Cleaning Boat Cushion

I'm getting my boat ready for liveaboard. I've already washed the cushion covers from the previous owner, but I need to wash or clean the spongy yellow foam that make up the cushion. I can see some mold has built up and I don't want to buy new right now. Any help is appreciated on this one!

Bleach will kill it but since the foam is made of a synthetic, it will damage it. You might want to try DampRid's Mold & Mildew Remover and Protector for fabrics. It doesn't damage synthetics, you spray it on and it kills both the mold you see and the spores you don't that will cause it to come back. You can find it at Lowes Home Improvement center in the cleaning aisle.

2008-07-11 11:13:24 by obviously_uninformed

Helpful information from StarBrite about cleaning vinyl surfaces on your boat like boat seats and cushions.

Well I had a fun summer and as I'm preparing to put my boat in for winter I realized the cover blew off and the interior is soaked with mud leaves and water. I thoroughly cleaned it with soapy water and even tried vinyl cleaner. While most off the dirt and grime are gone in the cracks or I guess more correctly the grain of the vinyl some dirt is still there and where my cushions butted up next to each other there is a yellow discoloration on my white seats. The boat is an 06 Malibu wakesetter and I really don't want to buy a new interior to get the new interior look again. I have read several posts with conflicting answers. Has anybody encountered this problem and successfully remedied? Thanks for all your help. P.S. Any ideas or products that would be available today at a local store would be wonderfull as the local boat dealer is closed for the holiday! Thanks again.

I can understand your concern, the price tag for new upholstery isnt something to bat an eye at!

If your cushions are white vinyl, what couldnt you use a dilute bleach-water?

Otherwise, I would call a reputable boat-detailer and ask what they would charge to scrub it out or if they have any tips to get the mud stains of the vinyl

EITHER way, you are stuck through the holday

2007-12-24 11:30:18 by Robert m

Price: $134.99 $100.19

It is for a boat and I am unsure if I can put them in the washing machine as I don't know how the vinyl will react. Any suggestions?

I would use upholstery cleaner like Resolve, Folex, Woolite, Spot shot, etc. on the fabric side working it in with a brush until clean. Then I would use regular 409 or other multi-purpose cleaner on the vinyl side. That is how I clean my patio cushions that are constructed like this after learning that the washer shreds the internal foam in the spin cycle.

2008-05-28 12:51:11 by kerry c

Price: $198.49 $157.35

I am sure there are lots of boaters that have this happen all the time with their boats - even when they are covered, as long as they are left outside for an extended period of time, uncovered or not, the white fiberglass develops a layer of dirt/grime and also spots of black mold where moisture collects. Having been a very rainy humid summer here, my boat sat out in a dirt storage yard (uncovered, I know DUH stupid) - for about 2 months - it is an open center console fishing boat about 20' long, plain white fiberglass interiror, center console, seat in front and behind the console. Typical layout. But the ENTIRE surface of the interior is just covered with a nasty dirty layer of black grime, dirt and mold now. Its a friggin' mess. I know I can just start with the hose and scrub brush an inch at a time, but is there ANY way to safely spray some prep cleaner solution on the entire interior and let it soak in and start disolving some of this mold/grime. I know I can maybe use some kind of cleanser, hot water, and bleach in the water - but with the gelcoat still being new on this boat, and the soft vinyl covered white seat cushions, I hesitate to use too strong of a cleanser or too much bleach since its so easy to damage the surfaces permanently. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Its a balancing act between getting this grime off, and not damaging sensitive surfaces like gelcoat and vinyl upholstry. This is surely one of the most common cleaning challenges everyone with a boat has from time to time - any help is greatly appreciated !!!

I have usually stuck with the bleach, esp when mold is involved. Some mildew sprays like x-14 have bleach in them and are very strong. Clorox clean-up with bleach (the green one, not the blue one) works wonders and I have never had an issue with it on old or new gelcoat. Spray it on, leave it for about 30 sec to a min then use a clean wet rag to get all the gunk off, then hose off. Work in sections, it wont take that long. save the brush for the really bad areas, then go back over with the rag

rinse the whole thing out good first, then you might start with a mild cleaner like 409, spray nine, or fantastic orange, that will clean most of it, save the stronger ones like full strength simple green or the bleach for the tough areas and the mold.

I have had no issue with the vinyl and the bleach spray as long as you don't let it sit more that 30 sec to a min, and since yours are white, you should be good.

2009-09-18 05:56:23 by BP

Places where CFCs are:
1. Foam-take home food
2. Spray anti-persprint
3. Car AC
4. cleaning fluids
5. boat horns...
6. sealants
7. frigdes
8. foam cushions
9. (foam?) insulations

Regulated CFCs have been eliminated from all processes and products, except a few rare cases where no substitute has been found. Normal people do not have contact with them. You may want to read through the links provided by USEPA.

2007-04-15 16:22:54 by bananaflip