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Subject Topic: Cleaning Advice for folding camper Post Reply Post New Topic
22/2/2009 at 6:28pm
 Location: West Lothian
 Outfit: Vango Amazon 600 Conway Cruiser
View Hazey's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hazey Reply   Quote Hazey Quote  
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Hi

We have just bought a 1996 Conway Cruiser, which seems to be in good condition but needs a good clean.  I'm going to wash all the inner linnings, seat covers etc. however there is a wee bit of a smell about it, it's not awful or we wouldn't have bought it but possibly a previous owner smoked, I was wondering if it's possible to use fabreeze on the canvas though I was thinking that this would affect the waterproofing.  Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Haz

 



22/2/2009 at 7:10pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Daihatsu Gran Cargo Campervan
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I think I'd be reluctant to use anthing on the canvas.

Personally, ate least in the first instance, make sure everything has been cleaned out, the leave it as open as possible on a dry breezy day.

Glen



22/2/2009 at 8:14pm
 Location: Herefordshire
 Outfit: pennine pathfinder 2003
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Fresh air is a wonderful thing. Wash the inners and curtains by all means but leave the canvas. Tumble drier sheets leave a nice smell if you pack it away with them in.

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Good friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget.


23/2/2009 at 8:48am
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 Outfit: 
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Don't put anything other than water on canvas.

Steve.



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Steve.


23/2/2009 at 11:38am
 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
 Outfit: Pennine Sterling 510
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Be extremely careful with fabreeze use it in cushions and matressess only. If the previous owner was a smoker then the smell will only come out with patience.

All the curtains can be machine washed on a cool cycle but do not tumble dry the bed tents or rooflining - the heat will shrink them.

Matresses and cushions can be sponged clean with a hand washing solution and stubborn stains removed with a dilute solution of oxy but this must be well rinsed out. If it is'nt then you'll need to use a clothes brush to remove the powdery mark it leaves when its dry.

I agree with JanP throw a couple of tumble drier sheets into the unit when putting into long term storage and it'll smell fresh when u open it up again.  

If you have to wash the camper body then use a solution of pure soap flakes and water only, wash it by hand with a bucket and new sponge (or squeege mop to reach the difficult areas but it must not have been previously used with floor cleaning stuff) and rinse really really well with a hose and shower pattern spray NOT a jet wash or high pressure spray. Allow to dry throughly then reproof with Fabsil but be aware you may need more than the manufacturers recommended amount to do the job so buy lots! Apply it with a pump up type garden spray and lance to reach out across the roof and don't allow  a wet edge to dry when re-proofing otherwise you'll have a water mark at that edge.  Pick your day to clean the body, dry bright and warm with little breeze is best otherwise you'll lose lots of fabsil to the wind.  I did ours in a day started at 9am and was feet up waiting for the fabsil to dry by 3pm ( even after a emergency trip to the campingshop to buy more fabsil!).

The age of your unit inidcates it may be approaching time to reproof anyway so it would be an ideal opportunity for you go through this process to try to remove the smell you're having problems with. 

Remember every thing must be absolutley bone dry before you fold it away,   check where the canvas goes over the poles and if you've cleaned the cushions or mattresses best keep them out for a week or so to be sure theres no dampness gotten into the core of the upholstry which could manifest itself as mildew in storage.

A last resort or quick fix is to burn really scenty candles or joss sticks when you have the camper up. Its not perfect but can make life a lot more bearable if you are away from home and have an "aromatic catastrophe" (especially involving small children!).

 



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Aye the force is strong in ye but thoo's not yet a Geordie.


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23/2/2009 at 1:38pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
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Quote: Originally posted by Hazey on 22/2/2009

Hi

We have just bought a 1996 Conway Cruiser, which seems to be in good condition but needs a good clean.  I'm going to wash all the inner linnings, seat covers etc. however there is a wee bit of a smell about it, it's not awful or we wouldn't have bought it but possibly a previous owner smoked, I was wondering if it's possible to use fabreeze on the canvas though I was thinking that this would affect the waterproofing.  Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Haz

 



Hi Hazey
The information you have been given is correct.
The canvas on your camper is thought by some to be the best comercialy made canvas on the market some swear by ten-cate Now the life span of these 100% cotton canvas under normal use and correctly looked after would be in my opinion between 20 and 30 years.
If the canvas gets dirty it is recommended to wash it with warm water and a brush but for stubborn stain and very dirty canvas a recognized cleaning agent can be used.
Should your canvas at anytime start to let water in through the material in localised areas you can be 99% certain,it is caused by dust/dirt that as got into the weave in that area and stops the canvas closing when wet to stop ingress of water and all that will be require to make it waterproof again is a good wash with warm water, before you decide to reproof the canvas.
Old canvas that has had many years of been attacked by Ultra violet will eventually allow ingress of water through the weave this is the time when it will need reproofing you can not give a length of time for this, if your canvas unit, FC, Awning, or tent get used for long periods left up over the full summer for two or three seasons and it starts to let water in then after the wash check you will most probably have to reproof/rejuvenate the canvas to give it back the ability to swell and close the weave to repel the rain.
All this information can be gleaned from the Internet for campers who require more information.
I hope this information will help you with your new canvas unit.
Best regards
Rex.


-------------
"Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)


23/2/2009 at 7:49pm
 Location: West Lothian
 Outfit: Vango Amazon 600 Conway Cruiser
View Hazey's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hazey Reply   Quote Hazey Quote  
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Hi

Thanks very much for all the replies and sound advice. I had thought today about joss sticks and nice smelling candles.  Would like to do the full clean of the main canvas and then reproofing but am a bit scared in case I botch it up!  I have been having a bit of a collywobble today thinking we have made a big mistake, just hoping for some good weather when we can get it up and strip everything out and give the cupboards etc. a good scrub out.  Thanks again all the replies were much appreciated. 

Haz

 




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