42 | BOATINGMAG.COM | APRIL 2018BOAT DOCTOR ///BOATINGLABVinyl cleaners
remove dirt and
grease without
damaging vinyl’s
protective UV
coating.Marine
cleaners are
formulated with-
out destructive
ammonia or
bleach.
Interior
detailers are
best at quick
cleaning and
maintaining
sheen between
washings.STAR BRITE
ULTIMATE XTREME CLEAN
CLEANER
We used this after the detailing products proved
too mild to tackle dirt and grease. Its aroma re-
minded us of Simple Green or 409, and its effi -
cacy removed what the detailers could not. The
spray cleaner has no harmful chemicals and
no protectants. It would also be appropriate to
wash a boat after a day on the salt, hosing, spray-
ing, brushing and rinsing.
RESULTS This got our vinyl back to its original
color, and it wiped off easily with both a T-shirt
rag and microfi ber towel. It did not remove the
spider stains, and it had little impact on our
ink stain.
PRECAUTIONS Unless it’s clearly a hazmat
scene, start with a detailer because, like any de-
tergent, this will remove any protectants you’ve
already applied and take the vinyl all the way
back to its original form.
AFTER USE Always rinse and dry the vinyl and
add a protectant afterward to boost the vinyl’s
manufactured surface.
COST: $6.49; amazon.com; starbrite.comSTAR BRITE
ULTIMATE VINYL CLEAN
CLEANER
We trusted this product due to its label and Star
brite’s reputation for making duty-specifi c prod-
ucts that do no harm. This was a good cleaner
for vinyl, but the label also recommended it for
leather, plastic and rubber, the latter making it
ideal for hatch seals and windshield moldings.
Its aroma was soapier than the Xtreme Clean
and wiped off with a dry rag.
RESULTS: This would be our go-to product 90
percent of the time. The stubborn dirt came
off completely, and all but the most stubborn
grease stains were knocked out of the picture.
PRECAUTIONS: Thanks to the trusted reputation
of Star brite’s labeling, we had little to fear from
taking these stains to the cleaners, so to speak.
AFTER USE: Re-treat your vinyl with a pro-
tectant. Star brite recommends its Ultimate
Vinyl Guard with PTEF — a product we tested
later with great results. We wiped it on with bare
hands, allowed it to dry, then wiped it dry with a
soft cloth for a deep, protective sheen.
COST: $8.52 per pint; walmart.comPHOTOS: COURTESY STAR BRITE (2), COURTESY LUCAS OIL PRODUCTSSEE MORE ON VINYL CLEANERS AT BOATINGMAG.COM.LUCAS OIL
INTERIOR DETAILER
CLEANER/PROTECTANT/
DETAILER
Lucas Oil produces spray-
on auto and marine waxes,
detailers, and tire- and trim-
shine products. The company
packages its detailer with its
marine wax in kits, and so we
took it to the task of cleaning
our test beanbag. This is the
go-to product for a wipe down
after a day of boating to make
sure sand, dirt and sunscreen
are removed from the vinyl.
RESULTS It did well on
ground-in dirt, and most stains
and smudges. We sprayed
it on, brushed it in, and let it
stand a few minutes before
wiping down. It removed all
but the toughest grease but
only lightened the ink stain. It
left a nice, soft sheen.
PRECAUTIONS The best
thing about a detailer is it has
surfactants ideal for moder-
ate cleaning and applies UV
protection to enhance the
protective fi lm on your vinyl.
If you don’t need extreme
protection, the job is done.
AFTER USE It worked nearly
as well as a full vinyl cleaner,
but included protectants. We
would recommend frequent
re-treating after boating.
COST: $11 for 24 ounces;
autozone.com, lucasoil.comHOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
We also used Mean Green and Star brite’s Super
Orange cleaners. Both were all-purpose cleaners
without ammonia or bleach and had the muscle
to lift the greasiest spots on our beanbags. Super
Orange’s label says it won’t remove existing wax,
making it ideal for a boat’s gelcoat as well.
RESULTS Both knocked down the grease,
dirt and ground-in stains with a single, gentle,
brushed-on application. They also did well on theink, though didn’t completely erase it.
PRECAUTIONS As with all the cleaners, don’t
mix them with other cleaning chemicals, and it
would be wise to rinse the surfaces before spray-
ing the cleaner to avoid interaction with other
chemical residue.
AFTER USE You still need a protectant to keep
up the UV protection and reduce future stains.
COST: $3 to $6