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BoriquaBBW's avatar
BoriquaBBW
Explorer
Sep 06, 2014

HOW TO CLEAN CEILING MOLD

I bought a 1997 Itasca Sunrise in June. It had low milage and was neat and clean inside except for a couple places where it had leaked and stained the ceiling. It is an insulation-type ceiling resembling something like a scouring pad. The leaks were repaired, but the stains remain.
I had to live in the RV for about 6 weeks while my home was having electrical issues. It was hot, so I ran the air and kept the windows closed most of the time I was in it. I started having asthma attacks almost every day at first to several times a day toward the end. I just thougth I was coming down with a cold until someone said I could have mold in the ceiling where the leaks had been. When I moved back into my house the attacks stopped.
I don't know how to clean the mold though. The ceiling is rough, not smooth so I can't just wipe it down. I thought of spraying it with bleach, but don't really want to do that. I would like to know if there is any product out there made for that type of ceiling or if there is a trick to cleaning it without having to replace the whole ceiling as it would have to be done to the whole length of the RV as one leak was at the front air conditioner and the other at the shower dome in the back. If anyone has any ideas they would be appreciated.
Class A
  • Oldme's avatar
    Oldme
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2014
    I have found that Oxiclean spray stain remover works well.
    Spray, let set 5 min or so, use a brush if needed and blot dry.
  • turbojimmy's avatar
    turbojimmy
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2014
    DutchmenSport wrote:
    It probably does look like leprosy.


    This is a good point. Is it actually mold or mildew? There's a big difference. Mold can kill you. Mildew can trigger asthma, but it usually doesn't have long term health effect. Mold is splotchy and often multi-colored (black, orange, white) and is more of a "growth".

    I had mostly a mildew problem. There was some mold in my fridge, and in one spot in the ceiling but the rest was mildew (a black "dust" that covered everything).
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2014
    Kind of off subject here, but do you know that in the Bible "mold" is called "leprosy" in the King James Version? I read that and about fell over. It's in Leviticus 14. Now .... the cure in the Bible for "leprosy" (mold) in a house ... well ... that's a different matter. I've never tried that cure (and never will either) but if you want to try ..... well .... (don't tell anyone). I think bleach water is a more plausible solution! Still, it's an interesting read. Some translations of the bible call it "cancer" too. Thinking in terms of thousands of years ago, they probably did not have a term for "mold". It probably does look like leprosy.
  • turbojimmy's avatar
    turbojimmy
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2014
    My RV had sat for 6 or 7 years in a tow yard, leaking the whole time. The interior upholstery and carpet was black with mold and mildew. I couldn't breathe in there, nor could my asthmatic daughter. After steam cleaning the inside, I sprayed the whole thing down with Microban. Several times. Microban is about $40 a gallon and it's the stuff hospitals use to clean up. Mildewcide, bactericide and fungicide. There's no hint of the mold or mildew other than the remaining stains in the ceiling (which are conveniently hidden in the overhead cabinets. After several trips in it, and with it closed up and the A/C on, the kids and I are fine in there.

    I also used the stuff in restoring a flood-totaled Cadillac that I reconstructed. It was completely submerged. There was mold and mildew everywhere (if you can imagine muddy river water sitting between the leather and foam on the seats, in the foam carpet insulation, etc.). When I was done it smelled like a new car inside (Cadillac selects and tans their leather to get a particular aroma - another long story).
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2014
    This stuff works great and it stops it from coming back.
    Note: you only have to buy the 'blocker'. you do NOT need to buy the 'cleaner' and blocker. The fumes from the cleaner will just about kill you!


    http://www.moldarmor.com/

    And btw surface mold does exist it's not always thru out your whole RV. Clean it with the mold armor blocker and you should be good to go. Good luck.
  • gemert's avatar
    gemert
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2014
    If it's just stains on the roof you shouldn't have a problem. It sounds like you may still have an active mold problem. You may have to replace the ceiling if that is the case because no amount of cleaning of the surface is going to help if the mold is above. If you still have mold you may still have moisture up there. Sorry for the "half glass empty" approach but that's the way it seems to me. Dead mold may still cause an issue, I'm not a Dr. so I'm not sure. Good luck.
  • dockmasterdave's avatar
    dockmasterdave
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2014
    Spraying the mold with bleach will kill it, but it will not remove the waste produced by the mold. That is what causes asthma attacks and allergies.
    There is nothing you can put "on it" or spray it with that will remove it. It must be removed.
    Mold is also very dangerous when in a confined area. It is treated the same way as asbestos. It would take a licensed mold remediator in a hazmat suit,with the area sealed in a vacuum.
    It's nothing to play with.
    As for those who will tell you different, ask them what license they hold and where they studied microbiology.
    I hold a state mold remediator license. I'm not guessing.
  • is_it_friday_ye's avatar
    is_it_friday_ye
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2014
    I used this ,Concrobium, in my basement at home and it seemed to help. It's a cheap try in your trailer. I think I bought it at ACE Hardware or Home Depot.

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