Mildew Removal

[SteveWright]

Has anyone used and can recomend one of the many brands of cleaners for the removal of mildew.
I have developed black mildew spots on the headlining of my boat that is proving difficult to remove with just detergent and water.

 

[Rustyknight]

A little household bleach mixed with Dettol should work..... The Dettol should kill the mould, and the bleach removes the stain. Try a weak solution at first to see what happens.

 

[VicS]

There is in fact a Dettol product containing a small amount of bleach. I forget its name though. Dettox ???

I have used several of the mould cleaners. They all seem to be effective in killing the mould especially if you leave a small resdiue but I don't think any will remove the stains. Some tend to leave a slight yellowish stain themselves so some care is needed. Some have a rather unpleasant lingering smell as well.

 

[chinita]

Dettox is what all the magazines say we should do after Christmas.

Are you thinking of Blettol???

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Dettox is what all the magazines say we should do after Christmas.


[/ QUOTE ] No that's detox.

What I was thinking of is in fact called Dettox

What's Blettox anyway.

 

[tome]

Yes, Polycell 3-in-1 mould remover about £5/litre from B&Q and also available in 0.5l spray bottle

It's the mutts nuts!

 

[geoffatstanpit]

I tried that stuff on the recommendation of this forum a couple of years ago and it didn't make any difference. But now the stitching is starting to come apart. Could there be a connection?

 

[VicS]

They are not recommended for use on fabrics so possibly yes. Best to keep them awaay from stitching. That other solutions containing a chlorine bleach.

I was assuming we were talking about a vinyl headlining.

 

[andy_wilson]

There is a proprietory remover that comes in a small dayglow green spray - from Sainsbury I think.

Ordinary bleach and biocides won't touch mildew, or it's stain.

There is a chemical - potassium permanganate I think - that kills mildew. This is purple if my schoolday memory serves, so I am unsure whether that would stain or could be neutralised. A bit of Googling might elucidate.

 

[BrendanS]

Two reasons. Mildew actually attack and eat into the fabric fibres, which is why you can never completly remove the stain, and hence weaken the fabric.


The second is that most successful treatments bleach the fabric, which will also weaken the fabric, depending on what they are made of

What material are the stitchings?

 

[AOWYN]

Be careful, if it is foam backed vinyl, then scrubbing will damage the foam if it is old. Result, lining sags and looks awful, cure, new lining, result: it looks great when replaced but costs an arm and a leg

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
potassium permanganate

[/ QUOTE ] Potassium permanganate will almost certainly leave a brown stain of manganese dioxide. That will need a mixture of dilute acid and hydrogen peroxide to remove it!

Maybe hydrogen peroxide on its own will remove the mildew stains.

 

[Rabbie]

My forecabin is lined with what looks like carpet and is heavily stained with mildew. I am preparing to replace it and was wondering if it is possible to treat the new carpet lining to prevent further mildew getting a grip. Can anyone recommend any such product?.