No, I have not become a PETA activist while out cruising, but leather on a boat is a truly horrendous idea. We have discovered this the hard way. Vlad has lost two pairs of shoes, his only close-toed shoes I might add, and a wallet. The above picture is what Vlad's shoes looked like after three - count them three - applications of mold and mildew inhibitor.
None of these items were stored deep in a locker or any other low-airflow spot. Nope, they were just right out there basking in the moist Panamanian air. Speaking of mold and mildew, I just looked at my camera case, which hangs by a strap on a brass hook on the outside of the port side locker, and it, too, has mildew on it! So it's not just leather, but leather is by far the most affected by the damp, mildewy grossness. Vlad's shoes were eaten alive within four months, gray-green mold dusting every inch of his last remaining pair of actual shoes. Word to the wise. If you value your expensive leather hiking boots, then save them from this unsightly fate, and leave all your leather goods at home.
Another liveaboard woman once told me, you can smell like mold, or you can smell like salad dressing. A quick swipe of vinegar will hold the mold off for a while. reapply every two weeks or so.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laureen! I love using vinegar as a cleaning product because it's cheap and nontoxic. I'll give that a shot.
DeleteThat shoe looks like some awful reincarnated Velvet shoe from the 70's.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip about leather. How are you dealing with the Mildew on your clothes and boat fabric? I wonder if everyone down there smells like mildew or if it's something your body adapts to, lol.
Did ya'll bring any jeans with you? If so how are they? I wore jeans this summer on the boat and swore never again. Demin and boats just don't seem to mix.
You have to keep everything as aerated as possible, and it's another reason not to have too many clothes. When clothes are all packed together, mold and mildew strike. As for the smell, I have not adjusted to that yet and really don't plan to. We've been cleaning out every locker and spraying the anti mildew stuff, so hopefully that will work.
DeleteI have one pair of jeans onboard that I haven't worn at all. But I wouldn't get rid of them either. We might take a trip into the mountains in Panama where it's actually cold, and the jeans will come in mighty handy then.
This does not bode well for me. I may have to cruise in areas less humid. Mold and I do not get along well.
ReplyDeleteI've been shocked at how quickly mold and mildew grows here. It just seems to pop up overnight on random things like my camera bag. But I think that there must be a way to beat it. It might take a bit of trial and error, but we have to be able to be at least modestly mold free by the end of our Panamanian excursion.
DeleteYou should be able to get your wish of low humidity though because you have to go right through the Baja. Driest place ever.
Hydrogen Peroxide kills mildew.... but also bleaches things. Well I'm just loads of help lol
ReplyDeleteThat is actually really helpful. Mildew also likes to grow on paper, and my mom gave me this book that I stored in the nab station. Well, it now has a big mildew stain on it, and maybe the hydrogen peroxide will be my savior!
DeleteI was worried about the rainny season back when I was planning on spending the summer in Colombia. Seems I was right to worry about it :) Good thing I have changed plans and my stay in Colombia and Panama is going to be the spring of 2014 (I believe they have less rain then).
ReplyDeleteThey do have less rain in the winter and spring, so I would suggest coming here then. But I still think we can beat the mildew. One day at a time.
DeleteLove the photo of the shoe; have a v. similar one on our site from last spring: http://www.picaroonblog.com/2011/03/16/two-steps-back/
ReplyDeleteI replied to your comment on our blog, but in case you don't see it, I've found that tea tree oil is great at killing and preventing mold and mildew. Just add 30 drops to a 4-6 ounce spray bottle and mist the item after cleaning it, and leave it in the sun to dry if you can. You can also spray around the boat and inside cabinets (leave open to air) about once or twice a week. Tea tree is a powerful natural anti-fungal and totally safe. Marine shops sell pots of gel infused with tea tree oil for mega bucks; but why buy them when you can make your own at home for pennies.