Date:         Mon, 27 Jan 2003 12:08:53 -0800
Reply-To:     Harald Rust <harald_nancy_vw@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Harald Rust <harald_nancy_vw@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Keeping mold out of a westy
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Forwarded from
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vw-camping/

Everyone has their own way of dealing with keeping
mold out in their campers.
Once mold spores take hold, they are hard to get rid
of. So it's best to prevent it.
Mold weakens fabrics, creates bad odors, and not the
least, is an allergen.
Some interesting facts that many never think about:
1) Why is there the funny flocking under the pop top
ceiling?
The reason is so that the moisture that condensates
under the ceiling doesn't drip on your head.
2) Why does the westy have a double pane pop top
skylight?
That's so there is less condensation on the inner
pane.
Otherwise you'd have water dripping down your neck
when you're cooking at the stove.
A few things we do after a wet camping trip
to prevent mold is:
1) have 2 small wood sticks handy, about 1 1/2 ft long
to prop open the pop top and rear storage bench.
2) remove the upper bunk mattress for better air
circulation.
3) open the top vent a little.
4) open all the cabinet doors, so the moisture can
evaporate, also from inside the walls.
5) if it's extreme, take the lower rear mattress out
and dry it out inside.
6) remove all wet clothing and such.
7) don't use a non vented catalytic heater to keep the

space warm, since they exhaust pure water vapor.
It's better to use an electric space heater with a
fan.
8) The most sensitive part to mold is the flocking
under the pop top and the pop top canvas fabric.
If they do get very moldy, the only way to really get
the mold out, is to replace them. That's not very
easy.
9) Air circulation is the key to keeping it mold free.

Also the condensation forms inside the van's walls
on the inside of the sheetmetal.
A lot of campers rust out from the inside for that
reason. That's also why it's not a good idea to use an
unvented catalytic heater inside the camper for long
term use.
Just some ramblings.
Anyone have any more ideas?
Harald
'90 westy (almost dry again)

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