Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

[jdag]

I was out yesterday with someone with a brand new (never-before-washed) red bathing suit. I noticed today that the red dye from the suit has stained several areas on my boat's vinyl seats.

Any ideas on getting the red stains out? I've already tried:

Water
Soapy water
Mr. Clean (diluted)
Rubbing alcohol

This is a month-old boat, and the stains are really noticeable, so I am pretty upset. Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks, John

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

OUCH!! I have tried everything to remove stains from my white interior. Simple green, orange magic, even lemon juice . (lemon juice worked the best, but didn't get it all. Test a small area to be sure you dont change the color of your seat) The best of the best (and still didn't get everything was Goop hand cleaner. It even works on stains on your clothes when used before washing. Over the years most of the stains have faded, but more important is to treat the interior with a UV protected, made for vinyl seats. It keeps stains from setting in.

 

[PWH1]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

Try a product called AWESOME in combination with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser... I find Awesome at the local dollar tree store for well, a dollar and the magic eraser can be had from any grocery store or wally world.

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

Heed the vinyl experts on here's advice - don't use Magic Eraser on vinyl. Does permanant damage by wet sanding off protective layer.

In a pinch maybe on a real tough spot if you have tried everything. Sometimes a little bit of time on a stain like this will allow it to fade away (a few weeks) in the sun/water.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

Institute a no bathing suit rule

Head the vinyl experts on here's advice - don't use Magic Eraser on vinyl. Does permanant damage by wet sanding off protective layer.

That's good advice. My wife has messed up several items around the house using a stupid Magic Eraser. There's definitely some amount of abrasion there.

 

[KFS]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

Magic Eraser not only erases the stain - but the surface itself. That's not magic. That's sandpaper.

Honestly, I tend to run to the experts. I would be calling an canvas/vinyl/upholstery specialist asap. I am so sorry this happened to you and will institute a "no new suits/clothing/towels" rule. Grammy gave my kids brand new color-saturated beach towels last weekend and the kids were warned not to let those anywhere NEAR the boat until I had washed them a time or two.

I use OxyClean powder mixed with water on our boat interior. It works magic on carpet stains and does a nice job on vinyl. You might try that.

If you simply MUST try something and the seats are white try a little Soft Scrub with bleach (be very, very careful and have I mentioned careful? You don't want to bleach out your carpet or anything else and make a small problem bigger). Seriously try it on a dot somewhere not visible because a "white out" spot is not going to be an improvement over red.

Have I mentioned CALL AN EXPERT? Good luck. I feel for you and owner of said red suit. I would feel horrible on either end of that equation.

 

[Vankaye]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

If you used a little rubbing alcohol already, let the vinyl get some sun. My wife got ink off her leather seats with alcohol but it took
a few days of sun to do/finish the job.

I'm also a hater of Magic Eraser. Try it on any surface and look at it afterwards - it erases the shine.

How do you guys feel about citrus oil on vinyl? I found this bar of soap, made entirely of orange oil, and infused with a natural sea sponge. I got a bunch of stains out of my vinyl with very successfully but I have no idea of the possible long term effects....

 

[jdag]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

Well, I got most if the stain out. I'm not sure what did it specifically as I used several things, washing with soapy water between each attempt. But it's about 90% back to normal at this point, so I can sleep again...

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

My wife bought me some new red trunks, they stained my white vinyl seat a few years back. You can't tell anymore. It fades, wears, rubs, etc. out eventually. Don't loose too much sleep over it.

 

[bishop169]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

i use that "awesome" stuff from the dollar tree that stuff is amazingly good takes oil hand prints out of white vinyl like it was just mud

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Red Bathing Suit - Stains on Seats

dont use a magic eraser. might as well use sand paper. I use a bathroom/kitchen all surface cleaner with bleach to clean my seats when I tried to re-dye my convertible top.