I recommend a 50/50 solution to be delivered onto the inside of the
pop top with an 8 inch size roller for less dripping, in five minutes
the mold is gone.  Also the same solution would be good to wipe all
the surfaces with a sponge with.  It will keep down the mold to a
minimum.  But it will come back in a couple of years and repeat it
again.
Zoltan

---- Original Message ----
From: harald_nancy_vw@YAHOO.COM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: RE: Keeping mold out of a westy
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 12:08:53 -0800

>Forwarded from
>http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vw-camping/
>
>Everyone has their own way of dealing with keeping
>mold out in their campers.
>Once mold spores take hold, they are hard to get rid
>of. So it's best to prevent it.
>Mold weakens fabrics, creates bad odors, and not the
>least, is an allergen.
>Some interesting facts that many never think about:
>1) Why is there the funny flocking under the pop top
>ceiling?
>The reason is so that the moisture that condensates
>under the ceiling doesn't drip on your head.
>2) Why does the westy have a double pane pop top
>skylight?
>That's so there is less condensation on the inner
>pane.
>Otherwise you'd have water dripping down your neck
>when you're cooking at the stove.
>A few things we do after a wet camping trip
>to prevent mold is:
>1) have 2 small wood sticks handy, about 1 1/2 ft long
>to prop open the pop top and rear storage bench.
>2) remove the upper bunk mattress for better air
>circulation.
>3) open the top vent a little.
>4) open all the cabinet doors, so the moisture can
>evaporate, also from inside the walls.
>5) if it's extreme, take the lower rear mattress out
>and dry it out inside.
>6) remove all wet clothing and such.
>7) don't use a non vented catalytic heater to keep the
>
>space warm, since they exhaust pure water vapor.
>It's better to use an electric space heater with a
>fan.
>8) The most sensitive part to mold is the flocking
>under the pop top and the pop top canvas fabric.
>If they do get very moldy, the only way to really get
>the mold out, is to replace them. That's not very
>easy.
>9) Air circulation is the key to keeping it mold free.
>
>Also the condensation forms inside the van's walls
>on the inside of the sheetmetal.
>A lot of campers rust out from the inside for that
>reason. That's also why it's not a good idea to use an
>unvented catalytic heater inside the camper for long
>term use.
>Just some ramblings.
>Anyone have any more ideas?
>Harald
>'90 westy (almost dry again)
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.
>http://mailplus.yahoo.com
>