Featured Getting stains out of old vinyl

Discussion in 'Textiles, Needle Arts, Clothing' started by Bookahtoo, Jun 9, 2020.

  1. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    My most often used cleaning tool is an old toothbrush Terry.
     
  2. DapperAndy

    DapperAndy New Member

    Usually for stains like this, I ask is it organic or inorganic (ink). If it's inorganic, you often have to re-dye/re-surface it completely. If it's organic, you can pick it up with natural solvents: orange oil based products. Of course – this is surface contingent. Vinyl and leather can handle orange oil just fine. But anything plastic or rubber will eventually degrade and disintegrate. Just a tip from someone who makes these types of cleaners ;)
     
  3. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    Hi DapperAndy -

    Can I assume this is vinyl? Did they make cheap sheet faux leather out of plastic?

    I remember 5 or 8(?) years ago when I had like 30 dirty vintage vinyl upholstered chairs I had to get ready to sell. Nothing was working. I ended up on a classic car enthusiasts forum and was told to do what they did with old car sets. Slather them thickly with the gritty orange smelling cleaner that mechanics use to clean their hands. Put them out in the hot sun for several to many hours (I don't remember how long). Then wipe off the cleaner. I bet it works, but unfortunately it was impractical for me. All of the chairs (heavy ones) were on the 2nd floor of a big building, and there was no place to bring them to but the back parking lot, where I couldn't take up so much space.
    I ended up scrubbing each one by hand with a small scrub brush and various concoctions. I swear that's what gave me carpal tunnel syndrome which I ended up getting surgery for the next year.
     
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  4. DapperAndy

    DapperAndy New Member

    You shouldn't have to scrub for the product to be working properly. You can try something like Goo Gone, and if it's an organic material, it will pick it up. Just try it on a small area first, then proceed from there.

    It looks like vinyl, but I'm not in-person. And plastic does not equal "plastic" or /plastic/...there are so many kinds of plastics. But you'd really have to soak something in pure d-limonene (orange oil direct from the peel), to eat away at it. Most bookbinder or corrected grain leathers have some sort of "plasticy" substances added to them. But not enough to stress over in this regard.

    If it's inorganic, you're only bet is to resurface and/or re-dye it.
     
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  5. elarnia

    elarnia SIWL

    If you decide to recover it I have a 30 yard bolt of Naugahyde. I'm never going to use all of it & would be happy to trade a few yards for something interesting. (I paid about $7.50/yd)

    Here's the link where I bought it to see the color - It's a company called repurposed materials inc. and it's under materials - fabric - if you would rather search on it than click a link.

    https://www.repurposedmaterialsinc....-30-yards/used-cheap-salvage-surplus-recycled

    cheers
     
  6. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    Why thank you elarnia!
    Now what do you find interesting?
     
  7. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    Barter!!!!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:singing::singing::singing::singing::singing::singing::singing::singing::singing:
     
  8. elarnia

    elarnia SIWL

    Oh lets see - books, ephemera, museum and auction catalogs on jewelry or silver w/pictures, fabric, trim, beads, did I mention books?? can you see why I have never made good on my promise to provide a picture of my storage shed when I found the floor? Basically anything I don't have to dust. How long a piece of Naugahyde do you need? message me your address and surprise me with something - it's not like I'm really out anything - had to buy the bolt to get what I wanted. - cheers
     
    Figtree3 likes this.
  9. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    Thanks @elarnia. I've got someone who saw the bench on Craigslist who says they're coming to buy it this weekend. Let's see if they do - if not, then the deal is on!!!
     
  10. elarnia

    elarnia SIWL

    OK - Good Luck with it!
     
  11. Fid

    Fid Well-Known Member

    medical alcohol ? nail polish remover ?
     
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