Seat cleaning problem

[CRoe]

Just put in new seats, carpet etc last spring. Boat sat uncovered (I know !!!) for the winter. When I cleaned the seats a few weeks ago before putting the boat in the water for the summer I had a problem. All the regular dirt came off easily but there are numerous "dark freckles" all over the seats that just won't come off. I have tried different cleaners with brushes and scrub pads to no avail. The seats were new last spring and came from Overton. It makes my new interior look old and nasty. Anyone have a suggestion on what to use to get the seats looking new again? I am out of answers. Thanks.

Clyde

[TarheelBorn]

I used Olympic deck and vinyl cleaner on my old boat. Spray it on, wait about 5 minutes and rinse. No scrubbing. I get it at Lowe's home improvement.

[dockholiday]

might try some awesome cleaner from the dollar store or superclean. Comet will take it off but don't think I would use it on new seats.
The good thing about the first two is you can gradually build the strength by mixing until you get it strong enough to work.
But first you might want to try something like 303 or some other cleaner for vinyl.
doc

[TX0303]

You might try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Works pretty well on a lot of stains.

[toondog]

Try amazing roll-off. http://www.autogeek.net/amazingrolloff.html
Park it in the shade and wet down all the seats. then one seat at a time spray a heavy dose of amazing roll-off and let sit just a little bit. Then lightly use the scrubby green side of a two sided dish sponge and rinse thoroughly.
If they are like the brown specks I get, there will still be a light brown stain. that should bleach out in the sun eventually.
After the initial roll off cleaning, follow with the 303 protectant. After that you can use only the 303 to clean and protect in the future. Or at least until you neglect your seats for awhile.

[brumbyvet]

Magic Eraser to clean, 303 to protect.

[tkrein]

try a product called zap works well anyway dealer used it my cover sagged in the corner they used zap to clean the mildew that if found on the sun deck then i used awsome cleaner to clean the rest of the toon looks great gotta 303 it yet

[BrianP]

Magic Eraser to clean, 303 to protect.

Exact combination, Magic Eraser works miracles, and 303 protects afterward! I have converted a number of people with this. It only takes one try, and you won't go back.

[yyj200]

Spray Nine marine cleaner. Then 303.

[newlights]

I cant help you much with getting it clean but once you do I would suggest cleaning it and using a uv protectant such as amor all regularly. Also when shitting down for the winter the best bet is to spray a generous coat of amor all I mean spray it thick and dont wipe it but leave it untill spring. It will be kind of nasty looking but will wipe off clean and reprotect and you are good to go. Your vynyl will last a lot longer.

[CRoe]

Thanks everyone for the sugestions. I promise to try every one. I am familiar with all the things except 303. Could someome tell me more about it and where to get it? Thanks again for the help.

Clyde

[TX0303]

http://www.303products.com/
303 makes products for vinyl and fabric care. They have a dealer locator on their web site. West Marine and a lot of boat dealers will carry it as well as lawn furniture dealers, rv dealers. You can also buy it online but the fabric care is usually cheaper locally due to haz mat shipping charges.

[WaltF]

303 Aerospace Protectant for protection!
It Rocks!

[toondog]

I cant help you much with getting it clean but once you do I would suggest cleaning it and using a uv protectant such as amor all regularly. Also when shitting down for the winter the best bet is to spray a generous coat of amor all I mean spray it thick and dont wipe it but leave it untill spring. It will be kind of nasty looking but will wipe off clean and reprotect and you are good to go. Your vynyl will last a lot longer.

I don't know that I would use Armor All. I've read over the years that it is bad for the stitching. Here(<-clicky) is a discussion on it. You can do a search and come up with many more.

I took my observer seat, driver seat, and observer bench combing pad to a local upholstery shop to have them redone. While I was talking to the shop owner, she mentioned that I should never use Armor All on vynl because Armor All contains alchol. The alchol dries out the vynl.

Her suggestion was that after use, wipe with a soap and water mix. Then, apply pure mineral oil on all of the vynl. She explained that the mineral oil replenishes, softens, and protects the vynl. She did say to wipe the vynl down before the next use (slippery).

When I got back to the house I cleaned the remaining vynl. Then I applied mineral oil. I noticed that some places seemed to absorb the mineral oil and needed several applications until it left a shiny appearance.

I ask this because it was always my practice at the designated area at the launch ramp to wipe down all of the vynl with Armor All. I thought I was doing a good thing. My boat is 15 years old. Understand that the vynl might be a bit rigid. Tears in the stitched seams brought me to get it replaced this year.

[looneytoons]

Does anyone have any problems with mildew after applying 303 protectant? We've noticed lots of mildew several times when we come back to the boat after applying the 303. We made sure it was dry too.