Learn how to clean vinyl boat seats of mildew without the help of a service professional and commercial cleaner in this short yet informative article!
Mildew is a common problem among boat owners. As boats spend most of the time around the water, moisture present in the air creates an ideal breeding environment for mildew to thrive on the vinyl seats. Those unsightly-looking whitish dots not only decreases the boat’s aesthetic value but cause health issues as well. If your boat vinyl seats are stained from mildew, then read this article till the end to learn how to clean vinyl boat seats of mildew.
How to Clean Vinyl Boat Seats of Mildew?
Mildew is a type of fungus that requires warm, damp places and a humid environment for reproduction. It’s whitish and has a distinctive, musty smell. Wherever there is water, mildew is likely. That’s why boat, especially their vinyl seats gets mildew, even if you cover them properly. Fortunately, there are a couple of environment-friendly hacks to remove mildew from your boat vinyl seats.
1. Try Vinegar
As vinegar is a mild acidic product, it eliminates mildew from vinyl seats easily. For this, combine a cup of each white vinegar and water into an empty spray bottle. Next, take off the problematic vinyl seat and spray the solution on it. Wait for 3-5 minutes, and then scrub the surface with a soft-bristled brush. Repeat the method if the mildew is still there.
2. Use Borax
Borax is another excellent mildew remover that gets the job done quite efficiently. Simply mix 1/2 cup of borax with 2 cups of water into a spray bottle. Next, spritz the prepared solution on the mildew-affected vinyl seat and wait for 3-5 minutes. Then, rub the surface with a soft-bristled brush momentarily and wipe with a damp cloth. Lastly, put the seat under direct sunlight.
3. Dawn Dish Soap
To remove mildew from the boat vinyl seat, add 1 tsp of dawn dish soap and 2 cups of tepid water into a spray bottle. Spread the solution on the stained vinyl seat and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Once it’s done, wipe the seat with a microfiber cloth and rinse with water. In the end, don’t forget to dry the vinyl seat properly.
4. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Both vinegar and baking soda can be used solely to kill mildew, but when combined together, their potency goes to a whole new level. This combination works because of the fizzing action that eliminates mildew from all the surfaces, including boat vinyl seats. Sprinkle enough amount of baking soda on the seat and then pour white vinegar on it. Leave the solution to do its work, and then clean with a damp cloth. Redo the method if required.
Precautions to Consider
Before trying the above remedies, make sure to read the below precautions first to avoid mishaps.
- Wear hand gloves, full-sleeved clothes, goggles, and a good quality face mask.
- Guide your kids, pets, and elderly to stay far away from the treated area.
- Clean the boat vinyl seats in a well-ventilated space.
- Avoid the above hacks if you’re allergic to mildew.
- Always dry the vinyl seats after using the above mildew removal hacks.
Final Thoughts
After noticing the mildew infestation, it’s vital to remove it right away as it damages the vinyl seats and harmful to human health as well. Using the above natural methods, mildew will not be a problem for you anymore. Besides, head on to this article to get rid of mildew odor from your clothes.
Thank you so much this information was certainly helpful. The white vinyl seats on our boat have yellowing darker from the sun. Any recommendations?
Again thanks
We sprayed this mildew remover Star Brite stuff on the giant clusters of mildew stains (they were rampant, apparently our camper was put away wet without opening to air once upon a time) and the dark spots became black. When we turned to treat another area we would turn back to where we had sprayed and the black spots became a light brown. I swear it was so amazing we just stopped and stared and the light brown spots faded into gleaming white.