Mildew problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: west chester pa
Mildew problem
Hi guys,
I have a '70 coupe with the original deluxe (black leather) interior, which is kept in an unheated garage in PA.
For the past few years I've gotten really bad mildew, all over the leather and the vinyl - seats, dash, seatbelts, etc. It reappears soon after cleaning it off.
I've tried keeping the windows cracked open, which didn't help.
Any suggestions?
Thanks! John
I have a '70 coupe with the original deluxe (black leather) interior, which is kept in an unheated garage in PA.
For the past few years I've gotten really bad mildew, all over the leather and the vinyl - seats, dash, seatbelts, etc. It reappears soon after cleaning it off.
I've tried keeping the windows cracked open, which didn't help.
Any suggestions?
Thanks! John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Mildew is an indication of too much moisture. You'll need to first kill the mildew and them eliminate the moisture. To kill/clean the mildew, wash your items using a solution of 1cup clorine bleach, 1 long squirt of dove dish washing liquid, 1 gallon of warm water. Then rub down the items using saddle soap and following its directions.
To eliminate the excessive moisture can be problematic depending upon its origin. A dehumidifer might be the place to start. My wife uses a product call Damprid inside the living quarters of her horse trailer to keep mildew off her saddles. It seems to do a good job.
To eliminate the excessive moisture can be problematic depending upon its origin. A dehumidifer might be the place to start. My wife uses a product call Damprid inside the living quarters of her horse trailer to keep mildew off her saddles. It seems to do a good job.
Last edited by marshrat99; Oct 17, 2004 at 11:18 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,685
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I agree with marshrat. Get rid of the mildew, but you need to solve the root cause as well. Might ne as simple as air flow if you don't have condensation problems elsewhere in the garage. I think that a dehumidifier would probably work, but a fan running to circulate air through the open windows might do the job as well.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,685
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I agree with marshrat. Get rid of the mildew, but you need to solve the root cause as well. Might be as simple as air flow if you don't have condensation problems elsewhere in the garage. I think that a dehumidifier would probably work, but a fan running to circulate air through the open windows might do the job as well.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: west chester pa
Thanks for the suggestions guys. What's unusual is that there are no signs of moistire/humidity elsewhere in the garage. And my other car doesn't have the problem (but it gets driven more).
I also saw a product once in a gun shop to keep moisture out of gun cases/safes - it's about a 12" tubular thing that you plug in, and I guess it heats up enough to combat the humidity. Maybe that would also work.
John
I also saw a product once in a gun shop to keep moisture out of gun cases/safes - it's about a 12" tubular thing that you plug in, and I guess it heats up enough to combat the humidity. Maybe that would also work.
John
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 5
From: Upstate South Carolina
I used damprid when I stored my vette, while deployed for over six months. The car was in coastal NC. (very humid) My wife had to dump water and replace the stuff that aborbed the moisture, but when I got back I had no problem with the cars interior.
