Mildew Control
UPDATED 09-2021

It's that time of year again. Hot days followed by cooler nights. As the temperature during night time hours cools down lower than normal, the dew point rises and humidity levels hit 100%. You'll see it in the over night and early morning hours as fog and heavy dew. This condition is perfect for the growth of mildew and mold in your boat. And you don't have to be docked in the water to suffer it's damaging effects. You will first see some black spotting on the inside surfaces of your canvas, cockpit or mooring cover. This should be your first warning that worst things are to come.

Lack of ventilation and saturated humidity are the optimum conditions that can cause a boater a major clean up, and at worst totally ruin a boats upholstery, canvas and carpeting. If you are a seasoned boater, you know the consequences and damage that mildew can cause. If you are new to boating, it's just a matter of time before you meet the mildew monster. While proper ventilation is almost impossible, keeping the humidity down to a reasonable level can prevent the formation of mildew and mold, eliminating damage caused by them. We at Knapik's Marine have been using a fantastic Starbrite product for years that does just that. It prevents mold and mildew by drying the air to a point that mildew and mold cannot grow.

Mildew is also a problem during winter storage if you shrinkwrap your boat or if you store it inside with the canvas cover on. Dampness in the boat due to wet carpet or interior will raise the humidity levels to a saturated point when the boat is covered and especially when it is shrunkwrapped. Again the solution is drying the air to a point that mildew and mold cannot grow using StarBrite No Damp of the proper size.

StarBrite No Damp is an inexpensive product that really works. We use it in all our storage boats, and in our new boats to prevent the growth of mildew. 12 oz. refills are also available so the canister can be used over and over again. One No Damp canister is all that is needed in small and medium size boats. Larger sizes are also available for larger boats and cruisers. Stop in today and pick up your No Damp canister, and prevent the mildew monster from visiting you.

Cleaning Tips:

Add a cup of white vinegar to your cleaning water when wiping down the interior, this will greatly help to further reduce the chance of mildew from growing. We also found that using Marine Grade Spray Nine as your primary onboard spray cleaner will reduce chances of mildew formation. And of course, use a StarBrite No Damp canister. Pick one up today!

There are also a few new mildew and mold cleaners including a 303 product we have tested and meets our approval. Not only does it remove the mildew and mold stains, it can be used on a variety of surfaces and materials and actually helps prevent mildew and mold from forming again. Stop in and we will be happy to help you pick the right product for your needs.

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