frilaens
Well-Known Member
I have a rough, synthetic, foam-backed covering stuck to a bulkhead and the hull in an aft cabin that has always had mildew stains and oil spots. What would be the best way to clean it in situ?
Cleaning textile lining/removing mildew
- Thread starter frilaens
- Start date
Talbot
Well-Known Member
By clean do you mean remove it or get rid of the stains?
If you mean remove the mildew etc, then the best way would probably be to use a mildew cleaner designed for bathrooms (testing for colour fastness first, and or a small steam cleaner. (the steam alone should kill the mildew spores).
If you mean remove the mildew etc, then the best way would probably be to use a mildew cleaner designed for bathrooms (testing for colour fastness first, and or a small steam cleaner. (the steam alone should kill the mildew spores).
fastjedi
Well-Known Member
We had some forming on the inside of the hull lining a few weeks ago. Attacked it with Starbrite Mildew Remover - It didn't appear to be immediately effective, but it's gone now. However, when they say test it on a small area first they really mean it. It was fine on our carpet lining and seat cushions, but it beached a bed sheet within a few seconds
frilaens
Well-Known Member
Get rid of the stains... as it covers quite a large area to varying degrees I need something that can easily be applied and removed. I thought about spraying with bleach, leaving it for a while and then spraying again with fresh water to rinse it and then use a wet vacuum cleaner to remove the excess. Maybe steam cleaning would work...
pvb
Well-Known Member
Bleach...
Most mould/mildew cleaners are basically only bleach, so using a simple bleach solution would be more cost-effective. However, you'd probably get better results with a cleaning product containing disodium octaborate, which is a powerful fungicide. This should be shown in the ingredients list on the label.
Most mould/mildew cleaners are basically only bleach, so using a simple bleach solution would be more cost-effective. However, you'd probably get better results with a cleaning product containing disodium octaborate, which is a powerful fungicide. This should be shown in the ingredients list on the label.
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Re: Bleach...
A more benign method is to use Milton fluid. Same result but not quite so caustic – or whatever bleach is!
Sainsbury's have their own brand, which is as cheap as chips.
A more benign method is to use Milton fluid. Same result but not quite so caustic – or whatever bleach is!
Sainsbury's have their own brand, which is as cheap as chips.
pvb
Well-Known Member
Oh, not again...
When will people appreciate that Milton is basically just a weak solution of bleach - with a very expensive price tag. OK, it has been modified slightly (mainly by adding salt), but it's still basically bleach. If you prefer to use it in a water tank, that's perhaps understandable, but using it for general cleaning is like tearing up £10 notes (oh, but that's what boating's about, isn't it?)
When will people appreciate that Milton is basically just a weak solution of bleach - with a very expensive price tag. OK, it has been modified slightly (mainly by adding salt), but it's still basically bleach. If you prefer to use it in a water tank, that's perhaps understandable, but using it for general cleaning is like tearing up £10 notes (oh, but that's what boating's about, isn't it?)
tyce
Well-Known Member
Re: Oh, not again...
i have the same problem but because the material looks a bit dull, i was thinking of painting it white.
not sure how it will look after a year tho
i have the same problem but because the material looks a bit dull, i was thinking of painting it white.
not sure how it will look after a year tho
enterprise
Well-Known Member
Second the use of Starbright Mildew & Stain remover, does an excellent job.
pvb
Well-Known Member
Yes, that\'s bleach too...
Most branded "mildew removers" are just a bleach solution in a spray bottle.
Most branded "mildew removers" are just a bleach solution in a spray bottle.
FlyingSpud
Well-Known Member
It may sound daft, but I have found Flash Wipes seemed to do the trick, not sure why.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
As long as the material is synthetic, then bleach is your best bet. You'll never get material back to original, as the fungi damage the fibres.
Don't soak the fabric with the bleach, just rub gently.
Don't soak the fabric with the bleach, just rub gently.
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Re: Oh, not again...
Which is why I recommended the cheap Sainsbury's version.
At least it is mixed to the correct 'weakness', which I suspect is less hazardous than trying ot diilute a bottle of full strength Domestos. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Which is why I recommended the cheap Sainsbury's version.
At least it is mixed to the correct 'weakness', which I suspect is less hazardous than trying ot diilute a bottle of full strength Domestos. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
pvb
Well-Known Member
What can I say...
If you're not confident about mixing a dilute solution of bleach, maybe your username is fully justified! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
If you're not confident about mixing a dilute solution of bleach, maybe your username is fully justified! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
frilaens
Well-Known Member
OK, so the consensus is bleach, and how to apply it. But how to remove it afterwards? Or would it degrade?
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Re: What can I say...
You got it in one!
My new username, formerly crisser, was a result of a drunken night with a load of boaties on Saturday. Not due to a real catastrophe, but a close shave in the infamous Swellies when a big MOBO insisted on entering from the East and trying to squeeze me between himself and Prices point.
Swelly Rock Diagram
Apparently, it could only happen to me.
From now on, not only am I going to use ready diluted bleach, but I may try and find some ready diluted rum. Head still hurts!
You got it in one!
My new username, formerly crisser, was a result of a drunken night with a load of boaties on Saturday. Not due to a real catastrophe, but a close shave in the infamous Swellies when a big MOBO insisted on entering from the East and trying to squeeze me between himself and Prices point.
Swelly Rock Diagram
Apparently, it could only happen to me.
From now on, not only am I going to use ready diluted bleach, but I may try and find some ready diluted rum. Head still hurts!
pvb
Well-Known Member
Application...
Add 50ml of ordinary cheap household bleach to about 2 litres of warm water. Add a squirt of washing-up liquid. Mix. Wear rubber gloves and protective goggles. Cover any upholstery, woodwork, etc with polythene sheeting. Using a thin sponge, rub the bleach solution on to the soiled area. If the texture of the covering is very rough, you might use a nailbrush to work into the texture. Leave for a couple of hours. Wipe down with a sponge and warm water. Allow to dry. Repeat if required.
Oil spots can often be removed with mild solvents such as white spirit, meths, nail varnish remover, etc, but test on a hidden part first because solvents can sometimes cause synthetic materials to go sticky.
Add 50ml of ordinary cheap household bleach to about 2 litres of warm water. Add a squirt of washing-up liquid. Mix. Wear rubber gloves and protective goggles. Cover any upholstery, woodwork, etc with polythene sheeting. Using a thin sponge, rub the bleach solution on to the soiled area. If the texture of the covering is very rough, you might use a nailbrush to work into the texture. Leave for a couple of hours. Wipe down with a sponge and warm water. Allow to dry. Repeat if required.
Oil spots can often be removed with mild solvents such as white spirit, meths, nail varnish remover, etc, but test on a hidden part first because solvents can sometimes cause synthetic materials to go sticky.
John_Clarke
Well-Known Member
Isopropyl alcohol for mildew
We had mildew on our beige coloured curtains. Bleach would have marked this fabric so I used isopropyl alcohol as recommended by a website. Maplins sell this in a spray can and it is marketed as ‘Servisol IPA 170’.
I sprayed it on and let it dry. It killed the mildew and reduced the staining quite a bit to light grey fleckles rather than black ones. You have to look hard to see them. It did not mark the fabric in anyway.
I see on http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/publications/ccinotes/pdf-documents/n8-1_e.pdf that it is recomended for conservation of leather.
We had mildew on our beige coloured curtains. Bleach would have marked this fabric so I used isopropyl alcohol as recommended by a website. Maplins sell this in a spray can and it is marketed as ‘Servisol IPA 170’.
I sprayed it on and let it dry. It killed the mildew and reduced the staining quite a bit to light grey fleckles rather than black ones. You have to look hard to see them. It did not mark the fabric in anyway.
I see on http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/publications/ccinotes/pdf-documents/n8-1_e.pdf that it is recomended for conservation of leather.