How can I stop Mould growing under my mattresses

[Roughasguts]

Hi guy's, I have Mould growing under my mattresses, under the mattres is that cheap vaneer ply wood so obviously the mattress doesn't breath either and somehow is getting wet or condensation is forming, it's got me stuffed what's happening as bed clothes aren't wet.

Have you guy'd seen it before and what can you do about it, I'm thinking sticking the matress on top of a cut up bread crate so as to get air around it and to stop it sitting in water, if it's present.

Aso is there any spray to stop the mould growing that doesn't stink.

Cheers.

[Chimo]

Hi RAG

Have you tried something as simple as vanilla fridge spray and when your not using the mattress just stand it up rather than leave it laying down.

Once the mould spores are in place the process of multiplication is hard to stop.

Airing and drying in the sun could be good too except thats possibly a challange for you at present given where you are.

Just a few thoughts

Cheers
Chimo

[Roughasguts]

Hi Chimo thanks, yeah might try the vanilla smells good.
The matresses are strapped standing up when stored as well, yeah the sun is good from hour to hour so they end up on the kids trampoline for part of the day at least. I think the spores patch is getting smaller.

Guess this wouldn't bother me much but these matresses are new, been slept on 11 times, don't wan't them smelly and ruined just yet.

Cheers.

[dnej]

Grab some Borax powder,and sprinkle that on.
Also you can change the back of your matress to a mesh type cloth.
David

[cormorant]

The motor home shops will have a product that looks like a inch thick airated woven nylon kitchen scourer pad only stiffer. It stops the mattress ever touching the wood and allows airflow as well. Kill the spores on the wood and mattress and seal the wood. Condensation is probably dripping off windows and down the inside of hull to where the mattresses sit. Only way to stop is to ventilate so inside and outside boat are same temp with airflow. Make sure all wood is sealed inside and out and on edges as it is amazing how much moisture wood can hold and release.

I can't think of the name of that matting but I'm sure yoll find it if you look at motor home of boat sites..

Brain isn't working as it is late but mould doesn't like acid / alkaline one of them so a wipe with vinegar helps.

Also salt residue can hold moisture so wipe out the interior with a rag and fresh water although salt water prevents lots of moulds from growing - sheesh theresa a contridiction. Salt water Ok = salt crystals are not

[Kleyny]

Lemon juice for the removal then leave it in the sun.

neil

[Roughasguts]

Thanks fella's will give it all a try. I know that scourer stuff you mean cormorant I have some sitting in me anchor well stops the anchor and chain rattling and still drains the water. Hmmmmmm now where did I borrow it, I mean buy it from.

[foxx510]

If you dissolve as much salt as possible into some boiling water, let it cool then put in a spray bottle, this solution will kill the mold. Spray it on the mold and let it dry so the salt goes crusty. If you want to make it even more effective, add some vinegar and some isopropyl alcohol. Leave the mattresses and bases(if possible) the sun for as long as possible, as the UV light is another fungicide.

[polky]

Lay some shade cloth on base then lay matress on top, first spray with any acid wash. Polky.

[dnej]

http://www.hypervent.com.au/products.htm
That is the product.
David

[Roughasguts]

Thanks David, that looks like the go, cause thinking about it, it's condensation that's my problem, got the A/C running 23 deg inside and only 0 -5 deg outside,
under the mattress it's freezing cold.

That stuff looks the go going to do my maths and have a look at a few options, cause that stuff is as dear as poison for the amount I need 8 bunks.

So off to clark rubber, or Kmart for the rubber flooring, and either wrap the flooring or scourer stuff up with shade cloth and seee if I have a good result,
got to do the maths and get the mattress off the timber as far as possible by the looks, to get the air flow.

Thanks heaps fellas.

I know I'm a cheap bastard.

[Chimo]

Hi RAG

I agree it looks like the go ( hypervent) but at 65 / m .....but if your going to be a cheap b.... have a look at the small dia, flexible, slotted, plastic, drainage pipe.

I have a feeling that lengths of this stuff located say NS under the mattress and secured with maybe duct tape, or the cocky in me says gal tie wire but lets go with duct tape; in four places ie near each end and evenly spaced between and maybe enveloped in shade cloth that could be sewn into a big flat bag would achieve a similar and probably cheaper solution maybe?

I have not priced this but see what you think.??

Cheers
Similarly cheap Chimo / GOM

[cormorant]

deleted post as Hypervent is the product style I was talking about

[Chimo]

You mean stuff like Terrafix in the 300 grade or similar?
I agree its good too but it wont breathe as freely as an open pipe and shade cloth will it?

Be good if you can score a roll of it off a truck or similar.

Chimo

PS
Gees Corm, ive replied to you and youve buggered off with the post.....not sporting!;)

[Roughasguts]

Chimo done something similar years ago coils of light irrigation tube zip tied to some mesh in coils then put a concrete slab over the top. End result solar pool heating all year round. Might be lumpy though under the mattress.

Anyway unzipped the cover off the mattress, and washed it, didn't get the mould off with nappy san, and sti;; trying to get the foam back inn, what a bastard that is.

[Roughasguts]

Update warning ! don't remove cover from foam, it can't be put back on if your a bloke, wife is now doing it easy! oh well she does make wedding dresses and sh.... like that.

cheers.

[BrewGuru]

Mould is a fungus, same stuff that grows on canvas used for tents and caravans, bleach kills mould as well as any other organic substance a diluted solution of domestos will kill your mould, it will be residual, so it should last a while.

[Roughasguts]

Hi BrewGuru, will that bleach also bleach the fabric white, that's the bit I'm worried about, also the residual smell.

Cheers

[BrewGuru]

Just follow the dilution rates on the bottle and if you are worried use a tad less and it will still work, most mould destroying substance on the market are all bleach based or phenolic based, you don't want to go down the phenolic track,
I would spray the mattresses after your boating venture, spray the surface they live on and then create some air between the mattresses and base b4 the next time you go out.

[BrewGuru]

If the problem is chronic, the bacteria is fed by moisture and dark, feed the mould a weak solution of bleach and wait for some good sunny days to air those mattresses and roast those little bugs.

[Kleyny]

Hi BrewGuru, will that bleach also bleach the fabric white, that's the bit I'm worried about, also the residual smell.

Cheers

Lemon juice will not fade the fabric. My daughter left her dolls pram in my boat (playing house). Somehow water got on when it rained and i didn't find it for 3 weeks. The mould was everywhere>:( . In some spots you couldn't even see the fabric. I went out and brought a bottle of lemon juice and put a sprayer head on it and sprayed away. Left it out in the sun over a good period of time and most of it had gone. I done the spray and sun again and there was little to no mould left;) .
It didn't fade the fabric one little bit. The fabric was bright pink cotton/poly stuff.
I got this idea from a Friend who done it to her wedding dress.

And the smell was next to nothing.

neil

[cormorant]

You mean stuff like Terrafix in the 300 grade or similar?
I agree its good too but it wont breathe as freely as an open pipe and shade cloth will it?

Be good if you can score a roll of it off a truck or similar.

Chimo

PS
Gees Corm, ive replied to you and youve buggered off with the post.....not sporting!;)

Bugga it was only up for a minute and then I realised when I sw that someone else had already found the stuff I couldn't rememmber. Had typed the reply hours earlier but forgot to press post and only noticed when I was closing computer down Well Chimo we all caný type as fast as you!!!;D Little emoticons thingies are nearly too small for my eyes wink wink

[Roughasguts]

Thanks Neil, put the Lemon juice on yesterday, it's looking better today mind I did wash the cover as well last night.

Cheers.

[cormorant]

This is starting to sound really serious but there is always a solution

Your problem is obviously the boat. Wash the boat and then throw it away. Without the boat the cushion will never get mouldy again.

I'll leave the building now.;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Outsider1]

I have the same problem each year in my Outsider, being moored it seems to contribute to the high moisture levels that encourage the mould growth. I tend to use diluted bleach to clean it up but it eventually comes back the next year. I keep the cabin open as possibly to encourage air circulation but it is a losing battle.

Came across this video today. Might be worth trying!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r5zhTiWuNc

Cheers

Dave

[Roughasguts]

Maybe I'll try kitty litter, in a sock ! only cause I'm cheap, same thing though.

[Outsider1]

Nah, its not like kitty litter.

A combination of Calcium Chloride, Sodium Chloride (common salt) and Potassium Chloride from what I can find.

My wife uses a product called called DampRid around the house. Seems it is the stuff. You should be able to buy it or a competitor product from any supermarket.

http://www.damprid.dsiwebbuilder.com/index.asp?cat=40019

Cheers

Dave

[Roughasguts]

Geez Dave, that stuff sounds like the ingrediants for a bomb, but it's worth a go.
Don't know if it would work for the trapped moisture under the mattress though, might be a big ask.

Cheers.

[Chimo]

Hi RAG

I was thinking that given this is a ventilation issue, why don't you fit a whirly bird / gig to the roof of the boat and dry it out with better air flow / ventilation? Even with all the other solutions (combined!) you do need to get better air flow.

Cheers
Chimo

[Roughasguts]

Hmmmm yeah could be on the money there Chimo, makes sence seagulls will love it too.

Cheers.

[Chimo]

Are you getting the one with a perch for the birds? That considerate!.

C

[Outsider1]

Perhaps a solar vent?;

http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=156&item=92107&intAbsolutePage=1

http://www.solar-world.com/home_garden.htm

Cheers

Dave

[Roughasguts]

Are you getting the one with a perch for the birds? That considerate!.

C


Given me another idea Chimo, maybe one with a sharpened rotor blade around head height.
Hell I could sit and watch that all day chopping up seagulls.;D

[Chimo]

Hi Dave

Where do the birds perch on those?

Cheers
Chimo

[Roughasguts]

Perhaps a solar vent?;

http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=156&item=92107&intAbsolutePage=1

http://www.solar-world.com/home_garden.htm

Cheers

Dave

Cheers Dave Hmmmm more ideas, I could probably raise me mattress on Meranti timber slats, and butcher one of these things to vent straight straight under me mattress.

Hope it's not noisy.