Ask Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning, Stain Removal and Organizing Tips

[napost]

Hi new to this forum, please help!! Opened tent trailer first time this year and found mold & mildew. What can use to clean this? Can't use bleach, some say 1/2 rubbing alcohol, 1/2 water. Then rinse off. It is the inside of the trailer and it is black! Need to use the trailer this Saturday. Any ideas??

[mrscleannw]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

If you have the owner’s manual, I would see what it says about cleaning. If you don’t have it, call the place you bought it from or any of your local RV stores.

Mold and mildew thrive in dark and damp places with restricted airflow. These types of campers should never be put away wet or sit unprotected out in the environment as it will encourage the growth of mold.

Below are steps for drying, cleaning, and storing your tent trailer.

Dry it Out.
Mold spores release a toxic gas that can be harmful to you, so be sure to wear a mask, wear gloves and old clothes.

I don’t know where you live or the kind of weather you’re having, but the first thing you want to do is get it dried out! Hopefully you’re having some sunny days as the sunlight will not only help dry it out but kill the mold and mildew.

Take everything out of the trailer that can be removed and put those in the sunlight as well. Open any windows and get air moving through the trailer. You need to dry everything so the mold and mildew turn to dust before you start the cleaning process.

It may take a couple of days for it to get completely dried out. When it’s dry, use a wet/dry vac to vacuum what you can of the mold and mildew and be thorough. Don’t forget to throw the contents of the vacuum away when you’re done.

Cleaning the Canvas/Nylon.
After you’ve done the steps above then you can start cleaning.

You don’t mention if the trailer is made of canvas or nylon and I’m sure it is most likely treated with a waterproofing material.

Mix together a solution of 1 gallon warm water to 1 cup mild detergent. Use a soft bristled brush and scrub the canvas. Work in sections. When you’ve finished washing one section with the cleaning solution, rinse with plain water then move on to the next section.

Leave everything open to dry out and keep air circulating; this may take another day or so. Again, make sure you wear protective gloves and a mask.

Professional Cleaning.
If there is a lot of mold and mildew, you may want to think about taking it to a professional cleaner. It would be worth the cost especially when you consider your health.

Storing Your Popup Camper.
Storing your popup camper in a dry place is going to help prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Putting your camper away completely dry will also help in the prevention of mold damage. Mold and mildew will thrive in damp, dark places with little air flow so if you put your popup camper away wet, chances are you will have a problem when getting it ready for the next time you use it.

When the camper is ready for storing, sweep off any dirt, leaves, and clean out the inside as best you can removing food, paper, etc. Seal any entry points there may be to help keep rodents out.

If you don’t have garage space or a covered parking area, you can make a make shift covered area using tarps. Don’t lay the tarps directly over the camper as this will restrict airflow but, for instance, you could make something in the shape of a tent.

Mrs. Clean