Cleaning Mildewed Boat Seats & Vinyl

Your boat is your pride and joy, so you’ve invested a great deal of time and energy into its upkeep. You’ve cleaned the bilges, maintained the motor, stocked up on safety gear, but what’s this? Unsightly blackish/brownish stains on your seats and vinyl? An “off” odor? That’s the result of mildew and mold, which take full advantage of the consistently damp environment of a boat and bloom like nothing else. These stains make your boat look less inviting to passengers, who may not even want to sit down on moldy cushions, and they reduce your boat’s value.

Obviously, you want every part of your boat to look its best, but how do you carefully clean up all the damage caused by these fungi? Your local boat dealer, Hampton Watercraft & Marine, with locations in Hampton Bays and Eastport, NY, has the tips you need to clean up your mildewed seats and vinyl and get them looking brighter and less dingy.

Get The Necessary Supplies

First, you’ll want to get the right supplies for the task at hand. You may be tempted to grab a bottle of Clorox and try to bleach away the stains, but this is not a good call! Manufacturers all recommend against this, as bleach and similar harsh chemicals can seriously damage your vinyl and its seams, which makes for expensive repair or replacement when the threads come loose or the fabric itself breaks down.

Instead, use a less harsh cleaner like CLR Mold & Mildew remover. You’ll also need sponges, a soft brush, microfiber cloths and some Magic Erasers. To finish things off, get a marine-grade protectant spray like 303 Aerospace & UV Protectant.

Spray & Scrub

Your first step is to spray down all vinyl thoroughly with the CLR. Make sure you’re getting into every crevice and adequately dampening all the worst spots. Leave it to soak for five minutes. Then take your soft brush and gently scrub the stains. Don’t grind the brush in or you could scuff the vinyl or wear off its surface. You’ll see the mildew and mold come off pretty easily.

Wipe Down

Now that you’ve gotten the pesky fungi out of your seats, it’s time to take the sponges and microfiber cloths and wipe away the debris they’ve left behind. It should be pretty loose and easy to wipe off with your cloth, but you may find that you’ll repeat the spray, scrub and wipe process another time or two for particularly stained vinyl.

If you find that this hasn’t worked quite as well as you’d like, it’s time to bring the Magic Eraser into the mix. Use this white sponge to gently scrub at any remaining stains and you should see them lighten readily. However, be aware that the Magic Eraser can be too abrasive if you grind it in too hard, so use light, circular motions with only a little pressure.

Seal, Protect & Prevent

Your final step, once your vinyl seats are clean and dry, is to spray them down with the 303 Aerospace & UV Protectant. This substance repels dirt, mildew, mold and other debris by creating a glossy seal and it also has the benefit of protecting your vinyl and seats against harsh UV rays, which can discolor and deteriorate the fabric over time.

To prevent further mold and mildew problems, always wipe down your vinyl after every boat ride, washing and drying it regularly. Make sure your boat isn’t damp when you cover it up or store it.

We hope this guide helps you to get rid of unsightly stains on your vinyl and seats! If you’re in the market for a new boat, come down to Hampton Watercraft & Marine. We have dealerships serving Eastern Long Island in Hampton Bays and Eastport, NY, with a full inventory of new and used boats for sale.