Battling Mildew?

[TurboC--]

As stated in other threads, I'm rescuing an old cab for MAME usage.  I've cleaned a lot of mildew from the inside (creating black buckets of water and towels) but there's plenty more.  What's the best way to deal with this?  The monitor and isolation transformer (the only remaining electronics inside other than marquee lights/coin doors) are also covered in the black film.  I want to wipe them down, but I am afraid of harming the monitor glass or electronics (I made sure it was discharged.)  Would Tilex be a really bad idea to spray on those components, as long as I allowed it sufficient time to dry?  Should I try to totally disassamble this cabinet before I try to spray it down with Tilex?  Or use another method entirely?  I couldn't really find any other cleaning products that said they killed mildew.  Even ignoring the smell, I don't want a bunch of mildew growing on the MAME machine I plan to put inside the cab.  Advice appreciated, as always.

[AlanS17]

Tilex will probably leave a residue - not a good idea.

Bleach works great for mildew, and I don't think it'll hurt electronics. I think it only affects organic material. You would have to rinse it, though. You would need to dry it, too.

Are we talking about live mildew or just mildew stains?

[USSEnterprise]

I'm pretty sure bleach, being a strong base, will corrode the electronics beyond repair!

[shadowdrak]

How about acetone?  Barring that, I'm sure there is some sort of cleaner at radio shack that is electronics safe. Bleach sounds like a bad idea; never heard of it being used on electronics.  But i can't say i know for sure. 

[AlanS17]

DISCLAIMER: I've never actually tried it. 

[USSEnterprise]

I was thinking Isopropal Alcohol, but a higher concentration than the standard 70%

[TurboC--]

I'm going to try making a bleach/water mix, putting it in a spray bottle, and spraying down and wiping the wood only.  For the monitor and transformer I have decided just to use compressed air to get off as much as I can, vacuum it up and not try any liquid cleaning methods.  Of course this means I will still have some level of mildew in the cabinet.  I just wanted to prevent it from growing inside the MAME PC I put in there.  Guess I'll see what happens in a few years, heh. 

[AlanS17]

I was thinking Isopropal Alcohol, but a higher concentration than the standard 70%

That should work well, too. That'll definitely kill the mildew. And it's been tested safe for electronic components. I just don't know how well it'll actually remove anything.

[TurboC--]

Cool, I may try that later also.  Maybe spray the outside of my MAME PC with it, as well as the entire bottom of the cab, whenever I finally install it.  Then again I guess it will just evaporate?  So wouldn't be too useful for preventative measures.  Anyway, I am pretty much done cleaning it for now (thank god.)  Next step is artwork restoration.  Just wish the local Busy Beaver had their heat guns in stock.  Always something...

[flyguy1821]

I think the alcohol is the way to go with your issue also.  Just make sure you use Kills primer or something like that when you go to prime your cabinet.

[LiquidFire]

New circuit boards are cleaned by bathing in Trichlorethane or TCE so that is the route I would go-a small brush and let it flow. Follow precautions on label.

Extreme caution should be exercised especially on the monitor, making sure you discharge it before even getting close to it. Turning it off will not typically discharge an arcade monitor, it has to be bled by grounding the anode. Don't do this unless you are confident of your ability.

On the cabinet, I would use a 10% solution of bleach/water and soak the entire inside (minus electronics) to make sure all is killed. Allow it to dry as quickly as possible and then use the Kilz product Flyguy mentioned and coat the interior. This will insure you a seal over the remaining mold and you will not smell it again. Have your paint store dump some black pigment in unless you like white.

FYI: Some people can be really sensitive to mold so you should get all of it.

[flyguy1821]

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=39919.0


this is talked about here as well. 

[AlanS17]

Keep in mind that if you don't kill ALL the mildew before you prime it, that mildew is going to LOVE the primer. It'll continue to grow underneath.

[USSEnterprise]

Get a chlorine gas chamber, pull al the electronics out, and let it sit in there for a few hours. That should kill mildew