Mildew, mold, leaf stains, and pinking on vinyl or leather upholstery often cannot be completely cleaned, but they can be concealed with a new color. Mold and mildew are fungi and must first be killed, so they do not colonize and grow through the new finish.
Learn how to kill mold on leather.
Learn how to kill mold on vinyl.
Learn how to treat pinking on vinyl.
How to Kill Mold on Leather
Denatured or rubbing alcohol (the higher the percentage, the better) is recommended for treating mold on leather upholstery. Spray or pour alcohol onto the surface. Gently scrub, and let the alcohol to sit for at least a half hour or until it evaporates. Repeat as needed.
Lemon juice and distilled white vinegar, while effective in treating mold, are more acidic and may damage the pH of the leather. Never use abrasive cleaners like borax or baking soda on leather.
Once the mold / mildew has been treated, a pigmented finish will conceal any remaining stains.
If the mold is present on the interior stuffing, if you’re concerned about mycotoxins, or if the mold returns after treating the leather, the items should be placed in a sealed ozone chamber for several days. This will deprive the fungus of oxygen and kill it. Fire or flood restoration companies usually have an ozone chamber. Otherwise, the piece will require reupholstery or total replacement.
How to Kill Mold on Vinyl
There are a few options for treating mold on vinyl that you may already have on hand.
Lemon juice and distilled white vinegar are non-toxic and effective in killing many mold species. Denatured or rubbing alcohol (the higher the percentage, the better) can also be used and are less acidic. Whichever you choose, apply to the surface, and gently scrub. Let it sit for at least a half hour or until it evaporates. Repeat as needed.
Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach), found in products like Marine 31® Mildew Remover, is also effective and works quickly to lighten stains. It is very noxious, however, and can damage fabrics and clothing.
Never use abrasive cleaners like borax, baking soda, or Soft Scrub® on vinyl.
Once the mold / mildew has been treated, a pigmented finish will correct any remaining stains.
If the mold is present on the interior stuffing or if you’re concerned about mycotoxins, contact a local fire or flood restoration company, and have the components treated in an ozone chamber. Otherwise, the piece will require reupholstery or replacement.
How to Treat Pinking on Vinyl
Pinking is a phenomenon that results in pink stains on vinyl boat upholstery.
Bacterial pinking occurs in humid climates where Streptoverticillium reticulum produces a pink dye that stains the vinyl. It has a splotchy appearance. Pinkaway Solution will remove bacterial pinking from white or off-white vinyl, but it may fade other colors.
Chemical pinking occurs in arid regions where heat melts the glue within the vinyl which bleeds through the surface and results in a pink smear. Chemical pinking will fade after a few hours in direct sun, but it will return once covered and exposed to high temperatures.
In either case, Rub ‘n Restore® finishes will hide the stains and add UV protection to the vinyl.
How do you specifically use the bleach water to kill it?
Rub it on with a rag or sponge, let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Proceed with normal cleaning procedure for restoration.
Interesting thank you
Bleach doesn’t kill mold..only removes appearance of.
Vinegar kills mold and is in no way as damaging as bleach.
Thank you; you inspired me to research this further with a certified mold inspector and update the article. Vinegar only kills 82% of mold species, but yes, less toxic than bleach. We still prefer alcohol to vinegar on leather, which has a more neutral pH.
What products do you recommend.
No Mold but cracked and pealing balusters/ back rests as well. All cracked on top from sun damage.
Can not wait to use your products.
Marine White & Red.
Bayliner boat…19 ft. I want enough product to do all of the interior.
Sounds like filler (but read this first about cracking vinyl), Marine White, a red (which may require customization) and Clear Prep+Finish will do. We can be of more help if you submit the evaluation.
Our boat wells have mold in them what is the best way to clean them out??