kelvin12
New Member
Has anyone found a good way of removing the unsightly black spots from internal teak woodwork caused by mildew? This covers large areas mainly on the plywood bulkheads and panels on cupboard doors.
Black spots / mildew on internal varnished teak woodwork
- Thread starter kelvin12
- Start date
cagey
Well-Known Member
Welcome Mike, can I join in on your quest, I have the same problem accompenied by large stained areas around metal fasteners, none of this is structural just unsightly. Most panels affected are too large to remove from boat. Hope there is an easy way out of this
Thanks
Keith
Thanks
Keith
dulcibella
Well-Known Member
Spray with a mildew spray (eg Tesco), leave for a few minutes then lightly rub off with a non-abrasive pan scourer. The real answer is to keep the boat ventilated and dry, though this is difficult in a winter like this one. I have no problem if I leave the hatches locked in the slightly open position. Keeping the surfaces clean helps too - a light touch of furniture polish a couple of times a year keeps it looking good and discourages mould.
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
keep the surfaces clean and disinfect before the winter, gives them less to eat
Krusty
Well-Known Member
I understand that mildew needs both moisture and something 'organic' to feed on before it can thrive. The moisture is from fine sea-spray, which gets into surprising places and extracts moisture from 'dry' air, or condensation from humid air. The organics it needs are there as micro-organisms in the sea-spray, or the fabrics, wood, natural varnishes, etc.
The best preventative is therefore a thorough end-of-season fresh-water clean-down with a few drops of a wetting-agent (I use Bilgex) before thorough drying-out, including bilges.
When really dry, woodwork can be given a wipe-over with a moisture-repellant; wax; synthetic polish, etc. I use 'Varnol' below deck, and find it excellent.
All fabrics, including mattresses if at all possible, should be taken off the boat. If not possible, sealing the boat and using an efficient de-humidifier may be the only answer. But only after that clean-down!
Mildew is always worst in boats that are more-or-less abandoned, rather than given TLC, at the end of season.
The best preventative is therefore a thorough end-of-season fresh-water clean-down with a few drops of a wetting-agent (I use Bilgex) before thorough drying-out, including bilges.
When really dry, woodwork can be given a wipe-over with a moisture-repellant; wax; synthetic polish, etc. I use 'Varnol' below deck, and find it excellent.
All fabrics, including mattresses if at all possible, should be taken off the boat. If not possible, sealing the boat and using an efficient de-humidifier may be the only answer. But only after that clean-down!
Mildew is always worst in boats that are more-or-less abandoned, rather than given TLC, at the end of season.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
The answers you already have are fine if the mildew is on top of teh varnish.
If however it is under the varnish - ie in the wood grain, all the varnish has to come off, and you then have to try a bleaching agent to get the black out of the wood. You then have to completely revarnish. Results are variable: sometimes it comes up well, other times even after lots of work there is still black in the grain. Probably depends on how long it's been left and how deep into the wood the mildew has gone. Those who have the skill (I don't) say the quickest, best fix is to re-veneer the whole panel.
If however it is under the varnish - ie in the wood grain, all the varnish has to come off, and you then have to try a bleaching agent to get the black out of the wood. You then have to completely revarnish. Results are variable: sometimes it comes up well, other times even after lots of work there is still black in the grain. Probably depends on how long it's been left and how deep into the wood the mildew has gone. Those who have the skill (I don't) say the quickest, best fix is to re-veneer the whole panel.