Anybody know how to remove mold from rubber?

[uncledj]

The rubber seals around the windows on my motorhome have black spots / stains all over them. I think it's mold, but really don't know. It's getting bad enough that if I can't clean it, I may replace all the seals. Since there's always someone with an answer for ANYTHING on this site, I figured I'd post the question....How can I clean this stuff off ??? Soap & water, degreaser, and even wiping it down with peroxide does very little to clean it up.

 

Any ideas?

[Venturous]

Clorox. Followed by plenty of soap and water. Might use sparingly on a damp rag to avoid discoloring your paint.

 

Have you tried the Black Streak Remover you get from Wally World RV section or any Camping World?

[uncledj]

Yeah, I tried the black streak remover stuff. It lightened it just a bit, but no significant difference.

I was thinkin' about bleach, but I seem to remember that peroxide was supposed to work, but apparently not in my case.

[ragtop69gs]

You can lighten it but nothing you can do once the stain has penetrated the rubber. Paint or replace.

[Eck]

Tilex mold and mildew remover or you could try WD-40. It removes a multitude of sins with zero damage.

[cowpuc]

Hey Unc - Many many years ago when I first started out in my bike restore business I ran across this very issue. After trying everything under sun to rejuvenate old moldy irreplaceable rubber parts I finally happened across the best answer (for me anyway) when I bumped into, of all things, a copy machine restorer .

I was yapping with him in his shop when he pulled out this can of spray and began cleaning up old rollers - when he got done they looked like new. I grabbed the can, wrote down the info and set course to buy the product..

This is the stuff I came up with and have used it now for many years - it may be worth a shot Unc..

 

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/692585/Martin-Yale-Rubber-Roller-Cleaner/

[djh3]

3. Composition/information on ingredientsMixturesChemical name Common name and synonyms CAS number %Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether 20-40%

Solvent Naphtha (petroleum), LightAliph. 20-40%

Dipropylene Glycol MonomethylEther 10-20%

Hexylene Glycol 10-20%

Isopropyl Alcohol 2.5-10%

Propane 2.5-10%

 

From the MSDS for product.

 

Bet it makes a good BOOM

[videoarizona]

Peroxide does kill the mold, but not the stains underneath.

 

I like what Puc brought to the discussion...going to have to try that on some other strange stains I have!

david

[djh3]

For grins if you have one around try the "Tide stick". A fellow I was talking to at a car show said he had got some stains out of a convertible top with it.

[Bubber]

I would try something acidic, Vinegar and then wipe the rubber with lacquer thinner to bring the black back to life.

Vinegar is mild enough but is acidic.

Besides you can have salad right your done.

Bubber

[Condor]

3. Composition/information on ingredientsMixturesChemical name Common name and synonyms CAS number %Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether 20-40%

Solvent Naphtha (petroleum), LightAliph. 20-40%

Dipropylene Glycol MonomethylEther 10-20%

Hexylene Glycol 10-20%

Isopropyl Alcohol 2.5-10%

Propane 2.5-10%

 

From the MSDS for product.

 

Bet it makes a good BOOM

 

Sounds like SeaFoam.....?

[dacheedah]

50 50 bleach and water, try a magic eraser going over the seal

[Wrench]

I had a set of seats up in the rafters in my garage that did that. I used Westley's Bleach-white to clean them, then Meguiar's Vinyl & Leather dressing. I sprayed the dressing on, left it wet to soak in as much as I could then wiped them down and gave them another coat, did that 4 or 5 times. They cleaned up great.

[tankerman]

I have been able to remove a lot of mold with just WD40 and vinegar works well too.

[uncledj]

Some great suggestions. I'll probably end up trying them all at one point or another, and I'll post what worked the best. Right now I'm at Cigarnival 2015 in Easton PA with the motorhome. Took this pic while I was looking at the site and decided to post a response. I'm not in the pic, but those are two of my peeps, chillin' and drinkin' bloody marys while we wait for the days festivities to start. I'll have to look a bit closer, but you can probably see my laptop sitting on the middle chair.........Technology has come a long way......

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.