It’s that season again. In the South and Southwest heat and humidity are off the charts. On the East Coast and Midwest, rain, fog and humidity are rampant. On the West Coast, rain and fog bring with them days of dampness and mildew. In Florida, well, it’s summer in Florida. So starts the battle to keep mold and mildew from colonizing our boats, our heads, cabinets, galleys, berths and lockers. We’ve all come up with our own ways of dealing with mildew and mold. You can throw money, or Starbite, at the problem, but home remedies work just fine. Here’s our strategy. For routine cleaning and mildew mediation, white vinegar mixed two to one with water in a spray bottle will clean all surfaces and kill the little growths. For cleaning heavy mold, such as in the bilge or chain locker, a solution of baking soda and water mixed at a tablespoon to a quart and a soft brush will do the trick. For long term cleaning and prevention of mold and mildew, tea tree oil and water at about 20 drops to a quart in a spray bottle will kill both mold and mildew and after several applications will add a protective coating that inhibits further growth. We’ve tried putting anti-moisture products in clothes lockers but in the marine environment nothing works very well. The one we do continue to use is Forespar’s Tea Tree Power. That’s it. If you want to share your own ways of cleaning up and preventing mildew and mold from growing on your boat, you can email me at george@bwsailing.com.
