Caravans and motorhomes are the perfect confined living spaces for trapping moist air and becoming damp, so it’s worth checking regularly for this issue.
The experts at WeBuyAnyMotorcaravan have put together their advice on how to spot telltale signs of damp and what to do if you find them.
Firstly, you should always check your leisure vehicle when taking it out of storage for the season, but also on a regular basis to ensure no new areas of damp have developed.
Areas to pay particular attention to include:
- The seals and sealant around the windows and doors
- Places where equipment or accessories meet the main body of the vehicle
- Soft furnishing and fabrics that may smell musty
- Wallboards, which can become uneven, spongy or wet
- Discolouration or black spots on the walls
- Unusual creaking on the floor
- Internal screws that have become rusty
Shane Malpass, director at We Buy Any Motorcaravan, said: “Older motorhomes and caravans are more likely to suffer from severe damp, especially models that have wooden frames.
“And while many of the newer models have designs intended to prevent water ingress, they are not immune and water may still get inside.”
There is such a thing as a moisture meter, which may be worth investing in to test for damp throughout your caravan or motorhome.
If you do find areas of damp, you should deal with them straight away to contain the problem and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the vehicle.
Protect yourself with gloves, goggles and a face mask when tackling mould and mildew with a bucket of warm water and detergent.
A tablespoon of clove oil in a spray bottle filled with water can be applied to areas that have been cleaned to help prevent issues in the future.
Squirt the surface and leave it for 20 minutes before wiping away and drying carefully.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Towfiqu barbhuiya
