After spending almost two years on the hardstand our cushions were looking drab and dirty when they finally came out of storage. All of the grey vinyl had a brown tinge to it and some cushions had what looked like dried mold on the face as well. It was clear they needed to be deep cleaned and restored.
Looking at the vinyl upholstery cleaners available in the local chandleries, I settled on Starbrite Vinyl Cleaner & Polish. The results were so exceptional that I wanted to share just how impressed we are with the product, so here's our Starbrite vinyl cleaner review.
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The product
Well reviewed by other cruisers, the Starbrite Vinyl Cleaner and Polish is described as a game-changer for vinyl care and you know what, I think they might be right. It works on all kinds and colors of vinyl, leaving a lasting, waterproof protective coating that not only shines but also shields.
The forumula is designed to keep vinyl soft, supple, and free from cracking while guarding against UV damage and weathering, and there are special polymers that provide extra protection from stains and sun exposure, making it ideal for restoring stained or aged vinyl to its former glory.Â
How to use Starbrite Vinyl Cleaner & Polish
To start, you need to rinse away loose dirt and grime so you're working with a clean surface. Star brite recommend using Starbrite Vinyl Shampoo or Boat Wash, but to be honest we just rinsed ours as they were only dusty, no grime or grease.
Next you need to give the bottle of Starbrite Vinyl Cleaner & Polish a good shake before applying it to a small section of the vinyl with a clean, dry cloth. We used clean workshop rags as that's what we had on hand, but would probably use cleaning cloths next time. I also wore rubber gloves.
With the cloth you need to work the cleaner in to the vinyl evenly using overlapping circular motions to ensure you get full coverage. StarBrite says you might need to repeat the process a few times to fully restore the surface, and this was our experience. Lightly dirtied surface only needed one go, whereas the toughest dirt and muck needed a few goes to get the surfaces looking fresh.
Once the polish is applied you need to take another clean, dry cloth and buff the vinyl to give it a nice, glossy finish.
Starbrite suggest following up with Starbrite Vinyl Brite for ongoing care and maintenance following your vinyl polish restoration, something we've not tried yet but may in future.
The results
Looking at the results, I'm quite convinced this is a high quality and effective vinyl fabric cleaner. Our cushions are back to the original colour, there was no damage to the vinyl, and one bottle went a fair way. Here are some photos showing the difference between areas that have and haven't been cleaned.
Where to buy Starbrite Vinyl Cleaner & Polish
You can buy the Starbrite Vinyl Cleaner & Polish at chandleries around the globe, as well as online. We purchased ours from Budget Marine who have outlets throughout the Caribbean, but online I've seen it from suppliers like SVB24, Marine Super Store, and Amazon.
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