10 Ways To Reduce Mould and Mildew in Your Caravan or RV

On your travels, you may have learned that mould and mildew cause problems for many RV and caravan owners. If you are new to this lifestyle, you probably wonder how experienced campers manage and prevent mould and mildew.

10 Ways to Keep Your Caravan or RV Mould and Mildew Free

1 Invest In a Dehumidifier

A good-quality dehumidifier is a must.

Having good ventilation helps, but you can’t beat a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers work by absorbing excess moisture in the air. You may not think you bring dampness in, but you do.

Mould and mildew spores love the wet soles of our footwear. They quickly attach themselves to us and our clothing. Once inside, they can start spreading like wildfire.

Spores spread by dampness and air moisture. A dehumidifier reduces the risk of spores having the opportunity to spread.

2 Clean Your Caravan Frequently

Cleaning your caravan regurarly is another top idea.

Mould and mildew spores multiply in dust. Keeping your RV dust-free is also important.

3 Soft Furnishing

We all love our home comforts when away in an RV. However, soft furnishings increase the risk of mould and mildew growth.

Once you have finished using your RV or caravan, you should remove all soft furnishings. When in use, try to hang out your soft furnishings to air as often as possible. Do this daily if you can.

4 Fans In Your Caravan

Improved air circulation is another way of keeping mould and mildew down.

Opening the windows is fine, but it may not circulate the air as much as you think. Investing in quality RV or caravan fans is an easy way to ensure circulation of the air is as easy as flicking a switch.

You simply can’t beat a fan or two. I never leave home without fans for the main area and bedroom.

5 Inspect Your Caravan

Don’t forget to inspect your caravan.

Unlike your home, your RV or caravan is subject to vibrations. That can lead to cracks appearing.

Cracks in the structure lead to leaks which means moisture can enter. As mentioned, excess moisture and dampness often bring with it mould and mildew.

Pay special attention to vents and windows. Most cracks appear in these areas.

6 Cleaning Your Caravan

You can go down the commercial route and buy cleaning solutions.

However, natural products are excellent for cleaning inside an RV.

You can try to use a mixture of lemon juice and vinegar. Other natural cleaning products include baking soda and salt.

7 Wet Clothing and Shoes

Have you been caught in an unexpected rainstorm? I have lost count of how many times this has happened to us.

The best solution is to leave your clothes and shoes outside to dry out. But, there are occasions when you can’t do this – such as freak weather conditions.

One way of managing wet clothes is to keep a portable clothes line in your RV. Whilst the weather is still bad outside, you can keep your wet gear in a dedicated area of your RV.

Once the weather clears up, you can quickly move your clothes line outside.

8 Take Off Your Shoes

Please wipe your shoes or take them off.

The easiest way to pick up mould and mildew spores is at the bottom of your soles.

Keep a mat where you can place your outdoor shoes on. Don’t put anything else there.

9 Outside Mats

If you have an awning, make sure you add ground cover and annex matting.

Extra ground cover is one of the best ways to prevent mould and mildew spores from entering your inside area.

Another benefit of an awning is that you can leave your footwear in a dry outside area. Cutting down on the amount of outside gear you bring in substantially helps reduce the spread of mould and mildew.

10 Pot Plants to the Rescue

Pot plants love to filter the air.

It is such a simple trick. Green plants helps improve air quality and prevents spores from spreading.

Plants filter the air all of the time leading to a higher oxygen content That is something mould and mildew don’t like.

Oxygen is the most powerful antioxidant known to man and helps to remove pollutants and toxins from the air. Mould and mildew are both pollutants that spread a toxin called mycotoxin.

Mycotoxin is associated with a range of health conditions such as asthma. Healthwise, keeping your caravan or RV mould and mildew free is essential.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your caravan or RV mould-free is not difficult. It is a matter of using right solutions and good routines.

Just like in your home, spend time cleaning and doing light household chores. Providing you have the right tools and invested in the best camping gear, keeping your RV or caravan mould and mildew is easy.