Hello All, Any suggestions on getting that well known stink of mildew out of the cabin cushions? We've used mildew cleaners and stain removers on the outside of the cushions and they work fine, but is there something good to clean the foam inside with? freewill~Howie
- Status
Stinky Cushions
When we bought our 1983 H34 last fall we had the same problem. To compound the problem, I'm allergic to mildew, so living with it was not an option. I rented a heavy-duty steam carpet cleaner with upholstery attachments from the local hardward store and spent several hours scrubbing/steaming away all sides of each cushion. Left the cushions to dry throughly for several days. I can say I had great success with this method as my allegies are not an issue at all. And the smell is completely gone. As an added bonus the cushions are really clean (although they didn't appear dirty at first) and look like new.
When we bought our 1983 H34 last fall we had the same problem. To compound the problem, I'm allergic to mildew, so living with it was not an option. I rented a heavy-duty steam carpet cleaner with upholstery attachments from the local hardward store and spent several hours scrubbing/steaming away all sides of each cushion. Left the cushions to dry throughly for several days. I can say I had great success with this method as my allegies are not an issue at all. And the smell is completely gone. As an added bonus the cushions are really clean (although they didn't appear dirty at first) and look like new.
check out Fabreeze!
If do not know if this stuff works, but my friend says they use it and it works! Cheap enough to find out.
If do not know if this stuff works, but my friend says they use it and it works! Cheap enough to find out.
Mold Information
Several years ago we bought a 1988 boat which we keep in Pudget Sound. In the summer this can be nice but the winters are long, cold, and wet; a perfect environment for growing mold and mildew. It took several years before we started noticing it, the sweet smell going down into the cabin is a good telltail sign, and then we started trying to control it. Controlling mold takes dry heat, moving air, sunlight, and fresh clean air, but the latter can be difficult to obtain if one wants to keep water and animals out. One site, and there are many, that has frequently asked questions (FAQs) about mold and mildew is at the URL below. After trying all sorts of chlorine related products (ugh!) in the past, this year we bought a high-temperature steam cleaner to try and do battle with the stuff. It works fairly well at killing mold on the hull liner which is a really tough job. To make a long story short it takes heat and contact time to kill the spores and the steam cleaner does this without any chemicals. Cleaning with detergents and water basically just smears the "bugs" around and chemicals don't do a 100 percent job. Heat is one of the few clean ways to eradicate the spores. Unfortunately, foam is probably the worst item to deal with because it acts like a heat sink. For the foam don't use anything with chlorine or it will seriously discolor the foam, and maybe worse, ruin it. Try taking the covers off and exposing it to sunlight (this isn't particularly good for the foam either), give it lots of fresh air, don't wash it with soap because this becomes excellent "food" for mold (you can't rinse all the soap out), and keep it dry. Use a waffle pad when sleeping on it and let it breathe when you aren't using it. Next winter take the mattresses off the boat and store them in a dry place where the air can circulate. This has worked for us but my wife doesn't like the things in the house. This is another story. The steam cleaner we wound up with is the Ladybug which has the highest temperature without going into commercial units. Also one can fill it without having to let the unit cool down which is a real time saver. I don't know if high temperature steam, 285 deg F, would be harmful to foam but it shouldn't discolor it since there are no chemicals. Let's see what others come up with and good luck in your search for the solution.
Several years ago we bought a 1988 boat which we keep in Pudget Sound. In the summer this can be nice but the winters are long, cold, and wet; a perfect environment for growing mold and mildew. It took several years before we started noticing it, the sweet smell going down into the cabin is a good telltail sign, and then we started trying to control it. Controlling mold takes dry heat, moving air, sunlight, and fresh clean air, but the latter can be difficult to obtain if one wants to keep water and animals out. One site, and there are many, that has frequently asked questions (FAQs) about mold and mildew is at the URL below. After trying all sorts of chlorine related products (ugh!) in the past, this year we bought a high-temperature steam cleaner to try and do battle with the stuff. It works fairly well at killing mold on the hull liner which is a really tough job. To make a long story short it takes heat and contact time to kill the spores and the steam cleaner does this without any chemicals. Cleaning with detergents and water basically just smears the "bugs" around and chemicals don't do a 100 percent job. Heat is one of the few clean ways to eradicate the spores. Unfortunately, foam is probably the worst item to deal with because it acts like a heat sink. For the foam don't use anything with chlorine or it will seriously discolor the foam, and maybe worse, ruin it. Try taking the covers off and exposing it to sunlight (this isn't particularly good for the foam either), give it lots of fresh air, don't wash it with soap because this becomes excellent "food" for mold (you can't rinse all the soap out), and keep it dry. Use a waffle pad when sleeping on it and let it breathe when you aren't using it. Next winter take the mattresses off the boat and store them in a dry place where the air can circulate. This has worked for us but my wife doesn't like the things in the house. This is another story. The steam cleaner we wound up with is the Ladybug which has the highest temperature without going into commercial units. Also one can fill it without having to let the unit cool down which is a real time saver. I don't know if high temperature steam, 285 deg F, would be harmful to foam but it shouldn't discolor it since there are no chemicals. Let's see what others come up with and good luck in your search for the solution.
Try this...
Get the largest outdoor garbage bag you can find. Put a cushion inside the bag. Depending on the size of the cushion you may have to fold it over a couple of times to get it completely in the bag. Put a vacuum cleaner hose into the bag and close the bag around the end of the hose with your hand. If you butt the end of the hose against the fabric of the cushion it will help keep the bag from being sucked into the hose. When you turn on the vacuum, if you have a good seal around the hose, it will remove not only the air in the bag, but the air in the cushion as well and your cushion will flatten out inside the bag. Have a can of a mildew formula Lysol or Chlorox spray cleaner/air freshener handy, and while someone helps you remove the hose from the bag, spray the Lysol into the bag. As the air refills the cushion it will bring the Lysol into the cushion with it. I used this method on my cushions with great results. Good Luck Joe S/V Charis
Get the largest outdoor garbage bag you can find. Put a cushion inside the bag. Depending on the size of the cushion you may have to fold it over a couple of times to get it completely in the bag. Put a vacuum cleaner hose into the bag and close the bag around the end of the hose with your hand. If you butt the end of the hose against the fabric of the cushion it will help keep the bag from being sucked into the hose. When you turn on the vacuum, if you have a good seal around the hose, it will remove not only the air in the bag, but the air in the cushion as well and your cushion will flatten out inside the bag. Have a can of a mildew formula Lysol or Chlorox spray cleaner/air freshener handy, and while someone helps you remove the hose from the bag, spray the Lysol into the bag. As the air refills the cushion it will bring the Lysol into the cushion with it. I used this method on my cushions with great results. Good Luck Joe S/V Charis
- Status