How to Clean Vinyl Boat Upholstery
To help keep your boat looking great, you must clean your vinyl boat upholstery regularly. Vinyl is very porous and collects much of what it comes into contact with. Because boats are exposed to dirty and possibly salty water, your boat's vinyl upholstery can collect stains and debris. Depending on where you store your boat and how often you use it will help determine how often you should clean it. According to Lakeside Marine, if you use your boat every weekend, you should clean your upholstery at least once a month. If you use your boat twice a month, you should be cleaning the vinyl every six weeks. Storing your boat on the water will require you to clean your boat's vinyl each visit.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Dish soap
- Water
- Bucket
- Plastic bristle brush
- Hose
- Terry cloth towel
- Ammonia
- Hydrogen peroxide
Instructions
-
-
1
For general cleaning of your boat's vinyl, use dish soap and water, according to Lakeside Marine. Fill the bucket with 1/2 gallon of water and five drops of the dish soap.
-
2
Dip the plastic bristle brush into the bucket and begin to scrub your boat's vinyl upholstery, making sure to remove any dirt, salt or other problems that you see.
-
-
3
Rinse off the vinyl off with the hose and water, removing any suds left by the dish soap.
-
4
Pat all wet vinyl with the terry cloth towel until dry.
-
5
To clean and remove mold, mildew or stains, Lakeside Marine suggests filling the bucket with 1 tbsp. of ammonia, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and 3/4 cup of water.
-
6
With the bristle brush, scrub the areas of vinyl that are stained or have mold and mildew present.
-
7
Rinse the area with the hose and water.
-
8
Pat your boat's vinyl dry with a terry cloth towel.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you have people sunbathing on your boat, make sure you let them know to place a towel in between their bodies and your boat's vinyl upholstery. The oil that sunbathers use is a big contributor to stains on marine vinyl.
