Cleaning vinyl

[Dave in Mpls]

Can you tell I'm starting work on the project boat?!?

What do you recommend for cleaning vinyl? I guess this is a two part question:

1) General cleaning of vinyl seats, rod locker covers, etc, and

2) Cleaning blackish material off the vinyl floors of storage compartments. This may be a light mold or ??? I'm thinking a bleash solution for this - any hints on mixture?

Regards

[steelie7]

Clorox Clean Up in the spray bottle. Works Great. Treat it with some vinyl preservative after cleaning. Good luck.

[REW]

Dave,
As far as the mold is concerned - either straight bleach, or a diluted solution of hilex or other bleach works just fine.

For general cleaning - 409, simple green, or any of the other routine household cleaners work well.

Another thing to keep is mind is that Vinyl is basically made out of oil. A very good cleaner for stubborn stains, is simple paint thinner or mineral spirits. It also tends to put some "life" back in the vinyl. After cleaning with mineral spirits, you will want to go over it with something like windex, to get the residue of mineral spirits off the vinyl.

Take care
REW

[Bradnd]

Dave,

You've gotten some good advice on what to clean the vinyl with. After you get everything back to life, a good armor-all (spell?) once or twice a year keeps it looking like new. I just spent most of last Sat. using it on all my vinyl seats, dash, & storage lockers.
Also keeps the hot sun from blistering & cracking the vinyl. Every spring I grab a screw driver & bottle of armorall & spent the day in the boat! Amazing how many screws vibrate loose each year!

Take care,

Brad

[Jim Carroll]

Do NOT use Armor All on marine vinyl- it will cause trouble with the extra UV inhibitors in marine vinyl. Buy a product specifically made for marine use. Both 3M and Meguires make excellent products for this application. JC

[tatertot]

baby oil for the maintainance of vinyl

LarryT

[RiverRatt]

Nautical Ease is the best cleaner that I have found to clean vinyl and keep its luster.

[Bradnd]

Jim,
Where did you hear to not use it on marine vinyl? I've been using it on the same seats, same boat, for 9 years, they still look like new. In fact both of my dashes are red vinyl, and I haven't had as much as a crack or tear in them. And I don't use it sparingly!
Thanks for letting me know, I'll have to ask the lund dealer today when I stop there.

Take care,

Brad

[Shawn]

I also heard that about Armor All. I bought a new pontoon boat about 3 years ago and the warning was printed with my documentation. Could be certain types of vinyl, but I wouldn't want to chance it without documentation...

>Jim,
> Where did you hear to not use it on marine vinyl? I've
>been using it on the same seats, same boat, for 9 years,
>they still look like new. In fact both of my dashes are red
>vinyl, and I haven't had as much as a crack or tear in them.
>And I don't use it sparingly!
>Thanks for letting me know, I'll have to ask the lund dealer
>today when I stop there.
>
>Take care,
>
>Brad

[AquaMan]

Dave...Simple Green. Kills bacteria, cuts grease and stains, etc. Remarkable stuff. We use it to clean computers that have been in MFRing sites. When we are done, its hard to tell if the system is new or not. I use it to clean the splash-well of my boat from the black marks left by the power cable and gas lines, etc. You can get it at WalMart, Target, SAM's and Mills Fleet Farm


AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just add water

[Big Nick]

The others are correct in that armor-all is a no no on most marine vinyl. Helps to break down the uvb protection. That is one reason some vinyl cracks and feels dry after awhile. A boat detailer gave me this tip years ago for the grey and white vinyl on my Trophy. In a spray bottle,mix a couple table spoons of dishwashing liquid (Dawn), a couple tablespoons of Westleys Bleach White Tire Cleaner and then fill with warm water. Spray this solution on the seats or where ever and scrub with a lite (soft) scrub brush. Wipe with a damp towel and the vinyl will look like new!! Soft, pliable and not sticky.