Your Boat Toilets Specialists Talk About Effective Cleaners For Getting Rid of Mildew
Raritan Engineering would like to share with you this week some amazing tips on how to prevent mildew.
We tested the most effective cleaners for mildewed fabrics in 2009 and published a follow-up on long-term treatments in 2015. In the 2015 test, we were delighted to discover that some DIY formulas and common pool treatments like Clorox Algae Eliminator can do as well as pricey store bought miracle-cures.
Canvas dodgers and biminis are the hallmark of a cruising yacht, keeping the sun at bay and allowing the crew to “dodge” the worst of the weather. Canvas also protects sails, windows, and machinery.
Clorox Pool and Spa Algae Eliminator proved to be an inexpensive cleaner/protectant.
For maximum water repellency, boat owners could use impervious waterproof fabric instead of canvas, but that typically isn’t a good idea. Waterproof sail covers hold moisture, mildewing sails more quickly.
If cleaning mildewed sails is among your biggest cleaning chores, check out my previous blog post Dealing with Dirty Sails.
This Advisor discusses tactics and measures you can employ in what amounts to a continuous fight. Once you get a handle on it, your cabin will smell a whole lot fresher—and those itchy eyes and that mysterious cough that you may have been experiencing might just go away too.
Cowl-style ventilators help to circulate air below decks.
Your Boat Toilets Suppliers Share Why Ventilation is So Crucial to Mildew Prevention
To prevent mold and mildew, you need to ensure that your boat is well ventilated. Your boat toilets distributors offer useful tips that explain why this can be as easy as opening hatches or portholes to create cross ventilation. But for times when you are away, you will need to rely on either active or passive ventilators to keep the moisture level down.
Check out our boat toilets at Raritan Engineering and see how we always take care of your marine supply needs.
Take a proactive approach
Controlling mold is a continuous battle that requires a multi-pronged, proactive approach. I say “control”, because you will never entirely eliminate mold and mildew from your boat.
Following is a general plan of action for removing existing mold and mildew, and once it is removed, to keep it at bay.
Step One: Remove the Mold
To remove mold and mildew, try using a solution of bleach, water, TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate) and powdered laundry detergent mixed in the following proportions: Four quarts of freshwater, one quart of bleach, 2/3 cup TSP and 1/3 cup of laundry detergent.
Mildew Stain Remover
Among the best of the bleach-based products is Star brite’s Mildew Stain Remover. Offered in a 22-ounce trigger spray bottle, it gives you the ability to direct the spray into hard-to-reach areas, such as under quarter berths, or up into chain lockers.
In either case, use the product liberally, taking care to spray it into hidden, hard to reach areas. Sop up any runoff from these products with some rags, which you will need to dispose of at the end.
Step Two: Fumigate
M-D-G Mildew Control Bags eliminate mold with a penetrating vapor.
After removing the mold, follow up with one of the MDG products by Star brite. These products use chlorine dioxide technology to create a penetrating vapor that kills mold along with the odor that it creates.
Step Three: Apply a Mildew Blocker
Although mildew blockers work only temporarily, applying one will give you a temporary leg up in what amount to a continuous battle. According to Practical Sailor, one that works reasonably well is 3M’s Marine Mildew Block.
Reduce Moisture with Calcium Chloride Crystals
Star brite, DampRid and MaryKate all offer systems that employ calcium chloride crystals to remove moisture from the air. In some cases, the moisture gets deposited into a reservoir, as with DampRid’s Easy-Fill Moisture Absorber or the No Damp Ultra Dome by Star brite.
Propane and Diesel Cabin Heaters and Stoves
To prevent this, when using a propane or diesel cabin heater or stove, open your boat’s hatch to let the combustion gasses escape, which is something you should do anyway to limit the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Click here to get marine toilet parts at Raritan Engineering. We always take care of your marine supply needs.