Guys & Gals, hopefully this will make it real simple.
Use the products/chemicals that you are familiar and comfortable with. Looking for magic bullets can result in sometimes permanent harm to yourself and others.
Just like all the endless threads about 'boat tank water' .... the elemental truth is 'hygiene' is the very best solution for mold and mildew control. Wash the 'total' inside of your boat occasionally with SOAP and WATER.
This will remove most all the debris (such as exfoliated human skin cells and other formerly 'living' stuff) that accumulates and sticks to surfaces and provides the nutrients which feed the molds and mildews, etc.
Most 'soaps' & detergents are naturally 'caustic', most detergents being caustic will dissolve most of these 'cells' if left in sufficient contact time or 'soak time'. If you want 'strong' soap go to an 'agricultural supply' (Agway, etc.)
Vinegar can kill mold; but, its residual 'acidity' creates an enhanced low pH surface for more or later regrowth; molds and mildews thrive in 'mildly acidic' conditions.
Many mold and mildew species are extremely toxic to humans, especially to human respiratory tissue, and your natural immunity to these can be sequentially and additively diminished ... and you may not know that your auto-immune system is declining. Its the spores that do the 'spread' of the principal infection. If the 'all' surfaces are 'clean' (and slightly caustic because you didn't rinse away all the caustic detergent), the probability of growth will be greatly reduced.
Once the mold and mildew 'filaments' are grown INTO the surface material, they become very hard to remove/dissolve/inactivate and the surface 'fruiting bodies' will continue to reappear ad nauseum until you then ... as a last resort use 'special anti-fungal' and other complex 'chemicals'. My personal choice for that is "3M Marine Mildew Block Spray" and even that Im totally experienced with the 'drastic' disinfectants used in the pharma, food and dairy, etc. industries.
Simply don't let mold and mildew 'happen' ... by regular 'hygiene' - wash the insides of your boat with SOAP and water, dont remove all the soap but leave a little bit to create a caustic surface (on the non-painted surfaces) which helps to inactivate the spores.
Other.
NEVER EVER EVER attempt to clean or remove a mold or mildew that is DRY. Doing so will release zillions of spores and many can be aspirated into your respiratory tract, stick to your mucous membranes or cornea. Use at least a 'dust mask' when cleaning 'mold or mildew', a good respirator is even better. If want to use 'clorox', this is the time to do it: spritz the mold with clorox to soak and 'stun' and hopefully inactivate the spores, let soak fully ... and then 'clean it'.
(If you want to discover where probably most of the spores are coming from .... START with the vent line on your water tank, followed by all the 'undersurfaces' where you never ever cleaned before ... like the underside of your sole, etc. or the 'undersurface' of that 'floor pan' or 'liner', your anchor locker!!!!)
A totally 'clean' boat (including all the 'undersides') will have very little mold/mildew and will usually stay that way with little hassle other than an occasional 'washing' with soap and water. Most of the 'fine debris and dust' where humans inhabit ... is 'exfoliated dead skin cells'.
hope this helps
