Inside of TT covered in mildew

OP here,

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions. Was not able to get in front of the computer this weekend as we spent most of it cleaning the TT. A few more details to answer some questions and better understanding of problem. The TT is about 3 years old, purchased new and is stored at my father in law's in a pole barn surrounded by trees and there is no electric available. Our Jayco has 1 roof vent in the bathroom and it does have a max air vent cover and the vent was open. I believe the problem is due to lack of cross ventilation and only having 1 vent open and no other windows open. With the rainy weather we have had I suspect that with the vent open it was good for the bathroom area which had the least amount/ almost no mildew in there worked for that area. The door to the bathroom door was closed which helped keep the moisture trapped in the rest of the TT and prevented air flow. Upon closer inspection of the problem while doing cleanup was noticed that the majority of the mildew/mold was located in areas where something was spilled by the 5 year DS or where he may have wiped something on the couch and from our previous dog (Boxer)who slobbered a lot and most cabinets/walls at his level where it was not completely cleaned. We do clean the TT well after each use however it is apparent that these areas where not as clean as we had thought started the problem and it spread from there. We checked inside cabinets and closets and had no problems in those areas. It was in the open living area where we found 80% of our problem where previous spills or food particles were not as cleaned as well as we thought. Bottom line is it is apparent that things aren’t as clean as they seem when something is spilled and need to clean under dinette and couch cushions more often as you never know what a 3 - 5 year old my store there for later use. Going forward we will either leave multiple windows opened/cracked and will use Damp rid buckets at each end of the TT when stored and will do the cleaning we just gave it 1 a year regardless of what we see and what can be seen. Our rig is currently cleaner on the inside then it was the day we picked it up and is currently airing out from the various products we use to get it there and is ready to be used. Planning make up trip in a couple of weekend to keep the DS happy. Just need to get new tires and clean the outside before then and all is well. Thanks again for the help and suggestions as we followed along for tips on cleaning and what to do to prevent this from happening again.

Make sure to put the containers of Damp Rid in larger plastic buckets. The chemical can be pretty caustic, and if it leaks on a surface, can corrode it quickly. The Damp-rid buckets seem sturdy enough, but I like having additional protection.

the bear II wrote:
Based on the bathroom having little mold compared to the rest of the TT, it sounds like a ventilation problem like others have indicated. The bathroom vent opened prevented mold build up in the bathroom.

Agree......use vent covers, keep them open. add a couple containers of Damp Rid. Good luck!

One worry I'd have with any "bomb" application is how much residual chemical is left after the suggested wait time for habitation. I've used and use a variety of chemicals but I don't like living with them.

Solid surfaces, wipe down with Clorox wipes. Surfaces with a finish may be tricky.

I have thought about using some of this stuff for some spots on our HTT canvas, but haven't tried it yet. They also have a fast release version, but you can't be in the camper while it is being used.

http://www.amazon.com/Star-NosGUARD-Mildew-Control-System/dp/B004O0FP4S

Star brite NosGUARD SG Mold/Mildew Odor Control System works by releasing a deep-penetrating chlorine dioxide vapor that completely permeates throughout an enclosed area. The Slow Release System is ideal for use in preventing odor and maintaining air quality in stored boats, RVs or vacation homes. It is also ideal for year-round use in homes and boats to maintain air quality and to keep mold/mildew odor and other foul odors from forming. The Boat Bomb is ideal for removing strong odors such as those that can form during long-term storage or are the results of smokers or pets onboard.

Opinions welcomed!

I am not in a humid climate but have heard about folks using 5 gallon buckets then mostly fill with rock salt. sit it in the rig when stored and it will absorb moisture. then it can be dried out by spreading it out on a tarp in the sun and reused.

There are a variety of mildewcides out there but good old household bleach is very effective. Phenol is also a fungicide and can be used on those surfaces that might be effected by bleach (cloth, cushions, etc.). Phenol is found in Original Lysol cleaner and Listerine mouthwash. I'd bet that a surface scrubbing and airing everything out will get your rig back in shape. If you can increase the ventilation when stored, you should be OK in the future.

Rent an ozone machine and leave it running for a couple of days. Ozone will kill the mold and mildew and will get into areas you cant reach. Then start the clean up. Read the health warning about airing out the rig before working inside though as concentrated ozone is harmful to your lungs.

Just a suggestion to try for cleanup...isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle, spray it on, let sit for a moment and wipe off with a terry cloth type rag/towel, like a bath/hand towel. Test it first on surfaces your might question.
For cloth material or carpeting, just spray and leave...the alcohol kills the bacteria. It may smell "perfumy" to start with, the odor quickly dissipates and leaves no after-odor.
My experience you ask...I used it on the light colored berber carpet along the baseboards in the basement around the outer walls when they started showing signs of darkening from what turned out to be slight mildew/mold. Then got a dehumidifier. And, when I was a LEO patrol officer, my bullet proof vest cloth liner was always damp, frequently soaked with perspiration at end of shift. I'd always spray it with alcohol before hanging it up to dry. Next day, no dampness, no odor, and it never deteriorated the cotton liner.

I'm really sorry you're experiencing this but it sounds like some really good advice. I live in Tallahassee Fl and once we get our rv back from the dealer and storing it under a shelter I will remember these valuable tips as I'm not terribly far from you.