Protecting RVs from Mold, Mildew and Dry-rot
Question: Dear Luise: Do you know any wise or good tips for protecting the inside of a RV and a RV cover from mold and mildew off-season, when they aren’t is use? Really appreciate any tips you might have on this nasty stuff as well as dry-rot prevention. Marleen
Answer: Dear Marleen: We have tried about everything possible from leaving our RVs out in the weather, unprotected, to using different kinds of RV covers…to building or renting covered storage.
I can tell you right now, that the last is the best. The cost, over the long run, is money saved because of the longevity it produces. In uncovered rigs, mildew and mold are often prevalent. Also, insidious leaks and dry-rot can add to your problems. You can have both and never know it until it’s too late.
Water that you are unaware of can find paths through seams in the roof, walls and around windows, eventually creating full-blown dry rot that kills your toy dead as a doornail. At other times, leaks are painfully evident with “water, water everywhere”.
We once had a friend whose grandchild got up into an overhead bed only to have everything rip away from the wall and come tumbling down due to dry rot. The trailer wasn’t repairable. Another RVing buddy got up into the bed in her camper and the entire overhead portion opened up and dumped her onto the ground. Again, a total loss. (Obviously it wasn’t on her pickup at the time.) In both instances there was no prior sign of any problem. No warning whatsoever. Just “now you have an RV…now you don’t.”
Even when covered, an unheated RV should be sprayed inside and out with “Impact” to prevent mildew and mold from forming. You can read up on it and order it at www.traskresearch.com/mold.htm . You can also spray dried RV covers with it before you store them. Special RV heaters made of round, perforated metal help move the air and dry it out, if you have an electric connection. We don’t like the dry chemicals some people place in cups in their RVs. They just liquefy to fool you.
My best advice here is to see covered RV storage as part of your overall cost and then cut mold and mildew off at the pass by adding “Impact” to you list of trustworthy, guardians of your prized possession. Blessings, Luise
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