Opened up our folding camper for the first time today since overwintering it(is there such a word?!) before we go away for the Easter weekend and on the rear end bed underneath round the edge on the wood are some mould spots.It is nothing serious at the moment but I want to stop it before it could get any worse.I tried brushing it off with a stiff brush but it's still there.Would you advise washing the wood with a scrub brush or maybe even lightly sandpapering it?
Dettol mould and mildew remover is brilliant, we had the same problem and it worked a treat.
We bought a condensation tray the type you put the crystals in and popped it in when it was in storage the amount of water they collect are amazing!
Same problem we had in Feb as Jan said we used bleach and touch wood has stayed away.
we where going to varnish the wood but there was a post saying NOT to do this as the wood is marine ply and needs to breath so we will see how we go and decide during next winter.
Keep the canvas out of the way and treat the wood with bleach or a mould/mildew remover - just make sure the wood is dry after the treatment before the canvas touches it and you will be fine. Next winter, open the camper up whenever possible on those lovely fine, dry winter days (we've had plenty of them this year) - there is no need to fasten the canvas down - just open up the beds and unfold it. Let the air flow for an hour or so, and fold it up again. This, coupled with putting a moisture trap in the trailer, should prevent mould due to condensation in future.
Thanks for all your advice.We are away for the Easter weekend so may wait until the camper is up then to do some scrubbing then it will be left open to dry,weather permitting!!
We were discussing that maybe we should have opened the camper up during the winter months to air it but then we couldn't decide if that would be a good thing as wouldn't the air be damp that time of year? therefore it would be folded down and possibly be in a worse state than not opening it up at all??
Have seen the moisture bags in towsure and had wondered how good they were,now I've had the beginnings of mould I may invest in some for the future.
Used to open my Cruiser up regularly during winter (as my parents did before I got it from them) - when I sold it, it was over 10 years old, had been used almost every weekend between March and October in those 10 years (and a few winter weekends too), plus the usual longer breaks, and there was no sign of mould anywhere on the bodywork, bed-boards or canvas. Just choose a day when the sky and air are clear and crisp, and make sure it's folded by about 2pm at the latest. If you can open it up in a sunny spot, so much the better.