Protect Your Boat Seats When Parked
When your boat is parked or in storage, you can easily protect your seats by using boat seat covers. These covers not only keep the sun off your seats, they also prevent dust and bird droppings from damaging them. Look for breathable boat seat covers to prevent moisture accumulation that can result in mildew problems. Also make sure your covers are made from material that blocks harmful UV rays.
For Milder Cases Try Using Only Borax
Incidentally, if you think you can do without the vinegar, know that you can also see good results by using just borax powder. If youre worried about the vinegar leaving a lingering scent, this wont happen if you take the time to wipe it off.
Anyway, if you think your mildew problem is not that major, try using ½ cup of borax powder instead. Mix it with the same portion of 2 cups of warm water. It works for me if I wait longer before wiping it off. If you have the patience to wait for a few hours or an entire day before wiping, then I can guarantee that this will remove the mildew.
A Note On Bleach And Vinyl
Bleach can be a helpful tool in cleaning up all sorts of messes, including mold and mildew. However, you want to keep it away from the messes on your power boat seats. Why? Because of vinyl.
Using bleach on vinyl take out the oils in the material which are essential for its longevity and resistance to water. This process can also impact the stitching that holds your seats together, causing them to degrade and ultimately come apart. Yes, your vinyl won’t last forever, but you can increase its lifetime by not using bleach in this cleaning process.
You should stay alert when picking out your mold and mildew stain remover, as many of these products can include bleach as one of the ingredients. For a safe pick, we recommend CLR mold remover.
With that out of the way, let’s get into the cleaning process!
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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.
How To Prevent Mold From Forming On Boat Seats
Aside from using vinyl protectant, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent the need to clean up mold and mildew on your boat seats. Here are a few:
- Wipe down your seats after use. Mold and mildew form from moisture, so wipe down those seats after you’ve had a day on the water! Even if it doesn’t seem like there’s any wetness, it pays to run a towel through cracks and seams.
- Maintain your boat while it’s in storage. Mildew can spring up when you least expect itespecially if your vessel’s in storage. Checking in on your boat, even when it’s not in use, can help you catch a mess before it becomes a problem.
- Purchase mildew-resistant seat material. If you are in the market for a new boat or you’re replacing a seat that’s too far gone, look into mold-resistant materials. While not one-hundred percent foolproof, they will reduce your chances of getting a moldy mess in the first place.
Keeping your seats clean will pay off when selling your boat, as mold and mildew can decrease your ship’s value.
Are you shopping for an outboard motor? Use our boat payment calculator to determine what’s best for your budget.
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Simple Steps To Cleaning An Aluminium Boat With Vinegar
Now that your aluminium boat is now completely clean, you could take your boat to the next level by painting it. If youre ready to renovate your old boat and make it look brand new again then see my guide on How to Paint an Aluminum Boat.
Clean Your Boat Seat Regularly
You can fight nature your bad habits by simply cleaning your boat seats as often as you can. Even if you do not see stains, that doesnt mean that your chairs arent dirty. We recommend you do the same with everything related to your boating experience.
If you read our guide to getting the finest boat carpet you will also see a section there devoted to cleaning and maintenance. This is simply a must when it comes to owning a boat.
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Aero Cosmetics Interior Cleaner
Over time, your boats vinyl surfaces may begin to fade due to exposure to severe marine environments. Due to that, you need a versatile and effective cleaner like the Aero Cosmetics interior cleaner.
This state-of-the-art formula is designed to enhance the appearance of your boats interior parts such as fabric and leather seats, carpets, tray tables, trim panels, galleys, and cockpit. It is one of the few cleaners that work perfectly on all types of interiors. In fact, this is what every boat owner needs to return their boat to its former glory.
- Works well on all interior types
- Gets rid of stains like makeup, body oils, and beverage spills
- Complied with the Boeing aircraft interior specifications
- Effective for removing minor stains
How To Clean The Boat Hull
It is recommended to clean your boat hull several times per year to preserve the integrity of the vessel. The hull cleaning method will depend on whether the hull will be out of the water or in the water during cleaning.
Cleaning your boat hull out of the water
If your boat is on a trailer, cleaning the hull is a fairly simple process. Give the boat a thorough rinse with fresh water from a hose, then wash with a boat cleaner specialized for your hull material .
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Care And Prevention Is Key For Vinyl
Its always easier to prevent mold and dirt with care rather than deal with them later.
If you neglect your vinyl seats for months, you may have to waste hours trying to get rid of mold or deep stains. But if you spend just a few minutes a week on vinyl seat care, then you will be saving hours and hours down the line.
Preventative care is fairly easy with vinyl boat seats. Among the things that you should do are:
- Cover the seat when its not in use. This especially applies to boats left outdoors. Vinyl is delicate and is easily damaged by UV. Under the sun, not only will your vinyl seats gorgeous color fade, but the fabric itself will physically degrade.
- Ensure good ventilation. Your seat cover should be breathable to let moisture escape and prevent the formation of mold. Aside from that, the boat cover should be breathable too for the same reason.
- Clean stains promptly. Vinyl is porous and readily absorbs anything that can be absorbed. This includes sunscreen, drinks, and food. Vegetation will color-stain vinyl too.
- Apply a protective coating to the vinyl. Treat the surface of the seat with a protective coating, like the 303 Aerospace Protectant. Protective coatings somewhat protect the vinyl from the exterior harsh environment and make cleaning and wiping easier.
You should preventatively wipe your vinyl seats maybe once every week or two. If you are boating often, then perhaps a wipe after each trip would be ideal as well.
Star Brite Ultimate Vinyl Guard Protectant
The last entry is the Star Brite Ultimate Vinyl Guard Protectant. I highly recommend this product if your boat vinyl surface is covered with light grime. Plus, it works well in moisturizing vinyl to keep it soft and luxurious.
As the name suggests, this product comes with a PTEF protective barrier coating that does an excellent job of eliminating light grime. The protective coating does not stop there as it also gives shine to the boat vinyl surface as well.
The cleaner helps restore the suppleness of vinyl, making it look new again. Though its a vinyl restorer for boats, its also suitable for use on cars, trucks, boat covers, RV interior leather, plastic surfaces, and more.
Once it comes into contact with the stained vinyl surface, it will do its work quickly and effectively. It is equipped with an easy-to-use sprayer that allows you to spray on the stain. The best way to clean is to spray on the dirty spots and wipe them away using a soft, clean cloth. This will leave the vinyl with visible shine.
This product also features UV inhibitors that help prevent cracking and fading. This is especially important to ensure the longevity of vinyl surfaces that are easily damaged by harsh sun rays. Additionally, it enhances the appearance of other surfaces like leather and plastic.
- Top-notch product manufactured in the USA
- Requires a lot to work effectively
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Gently Scrub Away The Stains
Take a soft bristle brush and gently work away those stubborn spots youre trying to get rid of. Remember that you dont want to overdo it since scrubbing too hard can scuff up your vinyl seats and leave you with dull spots later on.
If you dont want to take your chances with a brush, you can always use a soft, clean cloth to rub the stain remover and make sure it gets the spots youre trying to treat. The key here is to avoid as much abrasion as possible.
Things That You Need To Get Rid Of Mildew On Vinyl Boat Seats
There are different types of boats, but most manufacturers choose vinyl for the seats. Its because this material is tough enough to withstand wet conditions. As you know, boats are always exposed to water and other strains that are related to it.
Cleaning and getting rid of mildew on vinyl boat seats can be done manually. But you have to collect things that help you achieve a desirable result. They dont cost much so, what youll have to spend a lot is your time and effort on cleaning.
- Mold and mildew remover
- A soft brush
- Microfiber cloth
- Magic eraser
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How Do You Get Stains Out Of Vinyl Boats
Get the stains out of your vinyl boat seats by wiping a triple-action stain remover or alcohol-based cleaner to the surface. It can eradicate mold and mildew stains from the vinyl surface of your boat seats. Use only products with non-acid cleaning ingredients and avoid using harsh cleaners containing ammonia and bleach. They can easily scrub off or sand down the vinyl material.
Products 30215 Marine Vinyl Cleaner
If yellowing is a problem you have with your vinyl surface, especially clear vinyl surfaces, then you might want to consider the 303 Products Protective Marine Vinyl Cleaner. This solution excels at protecting your vinyl against yellow stains and the harsh effects of UV rays.
What I love the most about this cleaner is that it has a no-alcohol formula which makes it extra safe for use on delicate surfaces. Despite this, its effective not just at removing tough stains and dirt from vinyl surfaces but also as a preventive measure against further stains and even cracking.
Another amazing feature of this cleaner is its alcohol-free formulation. This makes it really safe, and quite effective, for cleaning your boats surfaces. It also doesnt contain any bleach, so you can wipe it on any vinyl surface without damaging them.
As mentioned earlier, it can protect your boats surfaces from the effects of UV rays. This is especially helpful considering that your boat is often exposed to harsh sunlight.
- Great for use on delicate surfaces
- Can be used for protection against UV rays and yellowing
- Can be a bit tricky to apply evenly
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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.
Some Tools And Safe Cleaners Will Help You Eliminate And Even Prevent Mildew From Dominating The Boat Seats
In this guide, well share a complete set of tips to clean and protect your boat seats, so you wont have to deal with the damage that comes from neglecting your seats. Boat seats are designed to withstand the environmental conditions they encounter. My boat is a 2019re. If fresh, blot the stain to remove any excess. Wax and polish the pontoon with cleaning solutions for each surface type. Keeping your boat seats and pontoon furniture clean is one of the best preventative measures to stop mold and mildew in their tracks.
I have a pretty old pontoon, a 1989 grumann that i purchased last year and now this year im going to have more time to really clean it up. Keeping your boat seats and pontoon furniture clean is one of the best preventative measures to stop mold and mildew in their tracks. Rinse with clean water and dry with a clean towel. But theres only so much that vinyl can take without breaking down. Read on to know the best way to defeat mildew.
My boat is a 2019re. Sides of the boat get dirty and streak marks 3. The key to preventing mildew. Pontoons get real dirty and black 2. Toss in a bunch of black mold freckles, and it might be tough to find the courage to take a seat.
Wax and polish the pontoon with cleaning solutions for each surface type. Heres how you use it: Well, the short answer is yes, it does. Rinse with clean water and dry with a clean towel. Pontoons get real dirty and black 2.
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M 09067 Marine Mildew Stain Remover
If you have been having the difficulty in removing mildew from boat seats for a while and have not found the right product, then I would highly-recommend this mildew stain remover from 3M.
This product takes pride in having a research-based formula that effectively removes stains found in the boat seats.
I have personally used this product before and found it to be effective in removing stains coming from mildew and even molds. I was amazed at the flexibility of this product in cleaning different surfaces such as canvas, vinyl, wood, and a whole lot more.
For people who want to take it easy during the cleaning activity, this product is perfect for them. In fact, it is so easy to use with its spray-bottle container. You do not need to exert a lot of effort as this only requires minimal scrubbing to get the job done.
I was also impressed by how this product infiltrates into the source of the fungus to completely remove and prevent it from multiplying further. I can guarantee that this product will be a good option if you want to have a stain-free boat seat.
Meanwhile, as good as this product is, the only minor issue I found is the smell it produces when being used. I found it too strong and is comparable with the strong smell of a bleach product.
- Infiltrates to the source of the fungus to completely remove the mildew
- Comes with a bleach-like smell
