Hello,
We are going to upgrade our van so we can have a fixed bed, it will have to go into storage, how do you all manage with it keeping it free from damp ect, ie the mattress and seating cushions , as it seems a rigmarole to take it out, any ideas,
Thanks
Helen
I do think I've seen products (for both home and caravans) that collect moisture - basically a dehumectant/dessicant like salt in some sort of little container.
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Ventilation is everything, certainly don't leave passive de humidifing devices of any sort in the caravan, thats the very last place you want to collect water & even worse if they overflow. Leave cupboard & bathroom doors open to allow ventilation points to be unobstructed so air can circulate in & out. Leave blinds & curtains open so interior warms up on sunny days & thats it.
All soft furnishing that came with caravan can be left in but remove all pillows/quilts etc & leave fridge door open.
Salt attracts moisture, big no for me.
if the caravan does not have a leak just move the seating/bedding away from the sides and thats it.
Think or it this way, do things get damp in your shed or garage, cold yes but not damp
I cannot believe this topic is around again,all salt and the bags of crystal will do is collect moisture from the air that is passing through the van due to ventilation and then storing it.
You are trying to remove water from whole atmosphere.
Dehumidifiers are for enclosed spaces.
In the olden days (at least prior to my last 2 vans lol) I used the crystals. Vans were usually ok with the tiniest bit of mildew that could brush off at the end of the winter. Last couple of years I have taken the advice here and not bothered with salt/crystals and left all cupboard doors and toilet door open, pulled sofa seats away from wall of van, same with fixed bed. Not a bit of damp or mildew anywhere.
We have our van in storage and don't do anything other than park it up. Never had any damp in there at all. Cushions and mattress are fine. As long as your van doesn't leak you'll be fine.
Quote: Originally posted by crosshandsnen on 06/3/2015
I only asked advice about storing a caravan , was not wishing to cause annoyance to anyone
Sorry my comment not really aimed at you but at people giving bad advice.
If you put these things in a space that is open to the atmosphere which a caravan is due to the through ventilation even when all the windows are closed they collect moisture from the air passing through the van, giving the impression they are doing some good when in fact all they are doing is storing water inside your van.
As said before move cushions and beds away from the sides of the van and leave cupboards and doors open and you will be fine.
Check the van as often as possible when in storage then if problems arise they can be sorted easier.