I just got back from out of the Country for almost a year. My bus was stored in
a garage with out heat. I noticed that someone had closed all the windows in the
coach. What I found was a brown residue on a lot of the walls and cabinets. It
looked like someone had shaken up a Coke and shot it over the walls. I assume
this must be some type of mildew. I never saw mildew that was brown. Does anyone
know what to use to remove this mold and why this happened. Any help will be
appreciated. The best part the bus started right away.
Thanks
Nelson 1994 40' Pusher
Mildew has a musty odor -- if that is present, then it's likely mildew. A diluted bleach solution will kill the mildew, but may damage some materials (test first). MIldew, however, is usually black. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with a bleach solution and either use a commercial produce (such as Tilex mildew remover) or use a 'safe' formula from an online household tips web site. (A drop of detergent will help 'cut' the build-up, but putting the wrong additives into a bleach solution can cause a potentially deadly release of chlorine.)
More likely, however, is that the closed up windows allowed condensation to form with the changing temperature cycles. The 'brown stuff' is the combination of dust, cooking vapors, and other stuff in the air that was distributed over the walls and cabinets, then dissolved by the condensation, only to form more noticeable spots when the condensate eventually evaporated. If there were any smokers in the vehicle, then it will also be tobacco residue.
If that is the case, the usual household cleaners* ought to take it off with a modest bit of elbow grease. Again, some surfaces are more durable than others, so test clean aninconspicuousarea first, let it thoroughly dry and evaluate for any damage or color changes.
*Things like Formula 409, "multi-surface" cleaners, etc.
The next time you store the coach, get some 'dehumidifier' kits from a grocery or place like Walgreens. These are a plastic container (about the size of a cottage cheese container) that has a white chemical held in a shallow upper container that drains into the lower, larger container than holds the whole thing. The primary chemical is calcium chloride which is also used as a 'road salt.' There are also silica gel packs. These hold the water inside the material and some can be reactivated by heating it (to dry it out) in an oven. Since it's hard to tell when the silica gel us 'used up' the calcium chloride offers the advantage of dissolving as it's used, so it's pretty obvious when it's 'worn out.' Care must be taken, as the calcium chloride is fairly corrosive and the liquid should be disposed of to avoid damaging metal plumbing.
After some humidity problems encountered in Texas this last fall, we put calcium chloride dehumidifiers in the cabinets in the galley area (where the problem was most evident) and it did a good job of drying things out.
Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)
El Sobrante CA
"aeonix1@mac.com"
On Mar 9, 2009, at 9:35 AM, nslinkman wrote:
I just got back from out of the Country for almost a year. My bus was stored in a garage with out heat. I noticed that someone had closed all the windows in the coach. What I found was a brown residue on a lot of the walls and cabinets. It looked like someone had shaken up a Coke and shot it over the walls. I assume this must be some type of mildew. I never saw mildew that was brown. Does anyone know what to use to remove this mold and why this happened. Any help will be appreciated. The best part the bus started right away.
Thanks
Nelson 1994 40' Pusher
The problem with electrical dehumidifiers is (1) they use power (2) any electrical appliance might cause a fire, so I'd be concerned about leaving one unattended for a very long time.
I'd just get more of the chemical dehumidifiers. Unless the climate is _really_ humid, they'll last a long time. I replenished the chemicals in the 3 I have after about 4 months. So, if you had, say 6 units, they'd probably last 6 months or more.
While It's not that humid here (where we live), I still have 'em in the bus and check them every couple of months -- but they really haven't needed any attention since we arrived home in December.
Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)
El Sobrante CA
"aeonix1@mac.com"
On Mar 9, 2009, at 12:37 PM, nelson slinkman wrote:
Thanks for the great information. Do you think I should put an electric dehudmidfier in the bus. Sometime I go as long a 6 months. Thanks Nelson
--- OnMon, 3/9/09, Pete Masterson<"aeonix1@mac.com">wrote:
From: Pete Masterson <"aeonix1@mac.com">
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Need Help With Mildew
To:"WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Date: Monday, March 9, 2009, 1:14 PM
Mildew has a musty odor -- if that is present, then it's likely mildew. A diluted bleach solution will kill the mildew, but may damage some materials (test first). MIldew, however, is usually black. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with a bleach solution and either use a commercial produce (such as Tilex mildew remover) or use a 'safe' formula from an online household tips web site. (A drop of detergent will help 'cut' the build-up, but putting the wrong additives into a bleach solution can cause a potentially deadly release of chlorine.)
More likely, however, is that the closed up windows allowed condensation to form with the changing temperature cycles. The 'brown stuff' is the combination of dust, cooking vapors, and other stuff in the air that was distributed over the walls and cabinets, then dissolved by the condensation, only to form more noticeable spots when the condensate eventually evaporated. If there were any smokers in the vehicle, then it will also be tobacco residue.
If that is the case, the usual household cleaners* ought to take it off with a modest bit of elbow grease. Again, some surfaces are more durable than others, so test clean aninconspicuousarea first, let it thoroughly dry and evaluate for any damage or color changes.
*Things like Formula 409, "multi-surface" cleaners, etc.
The next time you store the coach, get some 'dehumidifier' kits from a grocery or place like Walgreens. These are a plastic container (about the size of a cottage cheese container) that has a white chemical held in a shallow upper container that drains into the lower, larger container than holds the whole thing. The primary chemical is calcium chloride which is also used as a 'road salt.' There are also silica gel packs. These hold the water inside the material and some can be reactivated by heating it (to dry it out) in an oven. Since it's hard to tell when the silica gel us 'used up' the calcium chloride offers the advantage of dissolving as it's used, so it's pretty obvious when it's 'worn out.' Care must be taken, as the calcium chloride is fairly corrosive and the liquid should be disposed of to avoid damaging metal plumbing.
After some humidity problems encountered in Texas this last fall, we put calcium chloride dehumidifiers in the cabinets in the galley area (where the problem was most evident) and it did a good job of drying things out.
Pete Masterson '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale) El Sobrante CA
On Mar 9, 2009, at 9:35 AM, nslinkman wrote: I just got back from out of the Country for almost a year. My bus was stored in a garage with out heat. I noticed that someone had closed all the windows in the coach. What I found was a brown residue on a lot of the walls and cabinets. It looked like someone had shaken up a Coke and shot it over the walls. I assume this must be some type of mildew. I never saw mildew that was brown. Does anyone know what to use to remove this mold and why this happened. Any help will be appreciated. The best part the bus started right away.
Thanks
Nelson 1994 40' Pusher
|