What is the BEST vinyl stain remover?

[bottomless pit]

<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>This is a discussion about what is the absolute best thing to get Blue Berry , inks. and cloth dye off of your White vinyl without hurting it.
I know the (solution) is among us.
...PIT...
PS: On the 4th of July I wore a cheap flag swim suit, and It transfered all of it's Dye to one of my white Mcleod's. >: I tried everything I had at the dock, 10 different things, and nothing would touch it. I told Nancy to have BTM just go ahead and order a new seat about $5000.00 installed. Sue Mrs BTM, came down and in about 10 minutes had it back to new.:|
Because I didn't want to watch,8o I really didn't find out what she used.


</FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Results (total votes = 6):</FONT><table bgcolor=#FFFFFF border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width="75%">
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Energene</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>0&nbsp;/&nbsp;0.0%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#8A2BE2><TD NOWRAP>
<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Lacquor Thinner</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>0&nbsp;/&nbsp;0.0%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan=3 height=1></tr><TR BGCOLOR=#8A2BE2><TD NOWRAP>
<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Carbon tetra chloride</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>0&nbsp;/&nbsp;0.0%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td></td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Soft scrub</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>1&nbsp;/&nbsp;16.7%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=50 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Other......</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>5&nbsp;/&nbsp;83.3%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=250 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<a href=http://p201.ezboard.com/fteambajamarinefrm75.showMessage?topicID=372.topic><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Vote Now</FONT></a> &nbsp

[ckmansell]

Pit, I guarantee you she used acetone. It is great for all hard and soft plastics as long as you do not get carried away with it. (do not use on clear) Just put on a good protectant after its use. I use it on the white rub rail and all of my fenders every spring. BRIGHT WHITE!!!

[Big E]

NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING WORKS BETTER THAN GOOF OFF. IT AVAILABLE IN THE PAINT DEPT AT LOWES, HOME DEPOT OR ANY HARDWARE STORE. FOR THE STAINS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT INCLUDING FINGER NAIL POLISH NOTHING WORKS BETTER. ITS CHEAP TOO!! A BOTTLE GOES A LOOOONGGGGG WAY. PUT A COUPLE DROPS ON A TOWEL OR PAPER TOWEL AND YOUR BLUEBERRY STAINS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF STAIN IS GONE, NO HARM AT ALL TO THE INTERIOR.:D

[bottomless pit]

GOOF OFF, Thanks Big E, Well That sounds great!!! I will add that to the locker box this weekend. I bought a Qt. of Acetone and MEK. 8o
Does it come in a little Yellow and Red Can?
I think ive seen it.
...PIT.. :D

[BDannecker]

Goof Off is the ticket!

[ckmansell]

I know, I'm anal. But I also like the threads in the stitching in the seats to be real clean also. I usually use 409 or soft scrubb with a nylon brush on these seams. Does your goof off fair well here too? Or am I the only one that picky on this?

[eddie]

I have a few buddies that use Liquid Glass Connoisseur's Choice on the inside. Adam has a 1993 .38 and the inside looks like it new. I've tried to get the black out of the cracks on the sun deck of our 25 and it hasn't worked on that. Then we left a wet bud light box in the cuddy and it stained a cushion. I'll give this GOOF OFF a shot, can I order it on-line?

[bottomless pit]

I know, I'm anal. But I also like the threads in the stitching in the seats to be real clean also. Im with you here.
Ill know more this weekend.

...PIT...

[Big E]

I have never tried goof off on the stitching, just on the vinyl, I'm the same way on the stitching, after re-upholstering my sunpad last year on my old 252 after using Wesleys Wheel bright on it, I do not trust anything on the stitching. Goof off is the best thing on the vinyl though, it will take those 12 pack stains right off. There is one thing that I found that works on the stitching Pit, Big Thunder carries it in their highway store, it is biodegradable and it runs about 13 buck for a bottle. It comes in a large bottle and it goes a long way, you spray it on, get a bucket of water and wipe it with a sponge, rinse and wipe it off. I will remember the name here in a minute. Use goof off on the vinyl stains though it is safe, it comes in a yellow can, beware of the imposters, there is one in a white can that does not work near as well. Get the yellow can with the words Goof Off on it. I think Walmart even has it.

[bajacraig]

If it's "Enviro-clean", I have some on my boat that you can use Pit. I like it, works on every thing I've tried it on.

[Big E]

Okay now I remember the stuff big thunder carries to get the dinginess off of the seats and stitching, it is made by bio-kleen. You can get it online at

www.bio-kleen.com

under the marine section it is the vinyl cleaner. I found using this stuff will make your seats brighter but it will not take off stain like finger nail polish or blueberry/mulberry or bug stains, Goof Off does that.
I also used the quick shine from bio-kleen to shine up the hull it works pretty good. But I think the Simonize Boat spray that Walmart at LOTO carries, it works better for a hull shine. It comes in a black bottle. You spray it on it takes off minor scum and then you flip your towel and rub it again and your hull becomes slick as ice with a great shine. Its cheaper than the bio-kleen quick shine and I think works better.

But by all means for vinyl stains use GOOF OFF nothing works better even on shoe scuff marks.:D

[Big E]

Hey Craig - Are you guys going down this weekend? The wife and I are heading down and all my Fountain Buddies are not. We need someone to hang out with. We found a new cove to us at the 31 MM (the Fish Market Cove) we will be there Sat. afternoon if you want to stop by. Look for a 29 Outlaw with a single.:D

[bajacraig]

That's it BIO KLEEN, I like that stuff.

That is a nice little cove, we were just there on sat.

We would love to come BUT,>: this is the one week that we are not going to LOTO >:

The wife has some thing that she is dragging me to on sat. and she is bitching about it as I type this:rolleyes

I don't think I going to get out of it this time:x
I still owe you a beer and look forward to meeting up with you some time.

[bottomless pit]

I just bought a gal. of Goof Off.:lol
Might need to be a bit careful with it.
Will it work on Baja's Carpet?
:eek ...PIT...:D

[ckmansell]

E,
What does your 29 look like, we might be up that way this weekend.

[Big E]

Pit - Go easy on the goof off, a gallon will last you 10 to 20 years. Do not use it on carpet. Vinyl only. For a shoe scuff about the size of your fist all you need is about 4-6 drops on a white towel or paper towel and it will come off.:D

Curt - I have a 29 Outlaw colors black, yellow and purple. Black and yellow stripes with purple checkered flag on the rear sides. We will be up there probably around 12 or 1 Sat. Name of the boat is Dock Holiday.

[Big E]

Pit - Go easy on the goof off, a gallon will last you 10 to 20 years. Do not use it on carpet. Vinyl only. For a shoe scuff about the size of your fist all you need is about 4-6 drops on a white towel or paper towel and it will come off.:D

Curt - I have a 29 Outlaw colors black, yellow and purple. Black and yellow stripes with purple checkered flag on the rear sides. We will be up there probably around 12 or 1 Sat. Name of the boat is Dock Holiday. We will either go up to the 31 or to the aqua pizza cove or the cove thats on the opposite side of Porto Cima, (the cove thats on the grand glaize side of the community bridge)

[firehill19]

A detailer i used before a trip to Lake Travis used Greased Lightning on my seats. I was watching him when he did it and man what a difference. I bought some and also used it on my wheels of my trailer and a little on the side of my boat when grease from my wheels made it up the side (overfill). Any Home Depot or Lowe's has it. But i'm always willing to try anything.

[Seize n Ticket]

Hey Craig, if I remember right you owe me a beer too!!! Since you won't be down this weekend, I guess I can start a tab at "Quackers" and leave it with the bar tender! :evil

[Seize n Ticket]

Big E I might just follow Curt up the lake and meet you as well. It's always nice to meet others who have the same boat as you do. Plus, I have been in just every cove on the lake from the 66 on down and I am not sure which one this is.

[bajacraig]

Don,

Where were you last weekend when I needed an escape from all the play group kids? :x
Once we got the hail I figured that you weren’t coming to save my A$$ :(

The cove is the first “real” cove just past The Mariner Yacht Club, about 1/4 mile. I think it’s called Linn Creek.

[bottomless pit]

I think Craig owes me a beer also from the Shooters incident.:o

[Seize n Ticket]

Yeah, I asked Curt today exactly, which cove they were talking about. Curt said it is the Linn Creek cove. I was up your way on Thursday and did we ever get some rain. We stopped out in the middle of the channel, since we had it to ourselves and went down in the cuddy...and had a few wobbley pops. The storm blew over and after a few wipes with the absorbers our boat was clean and off we went. By the way I stopped by and checked out your prop...that sucks! I happen to know where we can find one cheap...that is...unless Curt is down. We need to make sure we hook up next time you're down. Hope you have a good time this weekend! Tell Talina (sic) Don & Barb said hello.

[Big E]

If both you guys are going up there then I will be there Sat. I have been there 2 times and there were a fair amount of boats in that cove. I believe it is Lynn Creek, its the first big cove on the right as you go into Lynn Creek. Where Lynn Creek meets the main channel at the 31 mm there is a marina there with a turquois roof. Turn into that big cove which I think is Lynn Creek and then make a right in the 1st big cove you see on the right. There is a bar in that cove, the wife and I may try out also, I think its called the Fish Company. Don't confuse the Marina with the Fish Company Bar because there is a big neon fish on the outside of the marina. Turn into the huge cove at the marina then go straight past the marina for about a 1/4 of a mile and then make a right into the 1st big cove on the right. Hope to see you guys there. Eric

[Seize n Ticket]

Sounds good, I say lets give it a try. I happen to know we will be very close to Captian's Galley, which has awesome rum runners...always a plus on a hot sunny day!:b

[ckmansell]

I know where you are talking about, I have been there before. I am probably dating myself here, but I believe what is now known as the "Fish Company" used to be called the "Boardwalk." I can't make any real commitments other than to say I am going to try, you know how it goes when you hit the water.

[waterslinger]

Guys, Just had my sun deck and back seat recovered.
The guy told me use lighter fluid on the real hard stuff.
ink/paint/grease

[Seize n Ticket]

Big E-check your in box. Trying to get a bunch of us together this Saturday.

[bottomless pit]

I tried the Goof off this weekend and it is ABSOLUTELY THE BEST THING AND NOTHING COULD BE BETTER. :D I cleaned all of my vinyl and it looks better than when I got the boat.
I did reappily Scotch Guard to all of it, for the stitching than a special vinyl protector, sold by BTM, on everytning and I am VERY HAPPY, THANKS EVERYONE. I am cleaning everything I own with it, That gallon might still last 10 years. Great stuff. "watch for the immitations"8o .
...PIT...

[Seize n Ticket]

How does it work on a white rub rail?

[ckmansell]

Scotch guard on the stitching. What a novel idea! This might help them stay cleaner a few extra weeks.:D

[Big E]

Pit - I told you so. Cheap too isn't it? Did you use it on the whole seat or just on scuffs and stains. I never tried it on the whole seat and the stitching too.

[ckmansell]

I have not bought the GOOF OFF yet. But I told a buddy who owns a pontoon about it. He just bought some last night, then called me and told me the can says on the label that it could be hazardous if used on vinyl. Is this the right stuff or not?

[bottomless pit]

It could be you would have to leave a soaked rag on for an extended period to hurt it.

"goof off" it the correct stuff and I did use it on all of the interior and It brought it back to "WHITE." I followed it with Scotch Guard. than a vinyl guard sold to me By Sue BTM.
If you can't get the stain out with Acetone THIS WILL...PERIOD. |I
Even acetone will eventually have an effect. :|
also Color did not come off on the rag. of the color vinyl.
...PIT..

[ckmansell]

Ok, I understand now. I presume acetone would have the same warning since that is not it's intended purpose. It actually sounds like it is easier on it than acetone, because if used too much, acetone will make the color come off.

[bottomless pit]

I would NOT use it on the carpet.:hat
...PIT...

[eddie]

Picked up two bottles today, it works great! Thanks for the info. Wife though I had the name wrong before we found it.

[Seize n Ticket]

Used it Friday on the rub rail...works great!

[eddie]

Still can't get all the dirt out of the deck, has anyone tried ZEP? :mecry

[bajacraig]

I have:rocker

works but wash it off GOOD, chit's like acid:eek

[MXBAJA421]

pit,
i bought a bottle of goof off, and used it on the rub rail it tunred it from looking like $hit to brand new with little effort
:)
(quick-e-nuff) 29 outlaw l.o.t.o.
chad

[jmc2135]

I used this goof off on my rub rail and it worked great! Wear gloves it burns your skin like hell:) I noticed a lot of you are using it on the vinyl? I tried a little spot and it almost seems to melt it! The rag turned to a sticky white!

[ckmansell]

Yea it is not meant to clean an entire interior. Just use it on the tough stains on the vinyl. Use very little then put vinyl protectant on when you are finished.

[GottaHaveIt]

Let me get this straight..you guys used Goof Off, which I have in the garage, to restore the white rub-rail? Are you restoring the color from a brownish or yellowish back to white or just removing scuff marks? Mine is starting to look like crap..noticed it that other day. I'd just go out and give it a shot but it's dark out and my boat's under the full cover. :biggrin
The other problems I'm having are the stereo enclosure and my compass are no longer bright white but a slight yellowish brown is setting in. I'll have to try them too.

[Big E]

Gottahaveit - Goof off won't take the sunfadeness off of your stereo or compass, in other words it won't make sunfaded stuff white again. As for the rub rail, I did not have much luck with it on mine, I have the stainless steel rail, my buddy used it on his Fountain, he does not have the stainless rail and it took all of the black scuffs off, it won't return plastic to the original white. I held my breath when Pitt said he used it to completely clean his seats, I would not do that, I just use it for stubborn stains on my seats like my wifes fingernail pollish that somehow comes off and winds up on the upholstery.

[GottaHaveIt]

That's what I thought. Thanks for the clarification! I agree that Goof Off is a little on the strong side for cleaning the entire seat. I use Simple Green or Greased Lightning for the stubborn stains and a soft bristle brush with Soft Scrub works great to get imbedded dirt out of the grain of the vinyl upholstery. Then use a rag and water to rinse it clean.
Goof Off is best used with caution, to the extent of testing a spot in a hidden location because it can attack and dissolve certain things or cause colors to run or smear. I've seen it melt the surface of plastics. That's why I was wondering if it might work to get the white back in my rub rail..that it might actually remove the surface layer and expose the original color. But if it does that, then it will be due to softening and removal of the plastic surface such as the molded in grain which is NOT what I want to do!
Ultraviolet rays are hard on plastics, as are natural chemicals in the air we breathe such as Ozone. Some plastics will totally disappear after many years because they will break down over time. That's how a lot of old plastic stuff gets brittle, and how tires dry rot, etc. An example is the plastic filler panels GM used on '80s model cars between the bumpers and the body. These were somewhat flexible painted plastic parts. Find one in a junk yard and without a doubt if it hasn't fallen off already, you can probably poke your finger thru it or easily punch a hole thru it.

Just had a few more pennies to throw in..more than 2 cents worth huh? 0]

[ckmansell]

If you want the bright white back use acetone. But like goof off it is to be used in small quantities. It WILL make those white plasitics that have the faded yellowing look, back to bright white again. Guaranteed!!! I use it on all the plastics, rub rail, fenders, etc....Cheap too!;)

[bottomless pit]

I think that the goof off is better used for removing dye stains, Inks and marks not removable by other means. Always try regular vinyl cleaners first.
I personally havn't tried acetone, I think Sue did, It is a solvent. Like Curt has said here and I have also , You have to be VERY CAREFUL with these products.
goof off removed all of the dye from the flag shorts that I couldn't get off any other way. and It didn't hurt the seat.
I followed up with Scotch guard. mainly for the stitching.
:trampoline