Our interior teak paneling developes a white-ish mold or mildew on it over the winter. I cleaned it off at the beginning of the summer but it has reappeared. Any suggestions about what I could use to clean it again, that will hopefully inhibit re-growth? I appreciate any input. Thanks
cleaning interior teak
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A
Andrew
I usually start the season cleaning with a bleach solution and warm water. Seems to work OK for me.
L
Lizzie Fleenor
Mold HATES Vinegar
An old sailor taught me that mold and mildew hate vinegar! It seems that vinegar kills the spores, and inhibits regrowth. Vinegar is also completely safe for all wood finishes. After you winterize, clear shelves and make all teak areas available. Make a 3-1 solution of water and white vinegar. Rub all teak areas (shelves, corners, cabinets) down with a sponge and allow to completely dry. The boat will smell like you are making Easter eggs, but it quickly dissipates. After the wood is dry, use your favorite wood oil to bring back the luster (I use orange oil or Old English lemon oil). The vinegar solution is also safe for all areas (fiberglass) of the boat in terms of killing mold and mildew and light cleaning. If the problem is particularly deep in the teak, you may try the vinegar solution several times before you apply the oil. Good luck!
An old sailor taught me that mold and mildew hate vinegar! It seems that vinegar kills the spores, and inhibits regrowth. Vinegar is also completely safe for all wood finishes. After you winterize, clear shelves and make all teak areas available. Make a 3-1 solution of water and white vinegar. Rub all teak areas (shelves, corners, cabinets) down with a sponge and allow to completely dry. The boat will smell like you are making Easter eggs, but it quickly dissipates. After the wood is dry, use your favorite wood oil to bring back the luster (I use orange oil or Old English lemon oil). The vinegar solution is also safe for all areas (fiberglass) of the boat in terms of killing mold and mildew and light cleaning. If the problem is particularly deep in the teak, you may try the vinegar solution several times before you apply the oil. Good luck!
bleach question
What dilution do you use? You don't find that the bleach is in any way detrimental to the wood paneling? Thanks for your response.
What dilution do you use? You don't find that the bleach is in any way detrimental to the wood paneling? Thanks for your response.
Thanks for the suggestion
I think I will try the vinegar solution. The mold is right on the surface, I think. I appreciate the help.
I think I will try the vinegar solution. The mold is right on the surface, I think. I appreciate the help.
Keep the boat dry to prevent it
Hi, I do residential and commercial testing for mold and other environmental issues. The real trick to prevent mold is to keep the wood dry. Most fungi (aka mold or mildew) need a high moisture content in order for them to grow. You would be better off keeping the boat dry to prevent mold. Mold will come back and grow once again (because there is always some in the air) if you provide it with one of it’s favorite meals which is wet wood! Dead or alive, the spores can cause allergies or asthma among other things. So if you are cleaning it up the EPA recommends that you wear goggles, gloves and a N-95 Respirator for areas with less than 10 square feet of coverage. Areas greater than 10 square feet should be handled by professional remeditator to prevent further contamination of the boat. A great reference is www.epa.gov. Search for mold and you will get a lot of useful information on it! If you keep the humidity under 50%, you should not have fungi problems. That simple.
Hi, I do residential and commercial testing for mold and other environmental issues. The real trick to prevent mold is to keep the wood dry. Most fungi (aka mold or mildew) need a high moisture content in order for them to grow. You would be better off keeping the boat dry to prevent mold. Mold will come back and grow once again (because there is always some in the air) if you provide it with one of it’s favorite meals which is wet wood! Dead or alive, the spores can cause allergies or asthma among other things. So if you are cleaning it up the EPA recommends that you wear goggles, gloves and a N-95 Respirator for areas with less than 10 square feet of coverage. Areas greater than 10 square feet should be handled by professional remeditator to prevent further contamination of the boat. A great reference is www.epa.gov. Search for mold and you will get a lot of useful information on it! If you keep the humidity under 50%, you should not have fungi problems. That simple.
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