Cottage Q&A
QUESTION
We hang our lifejackets in the boathouse for the summer season and bring them inside the cottage during the
winter. We are noticing more and more mould on the jackets, which we bought seven years ago. Can you
recommend something to take the stain out?
Adrian Vido, Minett, Ont.
ANSWER
Once that insidious mould makes its appearance, it’s hard to kill. But it can be held at bay by several simple methods, according to lifejacket manufacturers.
The folks at Salus Marine Wear in Kitchener recommend Iosso Mold & Mildew Stain Remover. It’s a powder you mix with water; soak the jackets in this solution for 12 to 36 hours. Karen Loffelman at Salus says that she gets rid of most of the mould by leaving the jacket to soak the full 36 hours and then scrubbing it with a soft brush. The product is widely available at marine supply stores, or order online at www.iosso.com.
Over at Mustang Survival in Richmond, BC, also manufacturers of lifejackets and other outdoor gear, they recommend soaking the mildewed jacket in a solution of 500 ml of salt per four litres of water for several hours, scrubbing affected areas, then hanging to dry completely. Then wash again with soap and dry completely before storing.
The final word: prevention. After each use, hang lifejackets in the sun (UV helps to kill mould), spaced so they don’t touch, until they dry completely, then store in a dry place out of the sun. “If they touch each other in the damp confines of a storage space, then cross-contamination can occur,” says mould expert Virginia Salares, a senior researcher at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Christine Langlois
* Published in the April 2008 issue of Cottage Life
