Date: 6 August 2021. Mildew and Rust Solutions.
© janice142
Living aboard a boat means that the atmosphere inside can often be damp. Life at sea
level is great, however combating mildew is a given. There are
tricks, and today I'll share a few of mine with you. Removing
mildew, preventing rust stains and cleaning are a constant battle.
Most days I wipe, swipe, or rub down something.
For instance, at Christmas a dear friend (thanks again Cheryl)
gifted me a tin of cocoa mix. Because the bottom would rust I needed to make
the can shelf safe for Seaweed.
Like many, the I Love Lucy television series was a favorite. I
remember fondly the chocolate factory episode.
The cocoa tin Cheryl gifted me would rust. A *magnet
stuck to the
side of the container, thus I knew rust would only be a matter of
time.
* I have found any metal
that a magnet sticks to, will eventually rust.
The tin of chocolate drink mix was delicious. In order to save the
can though I needed to make sure it would not rust. In that regard I
flipped the can over and painted the bottom edge with clear nail
polish. Problem Solved. Now, even if the Lucy tin sits on a damp counter
it will not rust or leave marks.
Another trick is one Cheryl shared with me. Spray cans rattle, rust
and can become messy. Her rattle solution also keeps my shelf and
locker clean. It's a winner!
Cheryl places her cans of
WD-40,
CRC
Lithium Grease,
T-9 Boeshield
Spray
and
the like inside a can *koozie.
*For those
that wonder (I did) the can covers/coolers we use are spelled "koozie".
Koozie is the registered trademark name of the can coolers. That is
why other companies call them coozies. Both spellings are
acceptable. It is sort of like how we in
the United States use
the word Kleenex (brand name) for tissues. The covers were originally from
Australia and called stubby holders. They were popularized by
surfers there. End mini lesson on the Koozie. J.
As for mildew, every rainy day when the boat is shut up brings
another round of the ongoing war against mildew. I've got a trick
though and today I'll share it with you. First, go to the store (or
shop online -- I frequently chose
Walmart) and purchase a package of baby wipes. Open said package. Pour
in about 1/4 cup of plain white vinegar.
The least expensive white vinegar works well. You're looking for 5%
acidity.
Now you have a
package of disposable cleaning rags in the doctored baby wipes. Vinegar KILLS the mildew.
Clorox bleaches mildew. There is a difference. We are going for
the Kill. Simply wipe the bulkheads or any place there is mildew.
The bonus is that your boat will smell like a salad.
If your budget is tight you should know that baby wipes will go through the
washer just fine. They can be reused. As a side note, the blue shop
towels are also reusable items. Simply wash them, unless they are
greasy. Oily blue towels should be tossed.
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That is it from the waterside. Life progresses. I've been busy
spinning my wheels. I wish I could tell you I've accomplished
loads. I have sewn a few quilt blocks together. Quilting
is relaxing and fun, especially if one is not too particular
about how perfectly the points match up!
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There is a unique pleasure in enjoying a cup of
chocolate flavored coffee at anchor... Thank you again Cheryl.
For killing mildew, the answer is plain white vinegar. To prevent
rust stains, try painting the bottom of items that will rust in nail
polish, or any other paint you happen to have on hand. Additionally,
if you've got cans that rattle together, can coozies can be a simple
solution. Good luck!
Thank you for reading. I appreciate that.
What is your favorite stain remover?
Do you have any tricks for preventing or removing stains?
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