Mold on Vinyl seats

[Harmon]

Is there another option to get rid of some black mold spots on the seats aside from the Starbright mold spray. I did repeated applications of that and the mold doesnt seem to go away, it lessens it for a week and when I come back there are spots again. Its a 2006 and the seats are original and in really good shape aside from spots. I've heard that the mold is growing beneath the surface and its hard to get rid of. Also my bimini and sun shade are original and have what looks like moldy spots on the inside, could that be spreading to the seats? Im thinking so since mold is spread through the air. I was thinking of sealing the bimini and sunshade with something to trap the spores, I was thinking Flexseal in blue color. I will be getting new canvas in spring, but during the winter layup it gets worse and theres no cleaning it in Dec in NJ.

 

[Yendor]

Tilex.

Naturally, try it in an inconspicuous spot first and confirm no deleterious effects.
I used to save this for last, but after many times of no issues, if I know it's mold or mildew I use it right out of the gate.

A major reason that mold and mildew come back is the cleaning process that removes what you can see, does not kill the remaining spores. These not killed spores allow the mold to come back with a vengeance at the first sign of any humidity. In many cases, simply doing a bleach rinse with solution of (1 bleach:3 water) afterwards will help kill those spores and prolong any recurrence.

 

[Golfman25]

Try this. I haven't used on seats, but do use it in the home from time to time. Seems to work great.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Concrobium-32-oz-Mold-Control-025326/100654126

 

[Harmon]

Thanks guys, I know all these products are detrimental to the vinyl and more so the stiching I've heard. I will give one or both a try though.
Do you think it spreads from the top canvas pieces? Spores flying around the cockpit

 

[Lazy Daze]

Mold likes to grow on dirt (food for the mold) so the first step is to keep things as clean as possible on a regular basis. A light solution of bleach/water will not harm your vinyl (use a saturated rag and lay it right on the vinyl for about 10 minutes... which will help avoid the stitching). Neither will a light solution harm your canvas.

That said, bleach does not always get mold "at the root". There are better products out there for tough situations - one of them I have used in the past and it definitely kept the mold from coming back much better than bleach. I'll post back if I can remember the name - but googling might help you find a product like that.

 

[370Dancer]

Marine 31

 

[Scott215]

Marine 31 works unbelievably awesome Make sure when you're done to hit it with something like 303 vinyl protectant when done

 

[Harmon]

Thanks all

 

[wayne0]

Try this. I haven't used on seats, but do use it in the home from time to time. Seems to work great.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Concrobium-32-oz-Mold-Control-025326/100654126

I've used this on the underside of my canvas with great results. Not so much on the seats.
Any product with bleach works best in the sun. Just remember to rinse REALLY well and often.

 

[KevinC]

The problem with mold will be an ongoing battle. The marine environment provides the dampness the the mold loves to grow in. Several of the products above (as well as the sun) will do a great job battling the mold growth. The problem is usually deeper under the surface.

Here are two pictures of a mold affected seat:


The first is how the seat panel looked from the outside. The second is how the same panel looked on the inside.

The short story is all these products will treat the mold on the surface - but we just can not get to the mold that has set in on the fabric backing. So when the environment is damp the mold will grow through the vinyl to the surface where we will see it. Unfortunately this is a loosing battle.

This is also why so many boats that have been cleaned up and look great have mold all over the vinyl again the next spring after removing their winter covers. Covering the boats for the winter gave the mold all the advantages - a dark, damp environment that is also shielded from the mold control provided by the sun.

Nothing is going to solve the problem in the pictures above on a permanent basis without reupholstering the seats and this can be a costly proposition. We see a lot of this when we do our upholstery work.

One more note, please try to stay away from bleach products and magic erasers - they will do more harm long term.

-Kevin

 

[Scotyp]

I have used this product with success on the mold problems!

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Greased...e-Cleaner-and-Degreaser-17569248593/300802077

 

[wayne0]

My issue has been black stains left from the morning dew! If I don't wipe the seats first thing, they get black stains when the dew evaporates. Tough to remove. Bleach cleaners work best for me.

 

[Scott215]

I used 303 vinyl cleaner and put moth balls and dryer sheets all over my boat last winter before I covered it. When I unwrapped it it smelled a little like moth balls for a week but had no mold or mildew

 

[The Bill Collector]

Black spot came from Velcro on my TV remote that the boatyard left sitting there with the flap up and rain water got in. Any ideas?

 

[370Dancer]

Black spot came from Velcro on my TV remote that the boatyard left sitting there with the flap up and rain water got in. Any ideas?
View attachment 152820

My upholstery guy swears by WD-40 on a rag, and light multiple applications.

 

[The Bill Collector]

My upholstery guy swears by WD-40 on a rag, and light multiple applications.

I'm heading to the boat tomorrow, I'll report back...