Mildew Stain in Vinyl interior

[easyloader]

I have a mildew stain in the vinyl. It is coming from the back side and bleeding through.
Attached are the pictures. Any ideas?

 

[Stumpalump]

Mineral spirits won't hurt vinyl and cleans stains off of it.

 

[easyloader]

I'll try it next weekend.

 

[mr 88]

Mildew is a living organism and you have to kill it or it will keep coming back. The best way is to remove the foam from the back and apply a wet rag soaked in bleach and let it sit for awhile on the back of the vinyl. A UV light is also a way to go. Starbrite makes Mildew Stain Remover which kills the bacteria as well. You could apply that to the foam and both sides of the vinyl and have good results. I have also read where you can do what I mentioned, then if the stain is still there but the mildew is , stop at Parts store and buy vinyl spray paint. Supposedly it comes out looking like new, haven't seen it or tried it but it is a option if worse comes to worse .Spray Nine or a mix of Oxy Clean and water so it ends up as paste may are other options..

 

[Sea Rider]

Interesting, have several separate mold formations taking over on many parts of my inflatable boat's tubes, the issue with it is that the material is rugged dotted and the mold building into it. Have tried different products but have not been able to get rid of them 100%, are starting to grow where they previously appeared.

Will try hydrogen peroxide and if with no avail go per more aggresive cleaning materials such as acrylic paint thinner, bleach. BTW is bleach applied pure or must be disolved in water, if, so, in what proportion ? Will try a medium hard bristle toothbrush to make its way inside the rugged dotted material and wipe mold off permantely.

Happy Boating

 

[crazy charlie]

bleach will do the job if the stain actual mildew or mold(organic).Test a spot away from any stitching.Take a face cloth and put pure old fashioned bleach on the cloth.Press it against the stain for at lease a minute.Rinse with water and judge if there is any difference.I have gotten rid of some pretty snotty stains using bleach.dont use "extra strength" or splash free.Use regular bleach and post your results.

 

[easyloader]

I'll try treating the surface of the vinyl but agree I will eventually have to peel back the vunyl to get at the foam. Nothing is easy but that's why it's a boat.

 

[old bird]

Won't the Bleach eat up the thread and the stitching begin to come apart ?

 

[crazy charlie]

bleach will do the job if the stain actual mildew or mold(organic).Test a spot away from any stitching..

Ahhhh Duhhh

 

[Jerry200LX]

Do not use mineral spirits on your vinyl. In fact don't ever use any petroleum based solvents on it. The damage won't be apparant right away but petroleum will strip the elastomers from the vinyl causing it to become brittle and crack. Also be careful using bleach, it will deteriorate the stitching. I would try the Starbrite Mildew Stain Remover. If that doesn't work the stain is probably permanent.

 

[R055]

Starbrite mildew stain remover is pretty much just bleach at a marked up price. I was too lazy to dilute my own bleach so ordered a bottle of Starbrite online. It definitely works on mildew. But so would regular bleach.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I have bright white seats on my StarCraft, the best is to not let the mildew to set in the 1st place. When I have the mooring cover on I try to vent it as much as possible without letting the rain in. If the forecast is clear I will take the cover off completely or fold it back to get as much air in as possible. I always have a bottle of Spray 9 in the boat and a bottle of Gold Eagle brand vinyl conditioner I got here on iboats applied after they are clean. I find it stays shinier than Armor All.

Gold Eagle sent me a box full of their products to try and report back. It is good stuff. I used their canvas cleaner on 23 year old Sunbrella and it beaded off water for a year.