How to Clean Mold on a Vinyl Boat Seat

Boating is the ultimate in relaxation for families and friends. Pulling your boat out in the spring to discover your seats covered in a furry layer of mold is not. Even if you wipe the top layer of mold off the seats, the odor and stains can remain. What can you do to get your seats "ship-shape" again?

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels Sponge Marine vinyl cleanser Soft-bristled brush Toothbrush White towel Powdered color-safe bleach

Instructions

1. Wipe surface mold off the seats with paper towels and discard. Go over the seats with a damp sponge. Then spray them with any marine vinyl cleanser. Allow 3 to 5 minutes for the cleanser to loosen the grime before scrubbing.

2. Scrub the seats with a soft-bristled brush. Take a toothbrush to the stitching and small hard-to-reach areas.

3. Rinse the seats well. Mold does not grow on vinyl. It grows on the residue left on vinyl, even if the residue is soap.

4. Dry the seats with a clean white towel. Leave the dried seats exposed to the sun, if possible. The heat will get them even dryer.

5. Mix 1/2 cup of color-safe bleach into 1 gallon of warm water to scrub away stains the mold left behind. Powdered colorfast bleach is safer for vinyl than liquid chlorine bleach and it kills mold just as well. Rinse and dry the seats well when you are done.