Deep cleaning vinyl

C

carl170

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halcyon23.blogspot.co.uk
Hi all. Yet more questions!

Is there a product that will bring vinyl up like new? I have a couple of cushions where the top surface is really manky and could use a really good clean. I have tried a few cheap car products, but they don’t seem to be very good.

All opinions gratefully received!

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Carl
 
Any chandlery will have a range of products. I bought some in May for my flybridge seating. Came in a black trigger spray bottle and brought them up like new, even more so with a “magic sponge”. Did the RIB tubes with it as well!
 
My white vinyl came up a treat with Cillit Bang Mould and Mildew remover. But use it away from fabrics as it bleaches. It also worked well on my fenders, the results were as good as the very pricey Star Brite product that's meant to be made for the job.
 
This is what I used: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003VSRWVI/ref=pe_385721_129912251_TE_3p_dp_2

Worked well. Interior vinyl cushions (yes, I would love to change the material but can't afford to); it's shocking how they get soiled with offshore use. And kids who put their boots up when they wouldn't at home. I took the cushions up on deck to do the job.

Once upon a time a hedukation was on offer to me in something called kemistry. Somehow I switched off for that bit with the result that now I don't understand how any of this stuff works. If I did, rather than spending money on fancy branded products I could just buy the active ingredient. Deck cleaning? You need oxalic acid. Vinyl cleaning? Absolutely no idea; ask the chandlery, out with the chequebook and get taken to the cleaners (sorry).
 
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I was expecting the car products to work but they were prettty week and just removed a little surface dirt. I am a bit wary of the stuff sold in chandlers as I’m never sure that I’m not overpaying for something I could buy in a supermarket for a lot less.

Regards

Carl
 
I found "Armor All" very effective, helped preserve and protect my vinyl canopy vey well and the canopy was also easily washed after use.
 
"Vanish" stain removing bar soap. Not the spray...... the hard bar of soap.... stunning results.... but can take a bit of the shine off new vinyl.

It can also be used to wash in salt water......
 
There is a sliding scale, I believe that starts off with Ken Dodds feather duster and runs all the way to Acetone.

What is required will depend on the substance held within the creases and pores of the vinyl.

9 times out of 10, it's some diesel, aviation fuel, sun tan lotion etc, all of which requires de-greasing.

Any de-greaser isn't going to be great for the vinyl when compared to the feather duster, but deep clean usually means - let's try and get this back to raw and start again.

I've bought back from the dead my fair share of vinyl seating and a de-greaser has been at the root of all trapped. I've feather dustered quite a few more and this is of course how to treat all cosmetics - with caution and the least aggressive.

An aggressive tool for cleaning vinyl rather than a normal sponge or cloth is the good old melamine (aka Magic sponge) as MattW suggests this dense sponge will get into the creases and nooks of the vinyl. This is for deep cleaning restoration only and not as a daily cleaning tool.
Isopropanol alcohol is in the same kind of family as acetone. It can be found raw and used with a cloth, but also surprisingly it can be found within wetted baby wipes.


Tony
 
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