Enjoying your boat is the best part of being a boat owner! Although, the maintenance and repairs can be never ending. A moist, damp, and poorly insulated environment makes your boat the perfect home for mold that can cause irreversible damage!

Sources of Mold

Water

A single water leak can start spores growing. So, the first thing to do is find and seal leaks. Check portlights, windows, loose stanchions, the deck core, cockpit scuppers, under quarter berths, v-berths, settees, lockers, lazarettes, under seats, drains, and hidden areas. 

Still Air

Constantly changing water, air, and hull temperatures create condensation allowing mold to thrive. Ensure that your boat is well ventilated. Opening hatches or portholes to create cross ventilation can help to prevent this.

Prevention

Fresh Air

Exchanging inside air for outside air, greatly reduces mold formation. When you visit your boat be sure to open it up and let fresh air in while you're doing an inspection. 

Keep It Clean and Open

Keep all lockers and other enclosed spaces clean, empty, and open when possible to help circulation and reduce moisture. Take home bedding, mattresses, clothing, towels, and other items that can attract moisture when not in use, as these can be ruined by mold.

Ventilate

A good rule of thumb is to replace the air inside the boat every hour. Make sure you have a proper, waterproofed canvas cover for your boat, free of rips and tears, to allow fresh air to get in without water seeping through. Passive waterproof ventilators like ports and hatches provide access paths for air to enter or leave the interior of the boat. But if the air is not moving, you may need active ventilators which use a fan to keep air moving. Chemical dehumidifiers also help prevent mold. These tubs and bags are safe, inexpensive, easy to put anywhere, and available at most marine stores.

Winter Care

During the winter check your boat once a month to make sure that everything on your boat is working and looking as it should. Check for any cracks, leaks, or standing water around windows and doors that could promote the growth of mold. Shrink-wrap is great for protecting a boat but it limits how much air can get below. Vents should be installed in the shrink-wrap or consider leaving the cabin doors open under the shrink-wrap so air can better circulate.

Treatment

Remove Marine Mold and Mildew With RMR-86M!

RMR-86M Marine Mildew Stain Remover contains a Sodium Hypochlorite formula that works instantly to remove mold and mildew stains from vinyl seat cushions, vinyl covers, vinyl dashboards, fiberglass, and other marine surfaces* without requiring repeat applications or rigorous scrubbing. RMR-86M is the fastest and easiest way to tackle stubborn boat stains and permanently eliminate discoloration with 5x the cleaning power!

* Do not use on fabric, clothing, carpet, wood, or painted surfaces, and avoid prolonged contact with metals or porcelain

Why RMR?

At RMR, we create powerful solutions to everyday problems. Our industrial strength Marine Mildew Stain Removal product works well anywhere from your boat to your home, removing stubborn stains and leaving behind a clean, modern orchard scent. For quality products and great value, try RMR 86M Mildew Stain Remover, the best marine stain removal product for your boat! 

Proudly made in the USA! Using top-quality, industrial-strength ingredients.

Think Clean. Think Pure. Think Safe.

A botanical cleaning product poses no harm to our health and environment, when used properly. RMR Botanical Disinfectant Cleaner

You've probably heard horror stories about mold growing in homes and making the people who live there sick. The truth is, mold is everywhere and it's nearly impossible to avoid coming into contact with it, but not all molds are toxic.

Mold is eating your house. It's not just a surface problem, it's not just a source of spores that can damage your health. If your home has mold between the walls, under the floors, or on the support beams then this is no minor infestation. The mold is doing everything it can to break down the materials of your home and turn it back into soil. In other words: the mold is actively eating your home and over time, it can cause serious structural damage.

Mold is the general term used for several different kinds of fungi. Most connotations associated with the word are not positive - damp basements, musty odors, water leaks, moldy carpets, poisonous mushrooms, and soggy drywall, to name a few. Mold spores are found literally everywhere in the world, even in the air we breathe, but moisture is required for an active growth to accumulate.

Among all potential issues homeowners face, mold may be the one that causes the most headaches - both figuratively and literally. Left untreated, it can lead to dizziness, coughing, and more. If you suffer from asthma or allergies, it can actually result in lasting health problems.

Hospitals and medical facilities are essential when those who are ill or injured require continuous medical care. While medical establishments devote their resources to healing, hospitals, long-term care, and outpatient treatment facilities often place their patients at risk of developing severe antibiotic-resistant infections.

If you suspect that you have a mold infestation in your home, it is important to act fast in order to prevent health complications and further growth. Here is a quick Q&A covering a few of the most important issues important to homeowners with a potential mold problem.