture, seat upholstery, and more. Additionally, it offers lasting protection because it can penetrate through layers and deeply-embedded parts from where mold can sprout again.
In detail, the incredible results of this product also go beyond the surface. It not only clears the top layer but also deters widespread mildew formation by seeping through the material to reach the source. Mainly, boat owners get a hand on this item because of its long-term effect of slowing down mold growth.
This cleaning agent is easy to use by just spraying it on and wiping it off with a cloth. Any dirty surface can be restored to back to its original fresh condition with this quick and simple stain remover.
- Deeper mildew stains need extra time for soaking and scrubbing
Ultimately, we vouch for this boat upholstery mildew cleaner for getting through tough stains. It also works well with different surfaces that may be touched with water and removes unwanted marks with just a spray.
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What To Do About Damage
No matter how careful you are, accidents happen. A tool aboard your boat may fall and tear a seat. Or a fishing hook may catch on a seat. There are myriad ways that seat covers can get damaged.
Youll want to repair rips or holes as soon as possible, so water doesnt get into the seat and create a mildew problem. Its much cheaper to quickly repair a tear than to end up replacing a seat because it became too infested with mold. Heres how its done:
- Purchase a quality vinyl repair kit that includes a base compound the color of your seats.
- Start with a clean, dry surface.
- The kit will contain a special applicator. Apply the repair compound with the applicator and then spread it over the damaged area with a plastic knife.
- Let the compound cure.
- Gently smooth the repair with 600-grit sandpaper.
- If your repair kit doesnt come with a base compound in the color of your seats, you can use a spray paint specifically designed for vinyl to match the original color.
- Finish by applying a coat of vinyl conditioner.
Be sure to use a repair kit thats specifically made for marine vinyl. You can also get replacement boat seat vinyl by the yard, or have your seat professionally repaired if you arent comfortable trying it yourself. If your seats are significantly damaged, especially if mold has taken up residence inside, you may need to replace your boat seats.
The Best Mildew Removers For Boat Seats
Boat seats are the most prominent part of any boat. If your boat seats have mildew stains and bird droppings, the entire boat will look unpleasant. Therefore, cleaning and maintaining play crucial roles in preserving your craft in terms of its appearance and overall condition. Thanks to mildew removers, mold and mildew are conveniently erased from the picture.
There are several mildew removers available in the market, making it hard to choose one to buy. Hence, here are my reviews on some of the best mildew remover for boat seats that you can consider.
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Alternative Boat Seat Cleaning Options
When looking to clean boat seats, there are other options available:
- Hire an interior boat cleaning company: A boat cleaning company will come and clean the seats for you. This service costs $150 on average.
- Hire a professional to clean the seats: Find a professional on thumbtack or Craigslist to wash and clean out the vinyl seats.
These options are best for those that want to outsource the cleaning work.
SummaryHire a professional cleaning company or individual if you prefer to outsource the cleaning.
Choose The Right Cleaning Solution
Oh, the horror stories I’ve heard of some cheap Charlie that thought they could save a few bucks by attacking their vinyl seats with bleach and a pad of steel wool. I shudder at the thought. To clean vinyl seats you need to utilize the right cleaning product, or be at risk of wearing away the structural integrity of the vinyl itself!
Even supposedly “lighter” cleaning solutions such as Windex or that old Navy favorite Simple Green will deteriorate vinyl over repeated uses. You definitely don’t want to end up with a color-faded seat, especially one covered in duct tape patches for the myriad tears that will start developing once the vinyl seat starts to give.
Of course, reupholstering every few years isn’t an option for most of us either, so the only solution left to clean vinyl seats is a cleaner that doesn’t use harsh chemicals and can protect your seats properly. Enter The Better Boat’s marine leather conditioner and cleaner with UV resin!
Our marine leather/vinyl cleaner is so gentle that it will not degrade seats or trim even after years of use. It adds moisture to restore color, and leaves a UV resin that will prevent the color from being stripped away. When I hear horror stories of bleach and ammonia, this is what I recommend. It just works.
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Use Magic Erasers On Stubborn Stains
Magic eraser sponges come with special cleaners inside that are ready to tackle messes that stick. What’s also helpful about them is that you don’t have to scrub too hard to see results, so they make for an excellent relief if you’ve been having trouble with a problem area. All you need to do is get them wet and get to wiping.
Because of their size, too, magic erasers are more likely to be able to fit into any gaps and seams your brush can’t manage to get into because of the size. You may need to take a couple of passes with the eraser to get up all the stains, but you will start to see results.
Like with your brush, you don’t want to scrub too hard with magic erasers since they can potentially cause damage to your vinyl. Take your process easy, and you’ll be in good shape to clean up your remaining mildew mess.
You could start with magic erasers if you like, but you don’t need all that power for all stains. Save them for things you can’t get rid of with the above steps.
Wash Away New Mildew Stains With Mild Dish Soap
While using commercial stain removers is a great remedy, using home products can also solve your mildew stain problem. In this method, the use of mild dish soap will help get rid of newly stained mildew from your boats vinyl seats with ease.
The following steps are how you remove mildew stains off your vinyl boat seats using mild dish soap:
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