Just got my grubby mitts on a 5556 Chevy 2dr front seat. Spent the last 25 years in storage covered with a blanket. What is your favorite way to clean up this staining?
Simple Green. Or maybe try Clorox bleach wipes. The wipes are easier to clean up afterwards, as the SG would need rinsing off.
I had some equally bad seats in a 36 sedan, including a stain from a decayed cat. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser got them like new. Must have purged the pics. Sorry.
I'd wash them first with a little dish soap and warm water to get rid of the surface crud. Then I go at them with goo gone to work out any heavy staining. I use the goo gone on my white vinyl in my roadster. Stuff works good. The magic eraser is a good idea too.
Waterless hand cleaner with lanolin. Works extremely well on leather seats but it'll work on vinyl without discoloring or harm tot he stitchwork which would be my biggest concern.
These two make the most sense to me Sorry alchemy Simple Green sounds nice but can ruin things quick. BTDT Take the easier, softer way first.
The problem with cleaning up old vinyl upholstery is the stitching pulling through the edge of the material where it hardens up. Maybe someone here knows of a suitable goop, I'm all ears.
I'd think things like bleach or Simple Green might be too harsh on old vinyl, especially on the stitching. Bandit Billy might be on the right track with using hand cleaner with lanolin. You might also try using saddle soap or mix up some Murphy's Oil Soap for a milder cleaning solution. Either way, try it on a small inconspicuous area first.
I’ve read about original go-Jo with lanolin on a couple of Mopar sites. Seems to work. I actually tried it on a vinyl 1963 John Deere banner that my dad had hanging in his shop. Researching how to clean it led me to those Mopar sites.
I tired it the first time when I was in my 20's, bought two leather seats for my 69 vette from a wrecking yard and they were not ripped but totally disgusting. They looked like new when I was done. All I have used since. And they smell nice.
Always start out with a mild cleaner, and work up to harsher methods only if necessary. I'd use some dish soap mixed in warm water, and a soft nail brush will help getting into the grain of the material Something I learned from an old time upholstery guy is Coleman camp stove fuel will get stubborn marks off upholstery - put some on a clean rag and rub. It works for both vinyl and cloth, and doesn't leave an odor.
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