Mold on caulking/white plastic yellowing

I just purchased a 2009 2619 the unit is in great shape with the following exceptions

1) The previous owner store it under a plastic tarp so mold/mildew grew on the molding see picture 1 and 3 , I've tried everything to remove it. Tilex, Soft-scrub with bleach and CAMCO RV Mildew/Stain remover it seems like nothing works. So I believe the only way to remove the mold/mildew is to scrape the old caulking off and apply new caulking. Do you have any suggestions ?

2) The white plastic has yellowed due to UV or weather pics 2 and 3, is their a way to restore it ?

thanks for your help

[Redtail Cruiser]

Try straight chlorine bleach on the mold. Spray it on and let it set for a few hours, just make sure to do it outdoors in a well ventilated area.

[Kidkraz]

I've used a product called Mold Armor when I found mold on my previous popup camper's canvas. I had to remove it off the fabic and it worked great. Now having said that, I don't know how it would impact the coating on the TM. You could apply it just on the caulking very sparingly and see how well it does. It's sold at Home Depot.

Ev

While it does not look the best, for me the question would be does it leak? If it does not leak, I'd live with it cause once mold permeates the caulk usually the only way to get rid of it us to replace the caulk.
As far as yellowing, I don't know of any way to remove it. My outside lights have yellowed and nothing I seems to do impact it.
Good luck and enjoy.

[mjlaupp]

2) A member of the Jayco forum reported good results by painting the yellowed plastic with Rustoleum for plastic.

You can try this.
Item #2 is just a thickener to allow you to apply to vertical surface and have it not run off. You can take the piece off and soak or add any common food thickener to the mixture to make a paste.


1 pint (500ml) Hydrogen Peroxide, 10 to 15% strength (40 vol) (available from hairdressers' supplies, e.g. the 'Sally Beauty' franchise in the UK)
2 heaped tablespoonfuls of Xanthan Gum (available from health food shops or online)
1 level teaspoonful of Glycerine (available from pharmacies)
1/4 teaspoonful of "Oxy" laundry booster

Add the Hydrogen Peroxide and Xanthan Gum to the blender or liquidiser. Mix on high speed for 5 seconds. Add the Glycerine and mix for a further 5 seconds. Let the mixture rest for a minute then mix again for 5 seconds. A smooth, non-drip gel should have formed. This gel can be put into a dark coloured jar or tub (e.g. a coffee jar covered in tape) and stored, as long as you DON’T add the “Oxy” until you are ready to use it.

[tentcamper]

I have had the moldy caulking before. I'm not even sure if it's mold, or is it something that happens with age or from UV. I could never get it clean. I think the issue is that it through the caulk, not just on the surface. I just lived with it until it's time to re-caulk.

A few years ago I found a commercial caulk shop that supplies caulk to industry and big building projects in our area. They have every thing from 5 gl buckets to tubes. I started using the shop because of their knowledge and advice for the right caulk for the application. I have had very good successes with their products. I need to pick up some caulk for my TM to redo around the lights. I will ask their advice on the mold or discoloring issue.

[Kidkraz]

I'm inclined to go with moaboy, if it ain't broke or in this case leaking don't mess with it.

I'm the kinda of guy that gets his new shiny toy and wants to make it better, I guess I'm a little anal about how it looks. My wife says she can't even tell and thinks I'm a fruit loop I tried using the full strength bleach option suggested by Redtail Cruiser with no results. So I'll probably live with it for now and since I have it it my garage it will be a summer project. As far as the yellowing, paint my be an option or the paste that rumbleweed suggested. Again we haven't even gone on our 1st trip yet, currently schedule for Memorial day in Santa Fe New Mexico. Thanks again for everyone's help

Hammertime

[Bill]

If you try the peroxide paste method, please let us know how it works out. In the world of old telephone restoration (I spend a lot of time there), yellowing of relatively modern plastic-cased phones is a big issue, usually blamed on decades of sun exposure on a phone placed next to a window. Peroxide treatments are commonly prescribed, but they work differently on different kinds of plastic (the phone companies used many). In addition to the peroxide, strong sunlight is usually part of the magic solution for correcting yellowing - strange to me since sunlight was the cause of the problem. Incidentally, stronger peroxide is apparently available at a chain called Sally's Beauty Supply.

So anyway, I have faith that a peroxide treatment could bleach out the yellow, but I am unsure of the details.

Bill