They make stuff for boats but it is chlorine based and I would be concerned with it bleaching the color out of the carpet. They do make the plastic pails with calcium chloride that will absorb moisture, Damprid.

 

I myself would pull the seats out & put them in climate controlled storage. It can't be that hard to remove them. The cost of trying to fix the mold after it occurs will be more than the storage, I bet.

 

I know when I have bought stereo equipment that the boxes had little bags designed to absorb moisture (desiccant packs). Maybe buy some of those and put them in the interior?

 

 

I applied this to my vinyl boat seats before putting into storage.........

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-32-o...SM32/202711568

• Inhibits growth and odor from bacteria, mold, mildew and fungi
• Effectively covers indoor and outdoor surfaces, such as treated and untreated wood decks and fencing, vinyl siding and interior wallboards, fences, textiles, drapes, carpet, apparel and much more
• Helps provide long-lasting protection
• Easy usage for both DIY consumers and mold remediation professionals
• Active ingredient, chitosan, is produced from crab shell waste
• Does not contain ammonia, bleach, butyl or phosphates
• Spray, let sit for 1-minut to 2 minutes then wipe or scrub clean

 

It's available all over, like Target, Bed Bath Beyond, Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart... I use it in a stored car and drain the water and replace the crystals when needed.

 

 

I doubt those will work for 5 months in Florida humidity. If you don't have someone to change them out for you. You can also refill those with Calcium Chloride snow melter, which I don't think you will find in Home Depot in South Florida. It is usually a lot cheaper that way.

Maybe you can hire a local kid to come by every month and dump/refill them?

 

had some friends who went on an RV trip for 5 months. They paid me to go to the house once a week and turn on water, run some thru pipes and flush toilets, verify sprinklers & a/c were working and monthly pour some bleach in the a/c vent line & take the car they left behind out for a 30 min drive to keep battery charged - which served to also ventilate it .... I could have dumped damp-rid pots but they were not needed in the attached garage. (p.s.. I use damp-rid pots in closets at home and they need to be dumped and chemicals refilled about once a month)

Got a neighbor you trust ... maybe a h.s. senior who'd like to make a few bucks? Or a retired fart with time on their hands ....

 

Might be good to use a couple boxes open of arm and hammer baking soda.

 

 

 

Damprid works well but the...aromas aren't the best. Better than mold though. I used them in the past when I left my Miata's roof up but unlatched when it rained, dries everything out pretty well.

 

Mold loves leather.

 

so how'd it work out for ya

IME ya got to drain the water in the bucket and replace the chemical ruffly every 30 days ..... else it turns into a bucket of water

 

 

Congratulations on your success.

I was amused at the suggestion that a teanager in the neighborhood could be hired to drive the MINI for 30 minutes each month. That might not go as planned. I knew a guy that left his new Delorean in his wife's house. The teenage son cut the odometer cable so that his father could not tell he was driving it.

Just to add to the conversation as others find the post in the future: Other things to consider when storing a vehicle for a season: A Trickle Charge on the battery will maintain the battery during the storage. A few mouse traps around and under the MINI will help keep the mice away from your wiring that they seem to like to eat. Sta-Bil Fuel Stabilizer will keep the fuel from getting gummed up.

 

That must have made for an interesting obituary.

 

Ferris!