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Removing mold from an inflatable RIB

Discussion in 'Tenders & Dinghies' started by thatcher, Mar 6, 2012.

  1. thatcher

    thatcher Member

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    Good morning - can anyone tell me how to remove these black mold dots off a rib. Bleach and acetone don't do anything, and I want to see if there are any tips. Thanks

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  2. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    I've had good luck with that stuff you use to clean glass stovetops. Some say that it is too abrasive but I have never seen any deterioration of the tubes because of it..
  3. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Try Meguiar's inflatable boat cleaner and a mr. clean magic eraser, I've been pretty impressed with it. I've also had good luck mixing bleach with a lot of dish soap so that it clings to the surface for a while and using a magic eraser and lots of elbow grease.
  4. CaptNeil

    CaptNeil Member

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    There is this cleaner called Awesome. It cleans that stuff off like nothing else.
  5. Codger

    Codger YF Wisdom Dept.

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    Had a similar mess on a sailboat deck. There is some sort of a shower spray foam product that the marina staff had that worked. I was a little concerned but they used it on the fibreglass showers without ill effect and it did no damage to the boat either. Of course, the other option was to get a supply of sharpies and play an extended game of Connect the Dots.
  6. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
  7. CaptNeil

    CaptNeil Member

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    It's the second link the stuff that is the yellow cleaner in the clear bottle with red lettering.
  8. Ormond Bert54

    Ormond Bert54 Senior Member

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    Have you tried Spray Nine? That is one of my favorite all around cleaners. Ajax w bleach or Soft Scrub w bleach are two others in my arsenal.
  9. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
    Thank you.

    Found it advertised in the Household Cleaning section of a local store.

    Hope it works as well for me, as it did for you.
  10. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I have the same issue and have noted the replies. Can you offer what material your tubes are made from or the make of rib and age? And PLEASE get back to us on what worked for you and maybe some more after pictures. We all have good thoughts and results but the "proof in the pudding" results are always looked forward to.
    Thx,
  11. thatcher

    thatcher Member

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    Good morning -- The RIB is a Nautica 15 WB. I went down the list and used most of what people recomended, products are limited here, with little results. I have mixed up some ajax and clorox bleach into a paste and applied it to the spots, and eventually it looks like it will work. Thanks everyone.
  12. PropBet

    PropBet Senior Member

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    Is Everything!
    Vinegar, baking soda, water, scrub brush.
    Scrub, rinse, repeat.
  13. C4ENG

    C4ENG Senior Member

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    I have been told that harsher cleaning agents like spray nine, roll off ect. can melt the glue in the seams to cause un raveling on the RIBs pontoons.
    Has any one scene this before and know this to be true?
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    As for melting the glue.....I've heard it too, but never saw it myself and have used all of those products on them.......Spray nine does like to eat any stitching though.
  15. oakes

    oakes New Member

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    might want to try a product called "on and off"