How to Avoid Soft Furnishings becoming Damp

[PW]

Hi there,

Can anyone give me any advice/tips about how to stop my caravan soft furnishings getting damp over the winter?

I don't have anywhere to take them out/store them over the winter so I have to leave them in the van.

Any tips/ideas as to how to protect them agains the damp atmosphere?

Thanks

 

[RobRoy]

Hi,

I'm in the fortunate position of being able to keep the caravan behind the house and to take the mattresses out and store them in a spare bedroom. However, I still have three moisture master dehumidifiers scattered throughout the van and these are regularly emptied of water and refilled with the crystals.

These dehumidifiers are readily obtained in any caravan accessory store and come with some crystals but I would suggest you purchase a large bag of crystals for use over the winter. These, too, are available a accessory shops.

Rob S.

 

[Damian]

Further to Robs posting, try and make sure none of the soft furnishings are touching the sides of the van, stand them up so that air can circulate freely.

With the dehumidifying items it should be ok, but make sure you check and empty the water that collects regularly.

 

[gavin_5121842]

Any more tips for winter storage??

My caravan gets serviced this week, then its getting stored in an Army barracks for the winter. I don't have a cover, but have read somewhere that Fenwick's wintering is good,

Gavin.

 

[PW]

Thanks everyone for comments so far.

I have seen comment somewhere that crystal humidifiers don't really work in caravans the theory being that whilst they extract moisture from the air this simply leads to more being 'drawn in'as moisture levels balance out. Not sure whether this would be right or not.

Do you think it would be beneficial to wrap soft furnishings in plastic or bin liners or the like?

 

[Angus1]

In previous years I have tended to block the exterior vents and use an electric de-humidifier which works a treat, just the the water level in the tank periodically.

I know I`m lucky as I have space to park the van adjacent to my garage (so it`s always hooked up as well), but it means I can leave soft furnishings, clothes, towels, basic supplies (beer, spirits, tea ,coffee, beer, canned foods, beer etc) in situ at the end of the season.

Oh, and it`s somewhere to keep beer cool in winter.

 

[RobRoy]

Thanks everyone for comments so far.

I have seen comment somewhere that crystal humidifiers don't really work in caravans the theory being that whilst they extract moisture from the air this simply leads to more being 'drawn in'as moisture levels balance out. Not sure whether this would be right or not.

Do you think it would be beneficial to wrap soft furnishings in plastic or bin liners or the like?

Hi again,

I've been using these dehumidifiers for years now. I install them between trips and find they take out the moisture while the soft furnishings remain bone dry.

Rob S.

 

[Litespeed]

I run an electric dehumidifier from November to late Feb in the van and also have the electric heating on its lowest setting (ussually then clicks in at about -1 degree outside temp) this just keeps the edge off inside.

I realise that the dehumidifier draws an amount of air in from the outside, but the whole van remains dry and damp / mould free all winter.

As a note I have to empty about 1 litre of water from the dehumidfier evry 3 - 4 days!

 

[gypsy]

I also use the Crystals, have done for years, and my Furnishings have always been dry.In fact have just put the container and Crystals in today, even though we will still be using the Van, we just put them back in on our return.

 

[LizCornwall]

Hi, regarding keeping soft furnishings from damp during winter,

best as suggested keep all furnishings from walls, stand up on ends so air can circulate, where possible leave a window slightly open, that will help, unless using the crystals.Liz

 

[Allyson]

When we first bought our van, the previous owners said that they used stockingette sewn on one end and then cat litter put inside and sew the other side up.

Apparently the cat litter leaves a lovely aroma and keeps the van dry.

I would place the stockingette in a tray of some sort i.e. cat litter tray just in case you have a puddle.

We never used it because we had the crystals our van was dry and it was a 1994 van.

 

[Damian]

Regarding PWs latest question about wrapping in plastic or bin bags, I would say definately not a good idea.

The yemperature inside the van can vary a lot depending on the day, and wrapping in plastic will caus sweating of the fabric and cause condensation to form on the plastic, which will in turn be soaked up by the fabric and will cause mildew to set in and totally ruin anything inside the bag,

 

[PW]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Crystals it is then!

 

[Guest]

My van is in a storage area so I cannot use electricity. Using a dehumidifyer would only be beneficial if I keep dehydrating the crystals, which would be time consuming, so I remove the cushions. Stick them under the bed if you can. Small cushions will usually fit a cupboard somewhere

I agree with the comment that there are so many 'holes' in a van that drying the air is only a temporary state, moist air will soon re-enter. You cannot block up the heater vent for instance, even the roof vents usually have internal ventilator slots which you cannot seal. If the van is beside the house then yes, you can do a lot more things. Mind you with electricity the price it is, I may just stick with removal.