Preventing Mildew on Curtains

[Goldie]

Question on behalf of Mrs Goldie who is just about to start making a new set of curtains for the boat.

The existing curtains have lasted well but have started to suffer from mildew spots. The boat is a dry boat and is always left with vents open (and a dehumidifier, vents closed, when ashore) so in order to prevent recurrence, does anyone have any hints or tips please? Are certain fabrics more or less susceptible? One idea I had was to soak the finished curtains in one of the proprietary waterproofing solutions sold by the outdoor shops. has anyone tried this and does it work? Better ideas always welcome!

The curtain design is quite involved and there are quite a few curtains so we want to get it right, as far as possible, first time.

Many thanks in anticipation,

 

[guernseyman]

Throw the dehumidifier away, and leave the vents open.

 

[RupertW]

Question on behalf of Mrs Goldie who is just about to start making a new set of curtains for the boat.

The existing curtains have lasted well but have started to suffer from mildew spots. The boat is a dry boat and is always left with vents open (and a dehumidifier, vents closed, when ashore) so in order to prevent recurrence, does anyone have any hints or tips please? Are certain fabrics more or less susceptible? One idea I had was to soak the finished curtains in one of the proprietary waterproofing solutions sold by the outdoor shops. has anyone tried this and does it work? Better ideas always welcome!

The curtain design is quite involved and there are quite a few curtains so we want to get it right, as far as possible, first time.

Many thanks in anticipation,

I'd go back to the dehumidifier as mould won't grow in a dryish environment (60 percent humidity or less?) so either ventilation is bringing too much damp air in or dehumidifier not working well enough. For curtains my first guess would be that the windows themselves are colder than the rest of the cabin so curtains are getting damp as the cold air holds less water so dumps the excess onto the nearest absorbent surface. Deciding how to leave the curtains when you are away from the boat might help, or a more drying setting in the dehumidifier?

 

[[70521]]

I leave two small hatches open and never have any damp in the cabins. Movement of air is all you need.

 

[pvb]

You could try soaking the curtains in a dilute solution of Boracol (or maybe Patio Magic) then allow them to dry naturally. Might need ironing afterwards. I used Boracol successfully on curtains in my old HR. I now have OceanAir pleated blinds, which won't suffer anyway.

 

[BelleSerene]

A couple of seasons ago I soaked ours, which had developed some mildew cross shapes, in an anti-mildew treatment and let them dry. Might have been a solution of Patio Magic; that's certainly what I used for the stack pack. Then I washed them. They came out fine. Ironed folds back into them and re-fitted.

Dehumidifier does help. Ours is back in service this season. In our boat there's no way we can create sufficient circulation in the fore cabin without leaving hatches open to the rain. Perhaps other designs are different.

Worst area can be by an open hatch where moisture escapes from the boat - particularly the one in the heads, followed by the ones above the galley. Hardly surprising.

 

[Momac]

I now have OceanAir pleated blinds, which won't suffer anyway.

I have seen Oceanair blinds with mildew spots - but they cleaned up okay.

 

[VicS]

You could try soaking the curtains in a dilute solution of Boracol (or maybe Patio Magic) then allow them to dry naturally. Might need ironing afterwards. I used Boracol successfully on curtains in my old HR. I now have OceanAir pleated blinds, which won't suffer anyway.

I would try a benzalkonium chloride based mold and mildew killer such as Polycell 3 in 1 or Patio Magic dilted to its lowest concentration ( 1+9 IIRC) . Dont use one containing chlorine bleach though!

A light spray with dilute PM from time to time certainly keeps my shower curtain mildew free.

 

[thinwater]

A dilute (~ 2 ounces per gallon) of borax is very effective on fabric.

A smart choice would be to treat small bit of fabric with each of these, leave then somewhere very damp, and watch what happens. I say this because I have tested most of these products, and the results depend on the specific fabric. For example, borax is better on natural fabrics and BAC is great on most synthetics.

I don't think water repellent will do any good in the cabin. But again, cut some strips and try it.