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 product failure.
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.
The Cause: Micro-organisms
The two principal causes of offensive odors and unsightly stains
and growths are bacteria and fungi, commonly called microorganisms.
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
byproducts as part of its digestive process. These byproducts 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. Microorganisms 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. 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. 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 a 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.
Care and Maintenance—135
