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Maintenance Tips: The real key to canvas longevity is like all
things in life: maintenance. Keep the canvas clean of dust, dirt and
environmental residue on a regular basis.
•
Top fabrics should be cleaned of any dirt buildup at regular
intervals.
•
We recommend applying a mild, lukewarm soap solution, such
as a liquid dishwashing soap, with a soft brush or sponge. Water
temperature is not to exceed 100
dry. The fabric must then be carefully rinsed with clear water in
order to remove any remaining soap residue. Allow canvas to dry
thoroughly. DO NOT USE DETERGENTS!
•
The use of abrasive detergents and/or substrates containing
solvents or gasoline will damage the fabric. If using high-pressure
or steam-cleaning devices, use caution as improper use could
damage the vinyl coating and/or fabric.
•
Using harsh chemicals could void the fabric warranty on your top
if not recommended by the manufacturer.
DO NOT PUT MARINE CANVAS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD
•
DRYER. DO NOT DRY CLEAN BOAT CANVAS.
Upholstery
Even if you do not have or use canvas covers, read the previous
material about canvas care as there is information that is applicable
to upholstery use as well.
NOTE: Topical cleaners must be wiped off with clean water and
dried with a clean cloth after application. If not rinsed after direct
contact, the cleaner residue on the surface can cause a slight color
are not guaranteed for all upholstery products. The
evaluations are indicators after laboratory tests and may
not be indicative of field performance.
Mold and Mildew: As noted in the Canvas information above,
mold and mildew problems in the marine upholstery industry have
been well-documented. The objective of this overview is to review
the causes and cures of the unsightly and odoriferous problems, and
to suggest actions to reduce their impact on the quality of goods as
perceived by the consumers.
2019 Malibu Boats, LLC Owner's Manual • Page 172
F. DO NOT allow the soap to
o
change.
The performance results
shown in this information
https://www.boat-manuals.com/
The Cause–Micro-organisms: The two principal causes of
offensive odors and unsightly stains and growths are bacteria and
fungi, commonly called micro-organisms. Bacteria are simple,
single-celled organisms. Fungi, referred to as mold and mildew, are
significantly more complex.
A subset of fungal organisms is a type that produces colored
by-products as part of its digestive process. These by-products are
recognized as stains and are typically pink, yellow, purple or black.
All micro-organisms require a source of energy, carbon for cell
structure, nitrogen for amino acid synthesis, essential minerals and water.
Organisms causing problems in the marine, industrial, health
care, hospitality and home environments are frequently very self-
sufficient in synthesizing required bio-chemicals from the most basic
molecules. Micro-organisms are ubiquitous. They are everywhere,
and thus, microbial contamination is the rule. The total absence of
microbes–sterility–is the exception.
Current Reality: To have a mildew problem, four elements are
required. In order for mildew to proliferate, spores, food, warmth and
moisture are necessary. Elimination of one of these elements would
break the cycle, and the mildew problem would be eliminated.
The most likely element to control is moisture. Keep surfaces dry
and the ambient air dry, and you can break the link. In actuality, this
is very difficult. Marine upholstery may be dry when one sits on it, but
it is constantly exposed to rain, splashes and wet bathing suits.
Dirt carried by the wind or sudden shower will carry the spores or
seeds to begin the process, inoculating the surface. Surface debris
can easily be washed off, but what happens to the contamination that
gets into a seam or stitch holes?
A closer examination reveals that a marine seat is a very complex
construction. The vinyl that you look at or sit on is a minute part of the
total construction. The vinyl is usually attached to a fabric to give it
dimensional stability and physical strength. Urethane foam of various
thicknesses provides a cushion, and the whole seat is usually built on
a piece of plastic.
If contaminated dirt carried by rain water gets inside the cushion,
the biological growth cycle can begin. It is quite common for soil
organisms growing in the foam cushion to produce colored by-
products, the most notable of which is a pink compound.
This dye is soluble in plasticizer (an ingredient in flexible PVC)
and will diffuse and migrate to the vinyl surface. Even though the
vinyl compound is adequately protected against mildew growth,
pink staining can occur if contact is made with components of a
seat which support mildew growth. This stain cannot be removed by
washing. In any case, the owner's perception of the boat's quality has
been seriously affected.
The Solutions: As in most complex problems, there are a variety
of actions once can take to prevent microbial problems. These
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