Mould is building up on cupboard doors and under bed slats in my 4 year old Freedom Twinsport. I have stripped it out for the winter of contents, drained everything off and removed bedding etc and have vents open and windows front and back just ajar on the first latch.
Any ideas and how I can protect it please?
Mould is caused by spores so first you need to kill the mould & remove it so get some anti mould spray from B&Q etc & clean all the mould off. If the caravan is well ventilated there is little else you can do. I'm assuming here the caravan body is not leaking. Has it been checked for damp?
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wash everything over you can with a mild Milton solution and then dry thoroughly, and then make sure you can get the doors and windows open as much as you can to let the air circulate, I would also get the van checked to make sure that you don't have a problem with damp in the van, which yes I know is highly unlikely on a freedom
Loads of threads on dehumidifiers, the consensus is generally that they do more harm than good in a caravan. Possibly there is too much ventilation? If windows are open a crack is rain getting driven in?
The permanent ventilation in floor & so on should be enough & should be unobstructed with cupboards etc left open. The problem here is that mould spores are present in the area where the caravan is parked. If you clean with plenty of anti mould spray this may well prevent mould regrowth.
I run the heating in our van a couple of times for a few hours each when we get back to drive out all the human moisture, apparently you sweat half a pint of moisture every night.
An electric dehumidifier is worthwhile temporarily for drying out damp interior of previously leaking caravan that has been repaired but are unnecessary otherwise. Mould could be a sign of leaking caravan so worth checking but unlikely in a Freedom I would have thought.
Although the shell is GRP there are holes in it for things like road lights and awning rail fixings. It is quite possible there is a leek. Has anything been added which may have required a hole to be drilled which may not have been properly sealed?
Condensation is another possible cause as it's building up on bed slats and cupboard doors so maybe not in an isolated place.
I always like to leave all cupboard doors and drawers etc open and pull everything away from the side walls to allow as much air to circulate as possible.
Thanks for all your replies. I am fairly confident that there are no leaks and roof and wall lining are clean and tidy.
I will have a session this morning with mould spray and see how it goes.
Certainly have never come across this problem before with previous caravans.
scruffandco, I would seriously get someone to have a look at this. 4 years old and damp ! our van is 5 years old and I leave a damp trap by the sink when in in storage, been there 6 weeks now and bone dry. Last van the damp trap filled up, found a spot of damp and got it treated before it got too bad. 4 years old I would be very worried.
I have a freedom and never had any of these problems. Surely all of the vents should keep it ventilated. I leave everthing in mine all winter, and just air it all before using. I'd get it checked over!
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I have read that charcoal briquettes placed in a large can with holes punched in the lid makes a cheap dehumidifier. Leave a couple in the van when not in use and replace every few months. Afterwards, save them for use on the BBQ in the summer!!!
Hi
Is the van in storage or on your drive ??
I thought condensation only occurs when the van is in use ??
If it is cold outside and warm inside with 2 people breathing you get condensation.
If it's still wet when not in use there may be something more wrong..
I use a condensation catcher in my van although a lot of people say they do no good "it just makes me happy" it doesn't collect much. I have had it in there for a couple of months now and not emptied it as yet.
We have a swift and not noticed any damp / mould on any walls.
Maybe worth cleaning it off with a mould killer and keeping an eye on it as if you don't remove it all it will just grow back.