Vinyl Bled - Cleaning Suggestions

[optik45]

The weirdest thing happened while I was on vacation. I was gone for about 7 days and while I was gone we had bad storms. Apparently one of my cover support poles fell down and allowed rain water to gather in the bow end of the boat cover. The bow seats were supporting the weight of the water and when I removed the water and removed the cover, I found that the red vinyl coloring from the bow seats bled into the white parts of the vinyl seats and also bled and ran down the fiberglass bow. The boat is a 1990 so the vinyl seats are no where near new. What caused the coloring to bleed? Was it just the shear weight of the water ontop of them or could the vinyl cleaner I used by a company called BlueMagic? What would be the best way to remove these stains?

Thanks

 

[optik45]

Re: Vinyl Bled - Cleaning Suggestions

Yeah it is really weird. You can see where the water was resting on the vinyl, the red is not so red anymore, it is more of a faded pink. I've used the Magicblue vinyl cleaner before with no issue, perhaps its the combination of the intense weight and moisture of the water on the cover and the old oxidized vinyl seats that caused it to bleed out. Either way Ill try that method and see if I can clean it up

On another complete newbie note. Is there any harm in bringing a hose into the boat and hosing out the carpet as long as the plug is pulled and the boat is allowed to dry? Im used to aluminum or all fiberglass boats and not ones with carpet in them.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Vinyl Bled - Cleaning Suggestions

Yeah it is really weird. You can see where the water was resting on the vinyl, the red is not so red anymore, it is more of a faded pink. I've used the Magicblue vinyl cleaner before with no issue, perhaps its the combination of the intense weight and moisture of the water on the cover and the old oxidized vinyl seats that caused it to bleed out. Either way Ill try that method and see if I can clean it up

On another complete newbie note. Is there any harm in bringing a hose into the boat and hosing out the carpet as long as the plug is pulled and the boat is allowed to dry? Im used to aluminum or all fiberglass boats and not ones with carpet in them.

I've got no idea how to address the bleed problem. But I do know that you can use one of those household rental steam cleaners (with upholstery attachment) to get the boat carpets clean as new. I tried it in my old 14 footer, and it litterally made the carpets look new. Also the carpet cleaning chemicals you get with the units have a drying agent that'll help dry them out for you in short order.

Ian

 

[DaveHarlos]

Re: Vinyl Bled - Cleaning Suggestions

I have the same issue with red dye from a cheap beach towel. Nothing seems to get it out. I posted it here and the solution seems to be letting it fade in the sunlight.

Cheers, Dave