Mold Stains

Michael Pietrangelo

Michael Pietrangelo

Member
Jul 15, 2020
76
Boat Info
2006 290 Sundancer
Engines
5.0 ltr
Hi Everyone!
Attached is a picture of my seat. I have these stains sporadically located all over the seating and vinyl trim. I have tried several products and I can’t remove them. At times I’ve rubbed so hard it seems that some of the white “dye” from vinyl starts to come off. What are you all using to remove these stains??
E7A79CD7-C5F4-4386-AD05-8B3C44D1DA11.jpeg
 
For cleaning seats and vinyl, I use a solution of Purple Power diluted with water. I spray it on and then scrub it with a Magic Eraser. In really bad cases you can use a diluted bleach solution, but I try and avoid using bleach at all because it etches gel coat.
 
BEWARE! "Magic Erasers" will take off the first coat of the vinyl. So..it might look clean but you have now taken off some of the vinyl as the stains are embedded in the seat. ME is abrasive.
So...live with it...like many of us do. Or do the whole replacement thing..Good Luck.
 
i used marine 31. worked great
 
Groucho said:
BEWARE! "Magic Erasers" will take off the first coat of the vinyl. So..it might look clean but you have now taken off some of the vinyl as the stains are embedded in the seat. ME is abrasive.
So...live with it...like many of us do. Or do the whole replacement thing..Good Luck.
Click to expand...

Yes, ME is abrasive - I liken it to cutting compound on gel coat. It does remove a tiny amount of the surface. However, if followed up with a high-quality vinyl protectant you're not likely to encounter an issue.

The trick is to try and prevent them in the first place if at all possible. Unless you're in a covered slip, high and dry, or other covered storage this can be a challenge. In the OP's photo, looks to be caused by a wet cockpit cover sitting on the back of that seat. That's why I treat my cockpit cover with 303 Marine Fabric Protector once a season so that it remains waterproof and doesn't allow the cover to absorb moisture.

EDIT: I also have snap-in carpet and I don't put the cover on if the carpet is still wet/damp. This is easier when you are close to the boat or in a covered slip, but it makes a large difference as well.
 
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I agree with Boatman37 Marine 31 mildew remover is magic. Nearly unbelievable results. Have used it for years after trying everything else that did not work. Amazon, and other places carry it.
 
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My last choice would be to let some Soff 'n Scrub with bleach sit on it in the sun. I do this when nothing else works. I might even rub it lightly with a Magic Eraser if that showed signs of working while using a very lite touch. These two steps will remove just about all mold except for purple mildew. There is nothing I have found that will get rid of the purple stain. Once you are done cleaning, use a good vinyl protector to finish up and do a better job of keeping things clean in the future to avoid a repeat of the stain.
 
Clorox cleanup Or 3M mold remover/cleanup
Spray, let it sit ~ 5 minutes, wipe clean
since it is white you should be ok but do a test in a place where you can’t see it
Treat with vinyl conditioner of your choice
 
Michael Pietrangelo said:
Hi Everyone!
Attached is a picture of my seat. I have these stains sporadically located all over the seating and vinyl trim. I have tried several products and I can’t remove them. At times I’ve rubbed so hard it seems that some of the white “dye” from vinyl starts to come off. What are you all using to remove these stains??View attachment 89800
Click to expand...
I dampen a rag with undiluted bleach, lay it over the area, and wait 5-10 minutes. Sometimes you might re-dampen the rag or leave it on longer than others. I did this on my windlass foot switch covers, turned out like new.
 
I just went through a clean up like this. My rear seat where the canvis rested was horribe. I thought replacement wouls be the only option. The captain seat was even worse. I used the Star Brite mildew remover and stiff bristle plastic brush to clean rhem yesterday.

Sprayed it on and scrubbed with the brush. Did a second spray and scrub then washed off with water aand dried. Then followed up with 303 protectant. The results were amazing. The seats look almost new.

These are the reaults. I wish I had taken before photos to highlight the difference. 20200804_201302.jpg 20200804_201259.jpg 20200804_201309.jpg
 
IIRC I think I read where bleach or anything harsh is bad for the threads and the stitching may come apart. Anyone know anything about that?
 
Boatman37, I have heard the same thing about bleach damaging the threads.
 
Threads are the weak link. They will eventually deteriorate before the vinyl. Harsh chemicals don't help. But, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
 
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Bleach will cause some stitches to rot. There are some stitches made from materials the resist rot. The material is more expensive which is why some manufacturers do not use it. Can't tell you the type that resists rot.
 
PTFE (teflon thread) Solarfix, Tenara, Aruvo and others will hold up to bleach. If you have OEM vinyl in your boat, it's polyester thread and bleach will get you years closer to it coming apart in a hurry.
 
Marine 31 all the way. The mold is underneath the vinyl in a lot of cases, and this is the one that seems to get to it. A caution with Marine 31. The fumes are POTENT!. be ventilated, masked, or both. It is the only product I have ever been able to spray on, walk away, come back 5 minutes later, and hose off. Don't forget the hose off part either. It will wreck clothing and bathing suits. Attwood is guarding the formula closely.
 
This works great, spray on and hose off, but follow up with a sealant like 303
 

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