<VV> Black Mold -- how to prevent it in the first place

[Jim Burkhard]

Arjay-

A few guys have had some good ideas on killing the existing mold.  I 
think you should also think about changing some things so that it is 
less likely to recur.

The reason that the black mold is growing at the *top* of the seat 
backs (as you mention) is becuase that is where your "breathable" car 
cover is contacting them.  At night, when the temperature outside 
drops, you are having warmer, moist air from the daytime (warm air 
holds more moisture) trapped under your cover.  As the air temperature 
drops, the surface of the cover drops in temperature as well ... When 
it falls below the dew point of the warm air under it, you have 
condensation right on underside surface of the cover.  You wind up 
with a moistened cover left in contact with the seat backs -- prime 
conditions to have the mold grow right at the contact points.

A couple of ideas to prevent it:
1. Your breathable cover isn't breathable enough! If it's an 
inside/outside breathable cover, switch it to a indoor-only 
(completely non-water repellant) cover.
2. Consider putting the top up at night (with windows at least 
cracked) rather than using the cover.  The top will not be in contact 
with the seat tops and the windows cracked at the top will allow both 
some escape of teh hot moist air from inside the car.
3. If you don't want to put the top up and it's reasonably proected, 
consider leaving the cover off and top down. At least you aren't 
trapping warm wet air under a cover. Bad news if neighborhood cats 
decided to use your interior as a litterbox, though.
4.  If you really must use the cover (and have already gotten the most 
breathable one possible), figure out some way to keep cover from being 
in contact with the vinyl.  Moisture condenses on the cover, and it's 
right in contact with the seat.  Even if there isn't a pile of liquid 
water there when you remove it in the a.m., the cover is moist enough 
right at the contact site for mold to grow.  It will keep recurring if 
that isn't addressed.
5.  If the car's window's are up (with top down), will that keep the 
cover off the vinyl?  Now if it's wet enough to have liquid water 
condense  and dribble all over the inside somewhere, that's still no 
good, but if it's just "molding" via a slightly damp cover, this may work.
6.  You can try leaving the kickpanel vents open, but this is pretty 
small potatoes when you are having mold form this quickly.
7.  Don't leave the cover on the car all day and then go to bed 
without "venting" it.  Again, having warmer air under the cover than 
is outside at night is the problem.   By the way, your "well-vented 
carport" is a big part of the problem. If it was a little less well 
vented, the diurnal (daily) temperature swings would be more less and 
you might not have the issue. For instance, if it was a closeable 
garage, it wouldn't happen (assuming the roof doesn't leak!) because 
the inside air temperature would stay MUCH more uniform. The carport 
air drops in temperature rather rapidly which results in the car cover 
surface dropping in temperature below the dew point of the insulated 
not-so-well-vented air under it.
8.  I have some other wacky prevention ideas involving 
"active-devices" too, but they could cause other problems, so I won't 
mention them.  ;-)  Try the simple things first!

let us know how it all works out!

best of luck!
Jim Burkhard
CORSA





Arjay Morgan wrote:
> This may be a Florida-only problem, but someone on the list may have a solution.
>    
>   Our 64 Monza convertable has begun to grow black mold on the tops of both the front and rear seat backs.
 >It's now the rainy season in Florida with average relative 
humidities in the 80% range. The car lives with its
 >top down, under a breathable car cover, inside a well ventilated 
carport.

>   I know the standard cure for black mold is Clorox, but if I use full strength Clorox on the red seats it will 
 >bleach them pink. I also know the mold, left untreated, will eat the 
vinyl.
>    
>   Has anyone had any success with any non-bleaching product to get rid of this pest?
>    
>   Thanks,
>   Arjay Morgan