How do you get black stains off boat seats?—Doughty, via email
It depends on what caused the stains. You didn’t say, but David Brunatti of Brunatti & Sons, a boat fabric maker in Parry Sound, Ont., suspects that they’re from mould or mildew. The harsher the cleaner, the better it will get rid of the stains, “but those cleaners can also harm vinyl material,” he says. He recommends a product designed for car cleaning, such as Armor All. “We know it won’t damage the vinyl, and it provides some UV protection.”
If moisture caused the stains, the best way to prevent more staining is to keep the inside of the boat as dry as possible, says Brunatti. “The end of the season is most important for this. Boats go away wet and don’t have a chance to dry out over the cold winter, which can cause your seating to be a mess in the spring.”
Your guide to cleaning just about anything at the cottage
Before you store your boat this fall, give it a thorough cleaning. (Seats are also prone to getting stained from sunscreen and dried out—and eventually cracked—from perspiration.) Then, choose a sunny day, and “remove any covers, open up the boat—all hatches in the ceiling, storage, and floor—and let it dry out,” says Brunatti.
Got a question for Cottage Q&A? Send it to answers@cottagelife.com.
This article was originally published in the Sept./Oct. 2023 issue of Cottage Life magazine.
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