What Causes Mold In Your House
Mildew stains are small, yellow, and brown discolorations that appear on surfaces in the laundry, on wallpaper, shower curtains, tents, and upholstered furniture. These stains and markings are generally caused, and go hand-in-hand with, mold.
Mold is caused by excessive and long-lasting dampness, such as leaks, steam in the bathroom and kitchen, or even clothes that have not been allowed to dry properly.
Why is there mold in the bathroom, shower, and basement?
Mold will often develop in the bathroom, shower, and basement as they are both relatively damp areas of the house and often have very limited ventilation.
In many bathrooms, exhaust fans help to extract any steam, but this is not always the case. If there is no extraction fan , then the only means of removing the moisture in the air is to simply air out the room by opening the window or door.
The problem? It doesn’t usually work that well.
Iosso Mold & Mildew Stain Remover
For this second step, we recommend using a mold and mildew removing cleaner like Iosso Mold & Mildew Stain Remover. Mix this concentrated powder with water to clean vinyl, canvas and sails plus plastic, wood, carpeting, fiberglass and painted surfaces. Free of bleach and chlorine, Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is safe on colorful fabrics as well as sewn seams, zippers, and hook and loop fasteners.
To use this Iosso cleaner, mix one scoop of powder for every quart of water. The mixture will turn blue at first. Stir until the color disappears. Wet down your fabric with water first, then apply the solution to the fabric using a sponge, soft brush or gentle sprayer. Let the mixture stand on the fabric for at least 15 minutes. Agitate the solution on the fabric with a soft bristled brush or sponge before rinsing with fresh water. Let dry completely outside in the sun.
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Should I Just Go With A Plastic Tent
Plastic tents are entirely different creatures than CanvasCamp tents and there are positives and negatives to each.
Canvas tents do require more maintenance and care than plastic, but are by far more comfortable, sustainable, and durable.
Plastic is non-organic and petroleum based which is less delicious to mold than cotton. This is why plastic doesnt biodegrade effectively and also why our oceans and landfills are filled with plastic. Nylon and polyester are very difficult to repair and rips and tears are typically fatal. Plastic doesnt breathe like canvas, which is essential in a humid environment to keep internal humidity at comfortable levels. You cant use a tent stove in a plastic tent. Plastic tents are still effected by mildew, which stinks, literally.
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Let It Sit Then Scrub Away
Now you need to give the cleaner time to do its work. Mold spores sink deep into the surface of your RV awning, so you need to allow the cleaner to soak in as well. Give it at least 10 minutes, if not longer.
Now its time to reapply some cleaner to dampen the surface, then scrub away! Youll want to use bristle brushes for canvas/acrylic awnings and soft sponges for vinyl. Well discuss the difference between these two items in more detail below.
Make A Cleaning Solution
Depending on your awning material, you will need to use different cleaning solutions. For fixed awnings, rollup awnings and retractable awnings made of canvas or outdoor fabrics, use a mild laundry detergent and lukewarm water. You can also use a vinyl or fabric cleaner if you wish.
To clean metal awnings, use a metal cleaning solvent and water. If your awnings are made of aluminum, use a solvent especially created for it.
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Is Mildew On Canvas Different From Mould
Excess moisture can cause mildew, and this fungus will form on your canvas tent if stored while still wet. Even if you purchase a mould resistant canvas tent, mildew could still occur in certain humid conditions.
Canvas products, including tents, may have been initially treated with mould resistant products but this dissolves over time through general use. Therefore, its essential to protect your canvas products from all types of fungi growth.
How To Remove Mould From Canvas
More and more Australians are looking at camping as an accommodation option for their vacation. Whether that means a holiday at the beach or in the country, large tents or caravans and awnings its assured youll be spending time in the great outdoors. The open-air, nature on your doorstep, the joys, and the difficulties of cooking outside all add to the experience. Even a spot of rain can add to the memories you make on a camping holiday.
But what happens when you pack up and return to everyday life? Do you wait for the next holiday to check your tent? Did you know that mould can occur on canvas surfaces and thrives when that canvas is packed up and shoved in a dark corner?
Even though it might be the last thing you want to do, its best to clean your tent when you arrive home from your holiday and let it dry completely before packing it away. Youll be pleased you took the time when youre on your next big adventure with a clean, mould free tent.
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Preventing Mould On Canvas
Prevention of mould is the best way to take care of your canvas. Always wipe down your canvas tent or awning with clean water before allowing it dry thoroughly. Its best to pitch your tent again when youre at home to allow enough ventilation for complete air dry.
- Check your tent seams for dampness as they will take the longest to dry
- Store the tent in a dry place between events or trips
- Check your storage place often to ensure the area is dry
How To Clean And Remove Mildew From An Rv Awning
Mildew is a common problem for RV awnings, particularly those that get rolled in and stored while they are still wet or damp. Mildew is not as big of a problem as mold as it tends to be more on the surface of the awning and it is more easily cleaned up. Having said that, mildew can still do damage and a small growth can turn into a big problem if it isnt addressed quickly.
Mildew on a vinyl awning can be cleaned with diluted bleach, vinegar, and baking soda, or a store-bought antimicrobial. For the bleach, youll want to spot-treat affected areas by spraying diluted bleach on it and letting it sit for 10 minutes. Then you can scrub off the mildew and rinse off the bleach.
For an acrylic awning, you can try soaking the mildewy spots in bleach, but because of the porous nature of acrylic, there is a possibility that the bleach wont be able to penetrate deep enough to get it all. This is generally more of a problem with mold than mildew, but its something to consider.
Just like with the hydrogen peroxide, the bleach can discolor the area it is sprayed on if its left for too long and can have other negative effects as well. If youre wondering how to clean mildew off of RV awnings without harsh chemicals, your best bet is going to be vinegar and baking soda.
A clean awning will not only look good but it will also last longer and function better. For more tips and in-depth information check out How RV awnings work
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Get A Quote For A New Retractable Awning From Aladdin
If you do not yet have a retractable awning, you should get one for your house so you can enjoy beautiful summer weather. A retractable awning can allow you to spend time relaxing outside and enjoying your deck or patio.
Aladdin has been in business since 1949. We have installed retractable awnings for homeowners all over Connecticut.
- 20 North Plains Industrial Rd. Unit #9Wallingford, CT 06492
Repairing Problems That Cause Mold
Before you put your camper away for the season, youll want to take precautions to prevent any future problems. Not only does this include determining and dealing with the source of your mold, but it may include repairing the canvas of your camper, or giving your camper a preventative treatment to help restore the sealant on the canvas material.
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A Lesson On Moldy Tents And Deep Cleaning
Youve seen it on that last slice of bread, creeping up the bathroom wall, or dusting the outside of a fabulously dry-cured sausage accompanied by an exquisite French cheese. Good or bad, mold is an intractable part of the world we occupy. It can also destroy your stuff.
First and foremost: Canvas tents have been used all over the world in a variety of environments for 100+ years, remain the undisputed champion in tentage material, and are built to last. You just have to take care of them. Similar to other fine pieces of equipment, tools, and clothing, proper maintenance is required. If you are looking for a long term shelter to leave up in the rainforest without much maintenance, a non-breathable petroleum based product like hard plastic may be a better solution, although comfort and humidity may limit the amount of time you want to spend inside it.
What Kills Mold Instantly
In such cases, a solution of diluted bleach provides the fastest way to kill mold on walls or flooring. Prepare the solution by adding one cup of bleach into a bucket that contains about a gallon of warm water. Then proceed to scrub the mold vigorously with a stiff-bristled brush youve dipped in the bleach solution.
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Is Vinegar Or Bleach Better For Killing Mould
Both are great at cleaning mould on outdoor furniture as well, however, they are both completely different things for mould. Vinegar is an acid but bleach is an oxidising agent which actually turns the mould spores into inert crystals that are then easily washed away with a clean water hose from the fabric or canvas.Vinegar will also disinfect the fabric or canvas to some degree. Its mild acidic preservative qualities won’t kill every micro-organism in the mould from the canvas though so if there have been any dead skin cells in your mouldy canvas awnings, you may need something stronger for heavy-duty cleaning. This goes for any strong odour left behind by bleach. Nothing can beat throwing your canvas in the washing machine on a hot cycle with some enzymatic detergent for really killing lingering smells and a good wash.
Deep Cleaning A Very Dirty Tent
Although mold and mildew prevention is always the best method for maintaining your tent mold stains do occur, especially in warm, flora and fauna rich environments. If nature has outpaced your tent maintenance routine and youve got a very dirty tent on your hands, there is still hope!
First and foremost, keep these things in mind at the outset:
- Set a realistic expectation: mold stains are extremely difficult to remove entirely. The tent will never look brand new again, but with some hard work and patience a good cleaning can add to the life of your tent.
- Deep cleaning is hard work and will take a long time. You may need to repeat a few of these steps depending on how dirty the tent is, or how much soap you have to rinse out.
- Enlist some help! Tents are heavy, wet tents are really heavy.
- If you perfect this process and want to start a bell tent cleaning business in your area let us know! There is a demand!
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Filthy Moldy Icky Awnings Heres How To Keep Them Clean
You put up your gorgeous new awnings and they really make your home stand out. Wow, they look great and they provide shade. Happiness achieved! Fast forward a year or two and you happen to look up and see some black junk on them. Wait, is that green stuff mold?
Fabric awnings will last for years but, they live outside where dirt, pollen, and mold abound. You are going to have to clean them if you want to get the full life span out of the fabric.
We have put together this short video to show you the basic steps to get your fabric awning clean and looking good.
If you are more of a list person, keep on scrolling for detailed cleaning instructions.
When They Look a Little Dirty
Follow these simple steps for fantastic looking awnings:
If stubborn stains persist, you can spot clean the awning using a diluted bleach solution.*
When They Look Really Bad
Mildew can grow on the dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from your awning fabric over the years. To clean mildew and stubborn stains:
How To Clean Tree Pitch Off Of A Fabric Awning
Remove tree pitch from acrylic or natural materials with a mixture of turpentine and liquid dish soap. To remove sap from vinyl, use a grease remover or rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth. Work it gently into the pitch you want to soften the sap, not spread it around. Wash the area with mild soap and water. Repeat if necessary possibly 2 or 3 times depending on how thick the patch of pitch is.
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How To Clean An Acrylic Rv Awning
You know how to clean vinyl awnings on RVs now, but another common choice for awning material is acrylic. This fabric differs from vinyl in that it is woven, and therefore porous. Porous materials are harder to clean because they hold dirt and microbes and they often have a waterproof coating.
In order to do a deep clean on acrylic, you cant scrub it like you would a vinyl awning you have to rely on the cleaner soaking into the fabric. For this reason, rolling up the awning with a cleaner applied is the best method to use so you dont have to do as much scrubbing. If you do have to scrub, use a stiff-bristle brush to get the dirt out from between the woven fibers.
Its also a good idea to apply another layer of waterproofing spray after youre done cleaning to keep your acrylic as protected as possible, even if you didnt do any scrubbing on it.
Recommended Precautions To Take
We would recommend that if possible you take down the awnings to allow safer cleaning. However, where this is not possible, be sure to use a sturdy ladder with a shelf on the top step to place all cleaning equipment securely.
Plastic sheets are your new best friend, if you do not want to bother with the hassle of moving any outdoor furniture from underneath the canvas awning.
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How To Maintain Your Canvas Awnings
In this blog post we will be showing you how and why you should clean and maintain your canvas awning fabrics.
While installing new awnings can really help with reducing the heat that penetrates your home, they can also complement and enhance the look and style of your home. Many people have theirs installed and are really excited with the new look, but can then forget about maintaining them.
A canvas awning should and will last for 25 years or more if properly maintained. Keeping it clean and looking new doesnt have to be a task.
If you do neglect your canvas awning they can become an eyesore and then detract from the look of your homes appearance.
As a general rule, it should be cleaned once or twice a year .
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How To Clean Mold Off Canvas In 7 Easy Steps
If left in the humidity, knowing how to clean mold off canvas can be beneficial. Canvas tents continue to be the undefeated pioneer of tentage materials due to their durability and strength.
If you want to keep your items canvas color, eliminating mold can be a difficult chore to complete. It may take a few attempts to remove mold from canvas altogether, but for the most part, it is truly feasible.
The time spent outside in your tent is significant, whether youre camping, enjoying yourself, or simply camping in your backyard at home. It also spends an amount of time indoors while not in use, stimulating mold growth. It is possible to remove mold from canvas and sanitize canvas tent surfaces with relative ease if you take action quickly.
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How Do You Get Mildew Out Of Canvas Shoes
Instructions for Cleaning Moldy, Mildewy Shoes:
