Vinyl Upholstery cleaning

[bigdog]

Need some advice.... Just removed shrink-wrap on boat and see some black pin-head sized spots on vinyl upholstery, I'm assuming this is black 'mold' spots.

I've heard simple vinegar & water will do the trick, with a green kitchen scrubby?

Can someone recommend a safe 'non-abrasive' way to clean the vinyl ?

Thanks !

[Meredith AK]

We've had great success using Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on our boat.
We get the small black dots as well, but ours comes from spider poop, not mold. It works well on those with a little patience and a wee bit of elbow grease.

[Bootkie2]

With mold especially I have found that just throwing on a pair of gloves, some white microfiber towels and household bleach (diluted in water) works the best. If the mold is heavier dilute it less.

Many will roll their eyes when they read this as bleach can be harsh on vinyl, but as long as you give the seats a good wipe down with fresh water and a fresh towel to get the residue off when you are finished, it should be okay. I've been doing this on my 27ft Formula for a few years now and have had no problems.

Not saying this will work for you since everyone's seats/material is different quality/texture. It's probably best to test different products /methods on smaller sections of your seats to compare what works best. Then go all in once you choose the best.

[bigdog]

I fell back on my old stand-by for many overall cleaning jobs....
"Tough Stuff", and microfiber towels. Then followed up using Armor-All application. Results were fantastic !

'Tuff-Stuff' can be purchased at Wal-Mart for about $4

Boat will be up for sale and Posted to Forum classified section soon.
2001 Regal 21-LSR. Mercruiser 4.3L, with trailer. Mint condition, stay tuned....

[radiocontester]

The best product for mold and mildew is Marine 31 Mold and Mildew remover. I have tried many others and nothing comes close. Mr Clean is the last option you should try as it's abrasive and removes the protective layer on vinyl.

[dippasan]

I store my 28 formula at home and have it shrink wrapped every year.
3-4 years ago when I uncovered the boat in the spring I had mold everywhere on the white interior. Total bummer.

The next fall I tried setting up a fan in the boat on a timer for a couple of hours per day to circulate the air. I also had the Shrink wrap guy install a zipper door in the rear so I could access and monitor during the winter. (The door was about $25 extra but I simply cut it off every spring and he reinstalls it for free). Not a single spot of mold since thanks to the fan.

That said, when I do clean the interior, I have used "Outdoor Clorox Bleach" but I follow up with a thorough rinse and then protectant.