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Rosalyn asked: How do I remove ink and sunscreen off a vinyl seat on a boat? My grandson had sunscreen on his legs and then drew on them with ink. The ink transferred to a vinyl seat on our boat.
When routine washing with a mild detergent doesn’t clean your vinyl boat seats, give this method a try. Results may vary depending on the condition of your seats, but you should see an improvement with only a small amount of effort.
You Will Need:
- Ammonia
- Rubbing alcohol
- Sponge
- Mild soap
- Water
- Vinyl Protectant
- Cotton cloth
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- Apply a small amount of ammonia on a clean sponge.
- Rub the sponge over the stained area gently to remove the ink and sunscreen. Repeat until the stain disappears (or you no longer see improvement).
- If the ink stains remain, rinse the sponge and moisten it with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Rub the alcohol over the stain until it disappears. Rinse immediately.
- Rinse the sponge well, then use soap and a mild detergent to remove all traces of the ammonia from the vinyl seat.
- Rinse the sponge again, then wipe the seat clean.
- Once the ink and sunscreen have been removed, follow up with a vinyl protectant. Wipe the protectant on with a cotton cloth (or follow product instructions).
Additional Tips and Advice
- Do not leave ammonia to “soak” into the vinyl. It may damage the seat or the stitching, particularly if exposed to sunlight.
- If ammonia doesn’t work, give Kids & Pets Stain Remover a try. It works on almost anything and is safe for vinyl.
- While vinyl can tolerate many cleaners, they should be removed promptly after the cleaning is completed. This will prevent them from being absorbed by the vinyl and weakening or damaging it.
The light tan vinyl seats on our boat have faded darker from the sun. Any recommendations for restoring this darker vinyl more to its original light tan?