Cleaning Pontoon Boat Seat Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew are a boaters worst friend.  Take a look at the following tips to keep your boat seats and pontoon furniture in tip top shape and mold free!

Additional information can be found at http://veada.com/cleaning.html. 

Mold and mildew are a bacteria that need dirt and grime to thrive.  Keeping your boat seats and pontoon furniture clean is one of the best preventative measures to stop mold and mildew in their tracks.

Cleaning Marine Vinyl on Boat Seats

For general purpose cleaning, use Z Clean, 303 Products Cleaner & Spot Remover, Fantastik (make sure the container says it is safe for vinyl) or mild dish soap (such as Dawn or Ivory) and very warm water. Using a soft bristle brush, gently scrub the complete boat seat.  Make sure to get in the small crevices and seams, where mold and
mildew are likely to start.  Rinse any remaining soap and cleaner off of the marine vinyl with plenty of water and towel dry.


Z Clean Cleaner is available at http://veada.com/marine-vinyl-boat-upholstery/zcare-marine-vinyl-cleaner.html 

For heavier soiled areas, use 303 Products Cleaner & Spot Remover.  Allow the cleaner to soak on your boat seats for approximately 10 minutes, then scrub gently with a soft bristle brush.  Rinse your boat seats as before.

How to Remove Boat Seat Mold

Taking preventative steps to stop boat seat mold and mildew before they start will save time, energy and money.  If marine vinyl mold or mildew is spotted, take action quickly to remove the mold using the cleaning steps above.  Marine vinyl on boat seats will have a clear top coat layer, which acts as the UV protection for the vinyl.  Catching boat seat mold before it penetrates this top coat will allow for easier removal.  Once mold penetrates the protective UV layer, the chances of cleaning the marine vinyl without removing parts of the UV layer at the same time become greater.  The boat seat mold may clean up, only to find your boat seats and marine vinyl, fading and cracking 6 months down the road.

What Not to Use

While some cleaners are safe to use on marine vinyl, many chemical cleaners are not.  Some will get the job done and remove the mold and mildew, only to eat away the top UV Protective layer.
use kerosene, gasoline or acetone, as they will remove the protective marine top coat.

Do not use the following products to clean mold from boat seats or marine vinyl.

• Silicone or petroleum based products. They will extract the plasticizers in the vinyl, leave it hard and brittle, and eventually cracking may occur.
• Kerosene, gasoline or acetone, as they will remove the protective marine top coat. 
• Never use a power washer on boat seats or marine vinyl upholstery.

If your boat seats have aged, given their useful life and are overcome with mold or mildew, it may be easiest and most cost effective to replace them with new boat seats.  Consider recovering your boat seats with new marine vinyl or custom colored boat seats at https://veada.com/pontoon-boat-seats.html.