Vinyl Stain Remover

By Matt Oden | Comments | Nylon and Synthetic Stains → Vinyl

Vinyl stain remover products can often be harsh chemicals that have noxious fumes or can actually even do a lot more damage to the vinyl itself. There are much better alternatives to removing stains from vinyl surfaces, whether you are removing stains from your vinyl furniture or flooring.

A toddler with a permanent marker, rust stains, coffee stains, mold, and other grime can all wreak havoc on the vinyl surfaces in and around your home. There are many types of vinyl stain remover products on the market and some might do the job for you, but they also could be a little bit too harsh for some surfaces. They could also release noxious fumes that can cause no end of problems for someone with respiratory problems.

Here are some better alternatives for your vinyl stain remover cleaning task.

What You Will Need Before You Start

If you have vinyl flooring, furniture, or surfaces in your home, then the following items should always be a part of your cleaning kit so that you will be prepared in the event of a stain.

Gloves
Mild dish detergent
Soft bristled brush
Clean sponge
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
Mineral spirits

Removing Stains From Vinyl Flooring

Try as you might, if you have vinyl flooring you are likely going to see these surfaces suffer from stains from pens, markers, coffee, rust, oils, and more. If you have children then you are likely all too familiar with the permanent marker stains the little ones are fond of leaving around your home.

While your budding Picasso’s artwork might be something he is proud of, pen or permanent market on your floor is likely to leave you fit to be tied.

Here are some steps for vinyl stain remover cleaning when your floor is in need of a bit of attention.

Dab a bit of rubbing alcohol onto a clean sponge and wipe the stain.
The stain should wipe right off with the rubbing alcohol.
Wash with warm soapy water and allow to air dry.

If the above vinyl stain remover method is proving ineffective then you can completely cover the stained area with an undiluted solution of hydrogen peroxide. Allow the hydrogen peroxide to remain on the stain for up to thirty minutes and then wash clean. The stain should simply wash off.

If your vinyl floor is stained with mold or mildew then the hydrogen peroxide cleaning method will kill the mold spores, remove the stain, and even disinfect the area.

Removing Stains From Vinyl Furniture

Try as you might, your vinyl furniture could just be at risk from paint drips when you are redecorating, or even at risk from the permanent marker wielding toddler in your house.

Before you try any vinyl stain remover methods on your furniture, you should be sure to test the cleaning solutions on a hidden part of the furniture. While vinyl is a very sturdy material, it never hurts to check for colorfastness when removing stains.

Using a clean sponge dipped in rubbing alcohol, carefully wipe up the stain.
If the stain is pen or marker, it should simply wipe off with one or two quick swipes
If the stain is rust, mildew, or another difficult to remove compound, then you may need to apply an undiluted solution of hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain.
Allow the hydrogen peroxide to set on the stain for up to thirty minutes.
Completely rinse clean in order to remove all traces of the hydrogen peroxide. While it might be a very effective cleaning agent, it can also be a potential cause for stains if left on a surface for too long.

If you find that the stain is proving difficult to completely remove with rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, then you should consider using a bit of mineral spirits on a clean sponge.

Removing Stains From Vinyl Boat And Car Surfaces

Even if your boat spends a fair amount of time tied up at the marina or parked in a garage, the vinyl surfaces of your boat’s upholstered seats can often be subjected to a range of stains. There are many commercially available vinyl stain remover products but they can also prove to be on the expensive side.

Dab a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean sponge.
Carefully rub on the stain until it starts to come away from the vinyl surface.
If rubbing alcohol is proving ineffective, then you should consider using mineral spirits.
Once the stain has been removed, it is important that you thoroughly rinse the formerly stained area with a mild dish detergent and cold water.

Before you start any vinyl stain remover process on your car or your boat, you should verify that the surfaces are actually vinyl and not leather. While it is rare for someone to confuse the two, these things do happen. Vinyl is typically more durable than leather so you may just find that a simple mix up like this can damage the leather surfaces in your vehicle.

Removing Stains From Vinyl Siding

The siding on your home is exposed to an array of stain-causing elements. By following a few vinyl stain remover steps, you can restore your vinyl siding to pristine condition.

Spray the siding using a power washer in order to remove any accumulated dirt and grime.
Create a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide and two parts water, in a spray bottle.
Spray the cleaning solution onto the vinyl siding.
Scrub with a large hard bristled brush until the stains start to be worked out of the siding.
Rinse thoroughly using a mild dish detergent.

Avoid using things like steel wool and nail polish remover on your vinyl stains. While effective at removing other types of problem stains, as a vinyl stain remover product, these two items can actually do a lot more harm than good to the vinyl surfaces in and around your home.