Missouri Mold---tis the season

[Miriam C.]

I used the air conditioner every year to keep the mold out and forgot this year. A tiny leak caused this!!!

Thinking some FRP on the inside!

[Oldragbaggers]

Yikes!! How do you get rid of it??

[Mary C]

oh!!!! that is horrible if you take out the piece of wood, possibly cut around it? if you left any linens , curtains etc. you can, without Bleaching them and ruining them, use 1/8 cup bleach in the washer for a full load and wash that will kill any mold spores that have gotten into them. then wipe down the whole cabin with a mixture of 1/4 bleach to a gallon of water . Mold spores get into the air so wear a mask and wash down everything. That looks like black mold and we don't want anyone sick.I am aware there are other chemicals that will wash away the mold but bleach is the most inexpensive and i know it kills mold,bacteria and doesn't harm pets and people. Clorox and water will lose half its strength in 3 days, Clorox is chlorine and will become a gas and will evaporate out of the water over time. Just some shared info I learned. I hope you can clean it up!!!

Mary C.

[Miriam C.]

Well the stuff I wanted was $9 bucks a bottle and they were out! It is Missouri! I got some less expensive stuff when the bleach didn't do it.

All fabrics are in the wash with some vinegar because the sheets are a nice green set..

I am going to remove as much wood as is stained. Probably with a belt sander and then cover. If the mold goes all the way through then she gets stripped....Not sure this is the toxic black mold but it is black and that is all I care about. Stupid thing is I usually take the cooler out. With that dark wet place the stuff just got out of control. Our humidity sure helps too.

[Oldragbaggers]

I am so sorry Miriam. Humidity is so destructive. We have it here too.....but I don't think as bad as you. I hope you are able to get rid of it. And in particular take care to protect your lungs. Like Mary said, don't want Auntie M getting sick.

[deleted]

Oh no! So sorry this happened. I've read you should use a N95 mask and eye/safety goggles to clean mold. My research was an over-reaction to what I'm sure wasn't black mold in a refrigerator we'd stored in our garage but there you go, now I know it. But be sure to protect yourself especially if you're going to sand to get rid of it. Those spores will go airborne along with the sanding particles.

[Juneaudave]

Missouri or no...that's some nasty looking mold by any standards!

[S. Heisley]

Oh, Miriam! That's scary. I shudder when I see things like that. (But for the grace of God....) Here's hoping that it is a simple and very small and easy fix. As Stacie says, please take good care of yourself while you're working on that.

[Miriam C.]

Good point Stacy, I will cut it away and save the worry! Thank you all and I hope this reminds everyone to air that TD out regularly! Well, OK I had windows open but in the garage it really needed the air conditioner on low.

[wagondude]

Wow, that is a nasty batch. Glad you decided not to sand that. It's been a while since reading the build journal on that one. Are the walls 3/4 ply or sandwich construction? If it is 3/4, you may have to scrape (carefully), wash, then sand and seal. Otherwise, you might have to replace the wall. If it is sandwich, it is a no brainer to just replace the inside skin and get the water source sealed up.

[Elizabeth C.]

Sorry to hear about your mold problem. Here in Virginia we know all about high humidity and heat. We've learned to frequently check our trailer, always on the alert for any leaks or dampness. Since the "CrowsWing " is too tall to fit in the garage, it has to stay outside year round so no airconditioned storage for it. One thing we do that has helped a lot is to place "damp-rid" in the cabin and galley. We take them out when we travel and put them back in as soon as we get home. We use the large size mostly, but we do have the little size in the water compartment to decrease sweating on the watertank. They work wonderfully and are available at Walmart.



Hope this helps,
Dr. C-Dawg

[Miriam C.]

Well the good news is the yucky stuff did not go all the way through the wood. I am going to cut out the stained areas and cover with FRP. But first---I am thinking Lacquer to seal against more water. Trying a new idea for the outside. It needs a new roof but I am not into tearing off this year. I have put LocTite adhesive sealant on the seams. This stuff doesn't come off and is not silicone. Takes paint well but lumpy! When I get the materials it will get a soft roof. Some marine vinyl or rubber roofing.