Wet and moldy under bed - already

[2airishuman]

i agree with martin. the moisture is manmade. the mattress is a sponge for your perspiration/vapor and it follows gravity to the bottom side...in the center. while cold surface "condensation" may also add to this, it's not actually the problem.

so the solutions using insulation for the drawer really won't solve this problem.

first you must get the mattress completely dry.....this will be hard to do if you're using it every night......but it must be completely dried.

once dry, a vapor barrier goes over the mattress....there are a few choices here but a water proof cover is the idea. this will solve the problem. not vapor into the mattress means none under it. for extra ventilation or if you don't want to use a barrier, something must be placed under the mattress.....wood box/slats like martin suggests, box springs or some other fully vented layer. i like a cedar layer woven from lattice boards.....then there must be room for air to move in/out. so if you have a corner bed, it needs to be pulled out from the wall for an air space which is not an issue with island beds.

now in the cold when trailer is closed up for heat conservation, condensation will add to the issue but this will be most noticed around the edges of matress/wall region....moisture and mold will form there too.

i'm not suggesting you need to sleep on rubber sheets but a mattress cover will solve most of the problem.

cheers
2air

[A W Warn]

I took the mattress off the bed platform in my trailer today, to check for any indication of moisture. There was none, no moisture stains and no mildew. It is a rear corner bed, right beside the shower. The way the plumbing is arranged in my trailer creates some openings that allows air flow from the furnace into the area beneath the bed and into the storage compartments. I have a foam topper on the mattress and a moisture resistant mattress cover on top of the topper. I guess this is why I have had no problem.

Since I live and camp were there is occasionally very high humidity, I'm not taking any chances. I'm creating an air space by laying some wood strips on top of the bed platform at 12" on center and topping that with 1/4" plywood. Got the materials today and plan on getting it done tomorrow.