Pink stuff...

[Mumblerone]

Have you ever noticed the pink discoloration on vinyl? Looks like a bird dropped something after eating berries. What causes this? I have heard it is a vinyl bacteria that appears on bolster, cusions, seat, cooler covers, etc. I have also been told that it is impossible to get off, possibly dye or replace. Any experience out there with this STUFF?

 

[Grant Ingle]

Re: Pink stuff...

It has been my experience that vinyl can be very hard to clean if neglected. Not that the stains will not come off but harsh cleaners, although they may remove the stain, will actually pull all the emollients and oils out of the vinyl and next thing you know its cracking. I sell new boats and even on new vinyl we run across severe stains all the time. We generally have a vinyl repair company airbrush over the stain and they just go away. Make sure they use a sealer so that it can't bleed back through the dye.

 

[GeoIII]

Re: Pink stuff...

I just bought an '06 Bayliner and the seller told me the pink stains would come off easily with a magic eraser. After failing with that, clorox cleaner, simple green, and much elbow grease, I started reasearching. Those stains will NOT go away. I did however try Rustoleum vinyl paint and it worked great. Only trouble is that I had to do all of the vinyl so it was equally new looking... $25 worth of paint is way cheaper than reupholstering!

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Pink stuff...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=301568

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Pink stuff...

Hehe, something I actually know about (I'm a microbiologist, Campylobacter is food-borne pathogen). This is microbial, probably from the bacterium serratia marcescens. These bacteria make a redish pink pigment, and as everybody says it is very difficult to remove from vinyl. In my bachelor days I used to get it on my shower curtains as well.

The best defense is to keep the vinyl as dry as possible.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Pink stuff...

my EZ up tent has it on it.

EZ UP only wants you to use simple green to clean them.

It doesn't do it.