Vinyl cleaners recomendations?

The seats I just got need a real good cleaning, anybody got any reccomendations on a good strong cleaner that won't hurt the 30 year old vinyl? I used some oxy blast on them and it helped, but they are still black mildew looking stains on them. They are tan, and I don't want to fade them anymore than they already are....

 

I scrubbed my LDO seats down with Fantastik and a nylon brush ... they looked brand new.

 

Good tip!!

 

I used some Mothers "[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][size=-1]PROTECTANT"[/size][/font] and a Mr Clean Magic Eraser on the seats in my 73, they came out great.

 

Make sure you wipe them often while scrubbing so the dirt does not settle back into the grain.

 

I use 'smooth' (as opposed to pumice) Gojo or Goop hand cleaner.
It has lanolin oil so not to dry out the vinyl.
Then, like others say, use a soft bristle bush and scrub out the grain.
I wipe it on with my hands, spreading into the grain.
Let it sit for a few minutes.
Scrub brush.
Soak it up with a good paper towel, like the blue shop towels.
Then repeat if needed.
After the grain is clear, you can wipe them really well and then use a protectant like Armorall.

This is my way...
Dave

 

Dow Scrubbing Bubbles...

 

Agree Dow Bathroom cleaner...

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, I hadn't thought about goop or dow scrubbing bubbles. The areas that I cleaned today looked good, but there were several bad places that the oxy blast didn't even dim. I'll try the goop tomorrow and see how it does first, then I may try the wifes bathroom cleaner if the goop don't get.....

 

Goop might not smell very good (at least not in the old days). The Permatex smells good, and it's cheap...

 

If it is mold or mildew, the bathroom cleaner might be the way to go.
I use the Goop because my work keeps me greasy and grimey, which in turn gets on my vinyl in my vehicles. Goop is great for that, however I have never tried it on mildew type stains. May or may not work for that.

 

I'm not really sure what the black stuff is, the seats have sat a long time probably outside with the windows down so it could be anything. If the goop don't cut it off, my try wd 40. I know it will take road tar off of paint, so it may work better.

Quote[T.L.Goop might not smell very good (at least not in the old days). The Permatex smells good, and it's cheap...]Quote



Not worried about the smell for now, they will have time to air out before I put them in the car....

 

The seats I put in my 1972 Orange Grabber were very moldy from sitting for 30 years in the attic of a body shop. I wasn't even sure if they would clean up. I used a product called Or-Pha-Lee Kleen. I got it from a vendor at a flea market...but one can buy it on-line. Most current cleaners and cleaning compounds are chemical based. Many of them contain chlorine, ammonia acid, abrasives ethylene glycol and other potentially harmful ingredients. Or-Pha-Lee Kleen is enzyme based. Enzyme based cleaners are more expensive to make, but they contain only natural ingredients.

I really like it because it did not require a lot of rinsing. Being all natural...it dries and leaves no residue.

Let me tell you,....it did the job. My seats look brand new. No need to wear gloves when using it...since there are no chemicals. A very small amount goes a long, long, way.

Find it at: www.orphaleekleen.com

 

UPDATE: After about two hours scrubbing with Dawn dish detergent and about 6 SOS pads, I got most of the black stains off, but some of it was impossible to get off. The seats are presentable but not as good as I want them. Discovered the springs in the cushion on the passenger seat were compleatly rusted into, we didn't even notice that the other day. Must have sat in a very wet place at some time. I have another set of seats with good springs but totally destroyed covers I'll have to swap out with. I'm thinking I may have to redye them to get rid of the rest of the black junk. I know some of you have used the spray on dye with good success, what brand did you use and where did you get it? Mine are the light tan color.....

 

I had mine reupholstered...