Clean the vinyl with a soft brush and lukewarm, soapy water to remove any grime that is contributing to the material's hardened texture. J&O Fabrics recommends using a mixture of 10 percent liquid dish soap and 90 percent warm water applied with a damp cloth to lightly soiled vinyl. For heavier stains, replace the dish soap with bleach and gently rub the solution on the vinyl with a cloth.
Rinse the vinyl with a clean, wet cloth and dry off the material with a dry cloth.
Apply a vinyl conditioner with a clean cloth. You can purchase the conditioner inexpensively online or at furniture stores.
Maintain your vinyl fabric with the conditioner, according to the manufacturer's directions. Regular cleaning and conditioning helps keep your vinyl soft and supple, and is easier than removing advanced grime buildup and attempting to restore the fabric's original texture.