Mouldy Smell from Cushions

Stemar

Stemar

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 Sep 2001
Messages
25,584
Location
Home - Southampton, Boat - Gosport
Visit site
As a result of being stored under a leaky window, our cockpit cushions have developed a certain aroma, which hasn't noticeably reduced after a winter in a dry loft. Is there a way to get rid of it, or do I need to start saving for new ones?
 
What is the filling ? Foam, feathers... ?

Perhaps first try opening a seam and seeing if the dampness has started to cause mould. In which case you could wash a foam cushion with an anti-mould liquid such as borax and a squirt of detergent. I suspect that you may have to look at new cushions if the filling is feathers.
 
we has something similar with foam cushions, no mould but just a pong, took all the covers off, used copious amounts of Fabreze on them and left them for a few weeks in the conservatory, 100% better than before.
 
Suggest you remove the covers and soak both covers and foam with oxy-bleach overnight. Rinse well and dry. That should do it.
My local cheapo-home-mart shop sells oxy bleach powder at about £3 for 500g, ten times what you need. Good for rope and canvas woork too, even sails.
 
I to have a smell in the boat, took cushions home and wiped cushion foam with a vinegar and water solution and dried,
fabric covering I misted with the same solution and dried and the smell appears to have gone, however, the boat still had "that smell" so removed virtually all linings but smell still persists . Would a Balsa wood infill between GRP laminations on deck head cause this problem or, do I just need to find a really good smell buster! anyone any suggestions??
 
Stemar said:
Feathers in cockpit cushions? :eek: No, they're foam. Jazzcat's a child of the 80's, though I think the cushions are younger.

I wonder if a dousing with patio cleaner would do it?
Click to expand...
Take the covers off and wash them. You might need to purchase new foam as it is difficult to wash. If the existing foam is a good fit to the cover, the foam can be used as a template for new ones. Just done it for some interior cushions.
 
Grajan said:
I to have a smell in the boat, took cushions home and wiped cushion foam with a vinegar and water solution and dried,
fabric covering I misted with the same solution and dried and the smell appears to have gone, however, the boat still had "that smell" so removed virtually all linings but smell still persists . Would a Balsa wood infill between GRP laminations on deck head cause this problem or, do I just need to find a really good smell buster! anyone any suggestions??
Click to expand...
The couple with the Sailing Magic Carpet had a problem with balsa used as non-structural insulation on the boat they're restoring. Moisture got in through a poor interior grp lining and rotted it. Their solution was to rip out the rot and replace it with new wood, with a new grp lining. Hope that isn't what you have to do, as most balsa cores are structural!

I had a ferocious manky bilges smell on Jissel years ago caused by a slight diesel leak. I fixed the leak but the smell stayed. It took a good dose of Bioclean to get rid of it. Definitely a fan.
 
Stemar said:
The couple with the Sailing Magic Carpet had a problem with balsa used as non-structural insulation on the boat they're restoring. Moisture got in through a poor interior grp lining and rotted it. Their solution was to rip out the rot and replace it with new wood, with a new grp lining. Hope that isn't what you have to do, as most balsa cores are structural!

I had a ferocious manky bilges smell on Jissel years ago caused by a slight diesel leak. I fixed the leak but the smell stayed. It took a good dose of Bioclean to get rid of it. Definitely a fan.
Click to expand...
I had ruled out bilges, but they were manky prior to my ownership with a couple of inches of black watery something in the skeg which I had great difficulty in removing. will certainly give the Bioclean a try as not even sure they were using Balsa when my boat was built in the '60's,
 
Foam cushions probably have been treated with fire retardant which makes washing interesting. Remove covers, if foam has mould then spray with sodium hypochlorite solution. Wash covers and replace if still smelly (or they fall apart). ..................................... or clothes peg on the nose?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top