Cleaning and Protecting white leather seats and upholstery

[Deep in Depth]

We find on our 410DA the aft upper seats are constantly dirty with some sort of greasy dirt or spider crap. The removable cushion on the starboard is often very dirty when we get lazy and just step on it to gain access to that side of the boat.

I am sure most of you have similar problems and I have tried lots of products to keep the white leather seats and upholstery clean and protected. Nothing seems to "really" work. Is there a trick in the leather care business that someone could share?

 

[David Paul]

You say leather, but I am assuming you mean vinyl. If that is the case use Spray Nine to clean them and 303 Protectant on them afterwards. That combination has always worked well for me in the past. The Spray Nine cleans well and is safe for use on Vinyl. The 303 is about the best thing I know of to protect the vinyl.

 

[boltman]

Try looking up Slimy Grimy online, I've used there products now for a year, but only to clean the bottom of the boat, they have cleaners for everything....

 

[sbw1]

I wipe my seats down weekly with a clean white towl and plain water. Still look new.

 

[MonacoMike]

Meguiars vinyl and rubber is fantastic. It brought my 13 year old cockpit back to near new condition. I do my cleaning, keep my application rag on board, and use it for touch-ups or after each use. It keeps spills or foot prints from staining and the material feeling supple.

MM

 

[Deep in Depth]

I've tried the 303 with good results. If that is the best on the market, I guess that is the product. I will take a second attempt in the spring.

Thanks

 

[Carver370]

I've tried the 303 with good results. If that is the best on the market, I guess that is the product. I will take a second attempt in the spring.

Thanks

It needs to be cleaned before the 303 is applied. People will cringe at this idea but I have done it for years with no negative effect and many of my friends have done the same on their Sea Rays.

Get yourself a couple boxes of Mr. Clean Magic erasers, some clean towels and the 303 Protectant. Spray the 303 liberally on the seats, rub very lightly in circular motions with the magic eraser and wipe clean with the clean towel. You are effectively using the 303 as a lubricant but the plus side is you are protecting the seats in once step. You don't want to rub hard unless you have a scuff or stubborn stain. Do not use this method to clean all the time but once its clean its just a quick wipe with the 303 and you're done.

I wipe my seats down once a week with the 303 after my weekly boat wash and they still look like brand new since 1994.

 

[Nehalennia]

I really like 303's vinyl and fabric cleaner. Dilute it 50% and you are good to go. Let it soak for a bit and wipe with microfiber towel.

 

[Bucit]

I was on Shurholds website yesterday and they have a mold product made for vinyl. Has anybody tried this on the cushions that have mold spots? I was told that once you see the small mold spots that they grow from inside out so by cleaning the outside of the cushion you will never really get rid of the mold spots, they will always come back.

 

[sbw1]

The use of sun screen raises hob with seats. We don't use much because of the hardtop, but if you do lather the stuff on, it helps to protect seats with beach towels.

 

[Asureyez]

Okay, her I go ... my white 9 YO cockpit vinyl has been near its end of life for three lives now. I keep bringing back the dead and here is what and how I do it.

There is solvent used to thin vinyl bottom paint. Every paint house has one, but the ingredients are something you can cobble together if you don't want to pay the steep paint shop prices.

Mix 9 parts Methyl Isobutal Ketone MIK and 1 part Xylol (Xylol slows down the flash off). put the solvent in to a clean metal pail, I use a gallon tomato sauce can. Take a soft rag and saturate it with the solvent to the point just before dripping, and scrub the vinyl surfaces stiffly in long strokes, turning the rag frequently as the grime is drawn in to it. Rinse the rag in the solvent and work the seating area completely. The leather grain will give up the grime. When the seating is done, then wash with a good water based vinyl cleaner I like Spray Nine as well.

When dry, treat with 303 Protectorant. I swab on a heavy coat of 303 and allow soak in to near dry then buff with a micro towel, then do it again. The vinyl with be bright, shiney and supple for a entire year. Just keep it wiped down to prevent wet dirt from soaking in.

 

[Sundancer123]

Clorox kitchen cleaner with bleach in safe area