How do you get mold off a plastic shed?

Empty and Clean Your Storage Building Once it's empty, deep clean your shed using a mixture of one cup of bleach and a gallon of water—this will help eliminate mold spores. Next, you can either use a garden sprayer or a handheld spray bottle to spray down all surfaces, then use a sponge to scrub off any visible mold.

arrow-sheds.shelterlogic.com - How to Prevent and Eliminate Mold in your Outdoor Storage Building

Does Etsy charge a monthly fee?

The fee for an Etsy Plus subscription is $10 USD per month. Etsy Plus subscription fees are deducted from your current balance each month and...

Last updated Oct 9, 2019

Is it cheaper to build a house in 2022?

Is it cheaper to build or buy a house? As a rule of thumb, it's cheaper to buy a house than to build one. Building a new home costs $34,000 more,...

Last updated Jan 20, 2021

Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

5 Simple Mold Prevention Tips

If you want to successfully prevent mold, it's important to understand how it happens in the first place. In almost all cases, mold begins to develop as a result of excess moisture. Taking the following steps to reduce humidity and increase airflow will help keep your steel shed or other outdoor storage buildings from developing mold in the first place.

1. Start with a Solid Foundation

Every outdoor storage building needs a good foundation. This will prevent moisture from seeping in from underground. You can easily build a shed foundation with concrete pavers, a wood deck box, or a gravel pad. You can also purchase a pre-fabricated base kit. A proper foundation will also provide extra drainage, helping to ensure your building doesn't flood. If a flood occurs, you’ll have difficulty getting all the moisture out and may end up with a long-term problem. Ventilation is a critical part of mold avoidance! Your shed should have ridge vents in the roof and gable vents. These will allow moisture to escape without letting rain in. For extra protection, you can also add soffit vents under the eaves of your building. These vents help push warm, moist air out while drawing cooler, drier air inside. High-quality sheds, like the ones made by Arrow already have ventilation built-in. If your shed doesn’t have ventilation already, you’ll need to add your own. You can find most of the materials you need at a local hardware store or purchase a pre-made ventilation kit.

3. Regulate Humidity

Taking steps to regulate humidity is another important mold prevention tip. Generally, you’ll want the humidity levels inside your shed to stay between 30 to 50 percent, depending on the season. If the inside of your storage building has a higher moisture level than this, consider using a dehumidifier. Just remember that you’ll need to empty the water tank one to two times a day. Otherwise, it won’t work properly. Not sure about the humidity level in your unit? Purchase an inexpensive hygrometer. This simple device will help you detect rising moisture levels so you can proactively deal with it before mold starts to form. You can also keep the air inside your storage building moving by adding a large fan to the space and keeping it running on low most of the time. If you continue to have humidity issues, consider using a moisture-removing substance, like Damp Rid, cat litter, or charcoal briquets. Any of these options will draw humidity out of the air and absorb it, helping to minimize the chances of developing mold.

4. Use Smart Storage Techniques

Is it OK for firewood to get rained on?

Seasoned firewood should be stored out of the rain to help prolong how well it keeps for. If seasoned firewood gets rained on it can dry out within...

Last updated Dec 11, 2020

What should I not tell my appraiser?

Just keep your communication to the appraiser about the facts of the home and neighborhood, how you priced the house, and any other relevant...

Last updated Apr 19, 2019

Promotion

Practicing smart storage techniques is a big part of learning how to prevent mold. Before you put anything in a backyard shed, carport, or other building, always make sure it’s completely dry. This is especially important when storing swimming and boating equipment, bicycles, patio furniture, umbrellas, hammocks, and similar items. When stacking items inside your storage buildings, try to avoid putting anything directly against the walls. Instead, leave at least a few inches of space between the items and the walls, as this will allow for better airflow. Also, avoid packing your items too tight. Not only will spacing them out give you enough room to move around, but it will also help avoid condensation. It’s always a good idea to keep organic materials – like cardboard and newspapers – off the ground. Otherwise, they’ll soak up moisture and become a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew. So, if you can, try to keep everything off the ground. To do this, you can add some shelving for additional storage and consider placing larger items on wood pallets instead of directly on the floor or ground. If you’re storing fabrics, consider placing them in airtight storage containers so mold can’t get to it. Covering furniture in plastic before storing it can also help prevent mold damage.

5. Practice Consistent Upkeep & Maintenance

Keeping up with your regular maintenance will help you avoid mold damage. It’s important to regularly inspect your roof and fix any leaks right away. You’ll also want to check the doors and windows to make sure they’re not leaking. If you notice any moss on your shingles, this is a sign that your building is being exposed to excess moisture and suffering from a lack of sun exposure. You can often solve this problem by trimming nearby trees so more sunlight can hit the roof. It’s also a good idea to regularly mow and use a weed eater around the edge of your building. This will help prevent moisture build-up from seeping in through the ground. If you’ve taken all the steps above and moisture is still a problem, consider coating your building in a layer of high-quality exterior latex paint. This will create a mildew-resistant coating.

arrow-sheds.shelterlogic.com - How to Prevent and Eliminate Mold in your Outdoor Storage Building

What is a good cheap insulation?

Fiberglass batts are the cheapest type of insulation. The batting is packaged in rolls of standard thickness, with a typical length of 16 inches or...

Last updated Feb 7, 2022