best mildew killer

[William F.]

What's best product to kill mildew on vinyl seats/ upholstery without harming it?
Thanks

[Ed S.]

Re: best mildew killer

Killing mold spores and cleaning the black stains they deposit are two different things. Bleach or a water &bleach solution does a good job at both but it may fade the color of the vynil. Ultra violet light will kill the spores. Soap and water will wash off the black residue if it is on the surface of the vynil. If it is down in the pours of the.vynil you may never get it out

[Larry E.]

Re: best mildew killer

FWIW>JMHO>Household Vinegar does it for me. Harmless to material and smell goes away in a day or two.
Larry

[William F.]

Re: best mildew killer

Full strength white vinegar or diluted?
Thanks

[Larry E.]

Re: best mildew killer

Full strength white vinegar or diluted?
Thanks

I use white vinegar with a 50-50 mix. On stubborn stains I have used it full strength with good results. Larry

[William F.]

Re: best mildew killer

Thanks, but to be clear it's not stains, it's the white powder, guess it's the spores. Need to kill it. Lysol? Boat upholstery mildew product ( but it says "stain remover")

[Jeff W.]

Re: best mildew killer

I've had the best success using Starbrite Stain Remover to REDUCE the staining. Walmart in the boating section of a superstore. <$10. For killing the stuff, 50:50 mix of 100% ethanol and water, soaked in it for 30 minutes if possible. I literally filled my seats with this 'cocktail'. Home Depot sells 100% ethanol as denatured alcohol. I found it much more effective than bleach, peroxide, and an enzymatic killer.

[Patrick C.]

Re: best mildew killer

I always have a box of baking soda open in the car when its in storage. Kills the mildew smell.

[David M.]

Re: best mildew killer

Try Concrobium. Its available at Home Deep Hole. This product is 99.5% H2O and ~.5% Trisodiumphosphate. Follow the instructions. Bleach doesnt kill the spores neither does vinegar. This stuff gets down to the spore and kills it dead! I've used this product with 100% success. I use it on everything from my pool diving board to cellar block foundation to snow mold roof stains on asphalt roofing shingles.

http://www.concrobium.com/

[Larry E.]

Re: best mildew killer

FWIW>
Vinegar is a mild acid which can kill 82% of mold species. (Baking soda is often used along with vinegar for killing different species of mold.) To kill mold: Use white distilled vinegar and pour it into a spray bottle without watering it down. Spray the vinegar onto the moldy surface and leave it to sit for an hour. Take your pick on the various solutions you have heard. Larry

[Patrick B.]

Re: best mildew killer

David-- I just tried Concrobium spray Mold Control on the woven 1970 seat material that seems particularly susceptible to mold and it worked great. No smell or danger of bleaching the color. Thanks for the good tip.

[David M.]

Re: best mildew killer

You're welcome!

[Mike F.]

Re: best mildew killer

Thanks, but to be clear it's not stains, it's the white powder, guess it's the spores.

Are you sure it just isn't the seat cushions breaking down from age and making a white dusty powder? I see that on early C3 interiors quite a bit.