BOATING FAQ – Page 18 – Best Boat Report

3 Proven Ways to Remove Mildew From A Boat! If you own a boat you know what a chore it can be to remove mildew from canvas and other surfaces like vinyl. On my boat, I get a lot of mildew on the vinyl seat bolsters even though they sit outside in the sun. For this reason, I have tried a few different methods for cleaning mildew from boat canvas and vinyl. How Do You Remove Mildew From Boat Seats? So, how do you remove mildew from boat seats? Most boat upholstery and seat manufacturers suggest a bleach-water combination to remove mildew from your boat seats. In a bucket, mix a solution of 1 cup bleach and a1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of clean water. Saturate the canvas with the solution for 15 minutes and then blot or wipe off the solution. Then with clean water and let air dry. The Bleach Formula: 1 Cup Bleach 1/4 Cup Mild Soap 1 Gallon Water (I prefer warm water) How Do I Remove Mildew From Boat Canvas Without Using Bleach? There are two main ways to remove mildew from boat canvas without using bleach. The first formula uses borax and the second uses vinegar to remove mildew from your boat's canvas. Formula Using Borax To Remove Mildew From Canvas To remove mildew using the Borax formula, mix 1/2 cup of borax with 2 cups of water. I prefer to use warm water, but use what you have. Use a soft scrub brush that will not damage the fabric. Gently scrub the borax formula into the canvas and loosen up the mildew. Allow the formula to soak into the canvas so it can get deep into the fibers. Then after the solution soaks on the canvas for at least15 minutes or longer, rinse the canvas thoroughly to remove all of the borax solution. If the mildew is still present is may require a second treatment to fully remove the mildew. The Borax Formula: 1/2 Cup Borax 2 Cups Water (I prefer warm water) Formula Using White Vinegar To Remove Mildew From Canvas For generations, people have been using white vinegar as a cleaner around the house. If you are a boat owner, vinegar can be a helpful product to use to clean your boat too. Vinegar has many uses. One of the most helpful is using vinegar to remove mildew from your boat. If you do not want to use bleach to clean your boat canvas, white vinegar is a good alternative to try. Mix up a solution that is 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water. The brand of vinegar does not matter, I buy the cheapest gallon of vinegar I can find. The Vinegar Formula: 50% White Vinegar 50% Water You can also use 100% white vinegar and forgo the water. I have been known to put the vinegar in a pump sprayer and soak down the canvas. I let is sit for up to an hour and I try to keep it wet the whole time. If it starts to dry, I will mist it with a garden hose to help keep the vinegar wet and on the mildew stains. After it sits for that long, I use a soft scrub brush the agitate the canvas until the mildew comes off. Then I blast it with a ton of freshwater. Will Vinegar Make The Canvas Smell After It Dries? No, using white vinegar to clean mildew out of canvas will not cause the canvas to smell like vinegar after you rinse and dry the canvas. Once the vinegar dries completely you do not smell it at all. If you are still concerned about it, add a little Woolite or other mild soap to the mix, as was mentioned earlier to add a little fresh smell to the canvas. This is completely optional though. What if you do not want to mix up your own DIY solution for removing mildew? Are There Store-Bought Products That Will Remove Mildew From A Boat? There are plenty of products on the market that are designed to remove mildew from vinyl, canvas and other materials on a boat. While some of the products are just not that effective, I found that this product works the best for me. Amazon Link I prefer to keep a spray bottle of this stuff on my boat at all times. If I see any mold or mildew starting to form on any surface on the boat, I will spray it and let it soak for a few minutes. Then I use a small hand brush and I give it a few passes with the brush. I rinse it well so it does not sit there too long and that usually is enough to take care of most mildew issues. I have also found that you can buy it in bigger gallon containers online, but I just keep buying the smaller 32-ounce spray bottles. Every now and then I end up breaking one of the spray bottles so I like just being able to grab another one and not having to deal with pouring the chemicals into another hand spray bottle. Obviously, that is just personal preference. Conclusion Mildew on a boat is a real pain and an eyesore for sure. We all take great pride in keeping our boats clean and looking their best. When I use any of the methods listed above (especially the bleach formula), it amazes me that even what I thought was clean vinyl or canvas, it still comes out looking better than before I used the solution to clean the boat. Bonus Tip: Clean Your Boat Hull With Toilet Bowl Cleaner! Does It Actually Work?