How to control mildew?

[GatorMike]

Here in Florida our humidity is probably worse than maybe 49 other states. Anyway last year my boat was down for the year and I parked it under an oak tree. It collected leaves and bread mosquitos for a year. When I cleaned it up I had mildew growing everywhere. I scrubed and pressure washed for a couple of weeks and finally got her looking presentable. The problem now is that the mildew seems to have a foot hold. It doesn't take long for it to start comming back. I know there are areas under the deck and behind things like rod holders that are next to impossible to clean and I know these areas are probably where the spreading mildew comes from. Does anybody have any hints on how to control this problem?

 

[marlboro180]

Re: How to control mildew?

I just posted this on another thread, but Microban is the product you want to use.....mildewcide, fungicide, viruses, bacteria, etc....

I just used it for some flood restoration work and it really does work well!

Here is the stuff for carpets, though they make it for hard surfaces too.

http://www.jondon.com/catalog/produ...15109&osCsid=53f71dc8d5e297baa8351df8ccef92d4

http://www.sylvane.com/microban-restoration-chemicals.html

 

[Fireman431]

Re: How to control mildew?

A good option for rigid items (fiberglass, gelcoat, paint, etc) is 1 cup of bleach in a quart of water. It's a little stronger than normally mixed, but the results are impressive. Put it in a spray bottle and get under the gunwales, down rod holders, etc where your hands can't fit to clean well.

Air flow is the next issue. If you can keep a good current of fresh air, it will stem growth. Think box fan or leaving it open until it dries out, but obviously not under the trees. Cover before the rains come.

Pull the carpet. That may never dry completely whil in the boat.

 

[robert graham]

Re: How to control mildew?

2nd the motion on the clorox/solution in a spray bottle. I spray it on and scrub with a brush, let it sit for a bit, wash off with a hose...pretty hard to beat!

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: How to control mildew?

...and yet a third vote for the Clorox solution..'cept I use one of those pump up garden sprayers with the looonngg plastic (flexible) wands for those out-of-the-way places.
(It also discourages the tree frogs that like to hide under my seats and poop all over the place!)

 

[jeeperman]

Re: How to control mildew?

The OP has gotten the mold off. Now he is looking for preventative measures.
Keeping the boat under cover and ventilated will help.
Keeping the boat in a garage or barn will help.
Keeping boat dry is the key.
And creating a hostile enviroment is another key.

Using bleach to get it off and then rinsing it all away has never kept the mold away for long for me.

I have had good luck by hosing my boat down with Liquid Copper. It is a fungicide meant for veggies in your garden. It goes on clear when applied as directed and as long as it does not get washed off it keeps mold away.

Microban is good too but after application, do not hose it off with water.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: How to control mildew?

I think my problem is more that I let the stuff get a foothold. So it's sort of preventative and sort of after the fact. Those of you from Florida know what I mean about the humidity, we are about as close as you get to a tropical rain forest. This time of year it rains every evening so nothing ever really gets the chance to dry out. The problem is all those cracks and crevaces and all the little nooks and crannys you can't get to to clean have mold in them. When the morning dew and evening rain showers get to those spaces the stuff starts to spread. It doesn't take long until the boat needs another major cleaning.

I think I will try to get up under the deck and some of those spots with some chlorox and maybe some TSP solution. I didn't have this problem until I let it get out of hand. I just have to get it under control I think.