Cleaning Suggestions for vinyl seats ?

[Kurt B.]

My vinyl seats have been in storage for the last 10 years and were properly cleaned and treated with protectant prior to storage. However, I picked them up today and they have gray mold on them. My first inclination was to give them a thorough washing in the driveway with a hose but then I decided against that as I don't want the padding inside to get all wet and damp and create more problems.
What are your suggestions for cleaning them up properly without doing more harm than good? They are black vinyl basket weave 68 seats with factory headrests.
Thank you,
Kurt

[Grant M.]

Re: Cleaning Suggestions for vinyl seats ?

Kurt,

I'd recommend a careful cleaning with a product like 'fantastik' or '409', which should clean the mold away as well as any staining as well. Don't leave it on too long and don't soak the woven seats. Do a small area at a time and rinse using a well dampened cloth (not dripping wet) followed by a dry towel or paper towels. Follow-up with something like Lexol Vinylex to restore the sheen and keep the vinyl soft and flexible.

As an aside, you mentioned that the seats were "treated with protectant" before storage. If the "protectant" was anything like armor-all or its many imitators, you may have caused the mold formation. Many of these silicone-based protectants also have a significant proportion of water in their mixture, and unless used very sparingly on upholstery to be stored, they actually facilitate mold growth.

Good luck.

grant

[Kurt B.]

Re: Cleaning Suggestions for vinyl seats ?

Grant,
Thank you for the excellent suggestions.
You are correct that the seats were stored with a fairly heavy application of ArmorAll. I thought I was doing a good thing but in hindsight I may have contributed to my mold problem. I remember long ago when ArmorAll first came to the market it was heralded as the greatest thing on earth and everyone used it. Now I read more and more about why one should NOT use ArmorAll. Live and learn.

I will try your cleaning suggestions this evening as time permits. Thanks again,
Kurt

[Gerard F.]

Lemon Pledge

I use Lemon Pledge Furniture Polish on my black vinyl 67 seats (after cleaning).

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Don Izzo]

glyceryn soap!

When I clean my leather saddles I use glyceryn soap. It comes in a bar and can be bought at most home centers or neighborhood hardware stores for cheap. Simply dampen a rag with water, rub it on the bar of soap and rub it on the leather or vinyl surface to be cleaned until it lathers up, then just wipe clean with a clean rag. It takes off all the yuck and sweat stains a horse can possible emit onto a saddle as well as dye from my chaps or bluejeans. After cleaning I apply a coating of lexol dressing and my saddles are show ready!

Don

[Kurt B.]

Re: glyceryn soap!

Thanks all for the input. Will clean them tonight. I have a can of saddle soap is that the same as glyceryn soap?
Kurt

[Donald M.]

Re: Cleaning Suggestions for vinyl seats ?

Kurt, Not to digress from your initial subject, BUT, now you've got me concerned about using Armor-All on upholstery. If you can remember, could you let us know just what the bad part of using Armor-All is? Maybe Duke can
weigh in if he has any info,also. Thanx!
Don

[Kurt B.]

Re: Cleaning Suggestions for vinyl seats ?

Don,
I read or heard somewhere long ago that Armorall contains something that weakens the thread in the upholstery or in the case of the vinyl, the thread that holds the seat panels together (the stitching), and also that the chemicals in Armorall, over time, are actually harmful to the vinyl rather than preserving it. I am not a chemist so do not know if any of this is true or not but after hearing negative things from so many Corvette owners on various Corvette forums, I decided to no longer use it. My Mercedes dealer also cautioned me against using it on the leather seats in my Benz and he has frequently been invited to dispaly some of his cars at Pebble Beach so I have a tendency to listen when he speaks about automotive subject matter. I use the Leatherique products for the Benz and also for the leather furniture in our home. Works well and is allegedly not harmful to the hides. Who knows, 10 years from now we will be told that Lexol and Leatherique are harmfula nd that we should use Armorall for sunscreen to prevent cancer. Things constantly change and it is hard to know what to believe.
Kurt

[Kurt B.]

Re: Cleaning Suggestions for vinyl seats ?

Success.
Gentlemen,
I followed your suggestions and the seats and headrests are done and look like new. No trace of any dirt or mold and as soon as my son gets the kick panel speakers replaced, we will be ready to install the seats over the new carpeting. It's coming together nicely.
Thank you for your help.
Kurt