Cleaning Mildew on Canvas

[fish2006master]

I have mildew on the outside of the canvas.  In some areas it is between the screen and the plastic window.  I am sure I am not the first that has ever had this problem.  I was wondering if someone can give me some advise on what type of cleaner I can use to get rid of the mildew but not hurt the fabric.  Thanks.

[tlhdoc]

Welcome to PUT.  
 
What is the material that you are trying to clean, vinyl, Sunbrella, etc.  It depends on what the "canvas" is.

[fish2006master]

Welcome to PUT.  
 
What is the material that you are trying to clean, vinyl, Sunbrella, etc.  It depends on what the "canvas" is.

The popup is about 18 years old.  I am pretty sure the material is vinyl.  Thanks.

[wavery]

The popup is about 18 years old.  I am pretty sure the material is vinyl.  Thanks.

Well, I guess the bottom line here is that bleach is about the only thing that will clean mold (to my knowledge). The question is, what strength bleach solution do you want to use.

I doubt that the material is vinyl. Mold will usually wipe off of vinyl rather easily. Anyway, I would just start out with about 1/2 cup of bleach in a gallon of water. I would try it in an obscure spot (to make sure that it won't damage the fabric) and let it set for a few minutes then scrup it off with clear water.

Just about any fabric that is that old may not react well to bleach and will surely need to be re-coated (for water proofing), even if it does remove the mold. The black spots may never come out completely. The important thing is to kill the mold and keep it from spreading.

You might try drying the material out, real well, in the sunshine before you clean it. Mold does not like the Sun, it kills the mold. Once the mold is dead, it is much easier to remove.

This is just my opinion and I have never tried it. So wait to see if someone knows of a better method. If you try bleach, go slow and easy with it. It is possible that it could damage the material (especially being that old).

[b2220128]

Give a product called Consan Triple Action 20 a try.  It is currently labeled for as a fungicide and algaecide for agricultural use but an older bottle I have shows uses for sanitizing hospital laundry.  You can find it in lawn and garden stores with fungicides.  While I primarily use it on Crepe Myrtles for killing powdery mildew, I have used it to deodorize old sleeping bags and remove mildew from tents.  As a clear, non corrosive liquid, it should not present any stain or bleaching problems, but always test first.  While a bottle can be around $17.00, it is useful for treating any mold and mildew on almost any type of plant or grass.

[GemmySan]

Give a product called Consan Triple Action 20 a try.

Consan's website

[Shelly]

I read recently somewhere that an equal part water/bleach/vinegar solution will do the trick.

Shelly

[fish2006master]

I read recently somewhere that an equal part water/bleach/vinegar solution will do the trick.

Shelly

I am not sure what material the canvas is made of.  All I know is the canvas is over 15 years old and is in excellent shape besides having mold spots.  It appears the mold is killed for the most part and I am looking at black spots.  

Has anyone tried this equal part of water/bleach/vinegar solution?  I might have to give this a try the next time I work on it.

[wavery]

I am not sure what material the canvas is made of.  All I know is the canvas is over 15 years old and is in excellent shape besides having mold spots.  It appears the mold is killed for the most part and I am looking at black spots.  

Has anyone tried this equal part of water/bleach/vinegar solution?  I might have to give this a try the next time I work on it.

I would try it in an obscure spot first with a little less bleach. The bleach will usually remove the water proofing. You can spray a sealer on the canvas after you have cleaned it.

[hubbards2001]

What type of sealer do you suggest?

[wavery]

What type of sealer do you suggest?

I have used this stuff:
http://secure.sailrite.com/itemdesc.asp?CartId={16AC3509-B31B-46EA-A0EE-94620DC6EVEREST6EC1}&ic=481&eq=&Tp=
It is also available by the gallon (very expensive). I have seen some other suggestions on here before. Hang in there, Someone else will reply.

It's tuff knowing what to recommend when we don't know what type of fabric that you have.

You might even try "Scotch Guard" by 3M.

Whatever you use, you can't expect to just spray it on and expect it to be very effective. You need to really soak the fabric well. You may find that it makes a slight color change in the fabric so try to do an area that will go from seam to seam. On a tent that old, you may want to consider coating the entire tent.

When I used to do this on boats, I applied it with a large sponge and really soaked the fabric well. When you spray it with one of those little spray bottles, it just tends to lay on the surface and not soak in. Besides, there is a lot of waste when you spray it. A certain percentage ends up in the air and on the ground.