eleventyseven Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 I moved house about 5 months ago. I recently noticed mould growing on my speaker covers. I'm worried if I don't control this problem other gear and of more concern, electronic components, could be damaged. Has anyone had a similar situation and how did you combat the problem? Also, if anyone has suggestions for cleaning my speaker covers it would be appreciated.
quijibo Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Do you live in the tropics or at least a very moist environment?
quijibo Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 I really should try looking around a bit before typing.
50mxe20 Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 I really should try looking around a bit before typing. I thought it was really funny. Just couldn't resist. I was thinking below the water line.
aztec Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 I thought it was really funny. Just couldn't resist. I was thinking below the water line. Probably an older house on piers with no little or no ventilation under the floor. Timbers floors. My Father's place had this problem and the paper in the speakers ended up disintegrating. The gyprock warped on the walls also. Assuming you have cloth covers with plastic surrounds, probably Nappy San in the laundry tub, soak for half an hour or so. Start with a small amount of Nappy San so you don't bleach the colour out of the covers.
drsmith Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 I moved house about 5 months ago. I recently noticed mould growing on my speaker covers. I'm worried if I don't control this problem other gear and of more concern, electronic components, could be damaged.Has anyone had a similar situation and how did you combat the problem? Also, if anyone has suggestions for cleaning my speaker covers it would be appreciated. Beyond a suggestion like "opening the windows", this is a tough one. Do you have exhaust fans to vent atmospheric moisture from showering and cooking to the outside of the house ?
aztec Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Beyond a suggestion like "opening the windows", this is a tough one.Do you have exhaust fans to vent atmospheric moisture from showering and cooking to the outside of the house ? Depends where the moisture is coming from, maybe the OP can elaborate. To resolve the problem at my father's house we knocked a few extra bricks out to let the air breathe underneath the house. I've also heard people installing fans underneath the floorboards to blow the damp air away, similar to an exhaust fan in the bathroom.
muriwai Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 [Try dampsorb most bunnings shops sell it,worked well at my place,collects the moisture from the air and traps it in a margarine size container
Mining Man Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 A couple of weeks ago we paid $750 for a dehumidifier and have emptied its approx 6 litre container at least once a day, every day since. Of course, New Zealand is a pretty wet place...
Mr.Bitey Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Holy crap MM - send that water up here! bloody water restrictions... Im not even allowed to take a piss in the garden outside of 5pm-12 midnight! Cheers, Bitey
mello yello Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 I moved house about 5 months ago. I recently noticed mould growing on my speaker covers. I'm worried if I don't control this problem other gear and of more concern, electronic components, could be damaged.Has anyone had a similar situation and how did you combat the problem? Also, if anyone has suggestions for cleaning my speaker covers it would be appreciated. Would you consider moving back? ...you hate me dont you
aztec Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Would you consider moving back? ...you hate me dont you Bulls and udders come to mind
Mining Man Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Holy crap MM - send that water up here! bloody water restrictions... Im not even allowed to take a piss in the garden outside of 5pm-12 midnight!Cheers, Bitey We're home in Adelaide on Saturday for a few days doing last minute wedding stuff. It's very tempting to bring water drums instead of luggage. Not sure that it wouldn't be considered contraband though...
eleventyseven Posted March 27, 2007 Author Posted March 27, 2007 Depends where the moisture is coming from, maybe the OP can elaborate.To resolve the problem at my father's house we knocked a few extra bricks out to let the air breathe underneath the house. I've also heard people installing fans underneath the floorboards to blow the damp air away, similar to an exhaust fan in the bathroom. Thanks everyone for the suggestions (some more relevant than others :ph34r: ). Unfortunately, it's a rental so not an option to make building modifications. The dehumidifier sounds like it could be a good option. I've found a place that rents them out so I might give that a try first. I figure with quite a few $$$ spent on my setup the extra cost of keeping the room dry will be money worth spending.
Mining Man Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 It will save you a packet on heating and cooling too, as dry air is much easier to condition. I should add, we keep the house closed up at all times. That 5 or 6 litres a day is purely from cooking and showers. Also, I suspect the carpets and window furnishings are "giving up" some water. I must admit, I was particularly concerned over the potential moisture damage to both expensive HT kit, and even more expensive - Ms MM's wardrobe...
50mxe20 Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Thanks everyone for the suggestions (some more relevant than others :ph34r: ).What! Staying above the waterline wasn't relevant. Hmmm. Actually I seem to vaguely remember an anti-mould treatment one can give to surfaces. Might be worth a trip to the local super market. I know the mold cleaners used in showers etc is pretty strong so I'd be pretty careful using that. Mild nappysan seemed like a good place to start but be gentle even with that.
drsmith Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 A couple of weeks ago we paid $750 for a dehumidifier and have emptied its approx 6 litre container at least once a day, every day since. Of course, New Zealand is a pretty wet place... A refrigerated air-conditioner does same thing, but in NZ I imagine you really don't want to cool the air as well. Both my wall mounted split systems have a dehumidification setting (distinct from cooling). I've never used it though, no real need in Perth.
50mxe20 Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 Mild nappysan seemed like a good place to start but be gentle even with that.Talked to my wife last night and she thought Nappysan was a bad idea. She suggested being careful with anything you try and doing some research into it first (which you are doing of course). Or testing anything you try on like material.Have you tried googling?
eleventyseven Posted March 28, 2007 Author Posted March 28, 2007 Talked to my wife last night and she thought Nappysan was a bad idea. She suggested being careful with anything you try and doing some research into it first (which you are doing of course). Or testing anything you try on like material.Have you tried googling? Nah, I figure, get the dehumidifier first. If that keeps the moisture levels in the room low enough so that mould isn't encouraged to grow then cleaning them with a bit of water should do the trick. If it grows back then I'll google a solution.
50mxe20 Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 Nah, I figure, get the dehumidifier first. If that keeps the moisture levels in the room low enough so that mould isn't encouraged to grow then cleaning them with a bit of water should do the trick. If it grows back then I'll google a solution.You could try phoning in on one of those talkback radio shows. Never know your luck.
aztec Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 Talked to my wife last night and she thought Nappysan was a bad idea. She suggested being careful with anything you try and doing some research into it first (which you are doing of course). Or testing anything you try on like material.Have you tried googling? If the Nappysan bleaches too much you could then dye them any colour you like, maybe to match the curtains
Gutty Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 if anyone has suggestions for cleaning my speaker covers it would be appreciated. Easy...colour the spots with a black texta
Skid_MacMarx Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 The only effective way to get rid of mould is bleach and that would destroy the equipment.. I live near Sydney, and yes it has been quite humid of late.. If I was you, I'd be checking the place for rising damp etc... Make sure you tell the landlord/agent that covers your butt... Then again you may have had the equipment in storage and got it damp at one stage...... I lived in Tassie for awhile and had to replace a masonite wall with gyprock because of mould.
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