Update about mould on canvas

[stuhaynes]

I posted about this some months ago looking for advice on how to get rid of it. Several people suggested diluted Dettol, so I gave it a try...

I removed the canopy and laid it out on plywood before jet washing it. This is not recommended by the manufacturer but felt that I had no other choice because the inside was badly affected by the mould. While the canopy was still wet I used a 50/50 mix of standard Dettol, the one that doesn't contain bleach, and warm water to thoroughly soak both sides of the canopy and left it to stand for an hour. I refitted the canopy while it was still damp to avoid shrinkage issues. It looked good.

I've found that the Dettol does work for a few weeks after which time some spores start to reappear. I'd already made up a 30/70 mix of Dettol and water in an old kitchen spray bottle and use that as a 'spot' treatment. It does seem to take care of the problem.

My own conclusion is that whilst Dettol is not a permanent cure, occasional treatment, which only takes 10 minutes, is keeping things under control.

We used Dettol with Lavender and orange oil because there is no typical Dettol smell.

Since treatment we've had very heavy, almost monsoon type rain, and the canopy has remained 100% waterproof. This without any waterproofing treatment. I had intended to use Fabsil but the advice from a member of the panel here warned against as it damages PVC windows

Hope it helps someone

 

[pvb]

Alternatively, you could simply brush it with Boracol or Polycell 3-in-1 Mould Killer two or three times a year.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I have recently trialled this stuff.

It completely removed loads of mildew from my spray hood.

Highly recommended.

 

[pvb]

I have recently trialled this stuff.

It completely removed loads of mildew from my spray hood.

Highly recommended.

It's basically only bleach at a high price! See the ingredients here. The algaecide/fungicide ingredients in Boracol or Polycell 3-in-1 Mould Killer have a residual effect as well as an immediate effect.

 

[clyst]

I'v been using this

for years with out any problems. No fading and no rotting of stitching etc and only £1 from pound shop .

 

[davidwf]

I can recomend Ever Clean Canvas and Awning Cleaner, it works great on black mould along with the green stuff. Its got Byotrol in it which seems to be a kill all antibacteria and fungal product.

http://www.royal-leisure.co.uk/product/Royal_Canvas_&_Awning_500Ml_870104

I think it is distributed by Unipart and most caravan and camping places stock it.

 

[pvb]

I'v been using this

for years with out any problems. No fading and no rotting of stitching etc and only £1 from pound shop .

It may be only £1, but it's basically just dilute bleach in a fancy bottle.

 

[clyst]

It may be only £1, but it's basically just dilute bleach in a fancy bottle.

what ever it is it works with no adverse effect .------- at least i haven't found any over the years .

 

[pvb]

what ever it is it works with no adverse effect .------- at least i haven't found any over the years .

It won't be harmful, it's less than 5% bleach. My point is that many of these "mould cleaners" are basically just ordinary bleach, and you can get 2 litres of it for 29p in Tesco.

 

[clyst]

It won't be harmful, it's less than 5% bleach. My point is that many of these "mould cleaners" are basically just ordinary bleach, and you can get 2 litres of it for 29p in Tesco.

True but not with a "free" spray bottle .

 

[jimmcgee]

True but not with a "free" spray bottle .

No , You get the pump up spray bottle from the pound shop ! lol

 

[stuhaynes]

It's basically only bleach at a high price! See the ingredients here. The algaecide/fungicide ingredients in Boracol or Polycell 3-in-1 Mould Killer have a residual effect as well as an immediate effect.

I was worried about using products that contain bleach. Dettol advertises their own 'cleaning' product that does contain bleach. When I first asked the panel here for advice about the worrying mould I was strongly warned against using bleaching products and took that advice. The canopy itself was new, and expensive, 4 years ago and I wanted it to remain the nice shade of blue that it is.
The experiment with Dettol will continue but I intend to look at Boracol and the Polycell product because I do like the thought of residual protection as long as it doesn't affect the dye in the fabric.

Interesting responses though. Thanks all.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Help from all you chemists please

The Hempel Mildew Remover is 35 to 50% sodium hypochlorite solution. Costs £15 per litre.

Household bleach is 5% sodium hypochlorite. Costs £1.85 for 2 litres.

In m simple view that makes the Hempel stuff a better buy, but if I cannot get it I may as well use the household bleach on my spray hood.

 

[sarabande]

it's only 'better' if you need the concentrated stuff. Bleach at 5% will kill mould and bacteria in the same relentless fashion as the 35% stuff, but with less dramatic effect on such properties of the cover as colour and waterproofness. Bleach is an acid.

 

[DickB]

it's only 'better' if you need the concentrated stuff. Bleach at 5% will kill mould and bacteria in the same relentless fashion as the 35% stuff, but with less dramatic effect on such properties of the cover as colour and waterproofness. Bleach is an acid.

Sorry, Bleach is an alkalyne, not an acid!!!

 

[sarabande]

sorry, lack of sleep affecting the ol' ganglia. And it's alkaline, BTW.

 

[charles_reed]

Sorry, Bleach is an alkalyne, not an acid!!!

Well, strictly speaking an oxidising agent which confusingly acts as either an alkali or an acid, depending on the pH of that with which it is mixed.

Being unstable, commercial bleach is mixed with NAOH, this makes it definitely alkaline in its reactions - using commercial bleach on any natural fabrics is inadvisable as the residual products continue to break down the fibres long after application.

No doubt, VicS our resident chemist, will be along to confirm or correct this point.

 

[Zagato]

I used bleach on mine and it didn't get rid if the grey staining It's a white plastic hood It's similar to the the dark mould blotches you get on sails, any ideas welcome to clean it becuase the spray hood is ruined and there is nothing wrong with it structurally.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Well, strictly speaking an oxidising agent which confusingly acts as either an alkali or an acid, depending on the pH of that with which it is mixed.

Being unstable, commercial bleach is mixed with NAOH, this makes it definitely alkaline in its reactions - using commercial bleach on any natural fabrics is inadvisable as the residual products continue to break down the fibres long after application.

No doubt, VicS our resident chemist, will be along to confirm or correct this point.

Bleach in the UK seems to be mainly NaOH. Sodium Hydroxide
Bleach in America (most people use Clorox I believe) is NaOCl. Sodium Hypochlorite?

Both seem to be sold in about 6% solution.

Not sure if it makes much difference.

The makers of Sunbrella recommend cleaning (and it is a man made fabric - acrylic canvas) with bleach.

Seems to work for me. The picture below shows my test. Two adjacent pieces of my cockpit tent which has been up for about 40 months. The side show is the worst one - inside, where all the mildew deveoped. The outside was much greener, but looks just as good now.

 

[Spyro]

Bleach in the UK seems to be mainly NaOH. Sodium Hydroxide
Bleach in America (most people use Clorox I believe) is NaOCl. Sodium Hypochlorite?

Both seem to be sold in about 6% solution.

Not sure if it makes much difference.

The makers of Sunbrella recommend cleaning (and it is a man made fabric - acrylic canvas) with bleach.

Seems to work for me. The picture below shows my test. Two adjacent pieces of my cockpit tent which has been up for about 40 months. The side show is the worst one - inside, where all the mildew deveoped. The outside was much greener, but looks just as good now.

What colour did it start off?