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vwmaniaman Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Grand Rivers,KY
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:37 pm Post subject: Mold cleanup on westy fuzz? |
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How do you clean up mold from the fuzz on the Westy top without hurting it? It had a leak on the pop top vent seal. Got that replaced though. Now all I need to do is clean up the mess from the P.O. Have to put new canvas on it too. Any recommendations are welcome. |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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Use the SEARCH, Luke
There were posts over the Summer, I believe, about this. Something about Bleach comes to mind. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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vwmaniaman Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Grand Rivers,KY
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Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 4:36 am Post subject: |
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Looked in the posts and think I'll try the bleach thing with the bed covered with plastic and also all the other stuff protected. Thanks for the assist. |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 1839 Location: Englewood, FL
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Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:50 am Post subject: |
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when are you going to repalace the canvas? if its soon just take the top right off to clean. That way you don't ave to worry too much about harsh cleaner damaging anything else.
If its not going to be for awhile look for a mold remover thats not that harsh, I found some stuff when i did mine made by "damp rid" in a spay bottle. sprayed that on then go up there with a buckert of ater a small scrub brush. did not clean it 100% but it looks 100% better! Plus the damp rid stuff says to just spray it on to prevent mold so I sprayed it after the cleaning and it has not come back as of yet.
I'm holding out till I get time to do a repaint on the entire body to pull the top, that or when my patches in my canvas fail then be able to geti into every little nook and cranny etc... _________________ Markus |
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Witless Joe Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2005 Posts: 460
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Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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People often recommend diluted bleach solutions for this job.
When I changed the canvas, I cleaned the mold off the flocking "fuzz" with 100% bleach. Screw the dilution. And screw name-brand "mold cleaners".
The mold on my flocking was disgusting, and I frankly did not care whether I "stained" the fuzz with bleach. I just didn't want to be breathing mold spores anymore. So I bleached the hell out of it.
Absolutely no damage to the fuzz was done, and the top looks good as new. Really. No bleach stains at all, and I scrubbed the hell out of it with 100% bleach.
YMMV. This was on a 1985 Westy. Possibly different "fuzz" in 1987 and newer grey interiors. |
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cnskate Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 295 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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here in the rainy PNW I have had good luck with dilituted but strong bleach. I put in one of the pump spray things usually used for insecticides. Much easier than the brush and bucket method I tried first. Wear goggles and a hat! _________________ "Wherever you go, there you are." |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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You all have renewed my interest in cleaning my top. Mine is not bad, but it looks funky. Guess, that is now on my todo list but not high at all. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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Squidfish Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2004 Posts: 336 Location: 95519
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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just cleaned up ours with some x-14 mildew remover (bleach mixed in bottle basically). Looks great, keep those seals looking new and functioning, no sags |
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buspor63 Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005 Posts: 1179 Location: Knoxville,TN Where America stops for gas
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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Finally got around to cleaning my fuzz. It had started to grow other life forms and was looking bad.
Today was a windy day so I thought that might keep fumes down. In a hand pump sparay bottle, I mixed beach 1:3 with water. That stuff worked like a charm. Maybe a little weaker would work as good. The stain disappeared almost as fast as I sprayed it on. I used a wash rag in a bucket to scrub of the stubborn areas and kinda clean up the excess.
Looks really good now.
Get-R-down Walt. |
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vwmaniaman Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Grand Rivers,KY
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 4:17 am Post subject: |
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Took off the top this weekend and scrubbed the mold off the fuzz with TSP and bleach and cleaned the outside with it too. Put a new Van-Cafe canvas and am painting the outside fiberglass with Rustoleum enamel with 1 QT of Gloss white and 1/4th QT of Rustoleum Almond. Perfect match to original color. Looks great too like a new one. Putting new seal and plastic vent cap on with seal. Our 87 "VanaWhite' will be spiffy. _________________ Working on a VW is like fun with a friend!
65 Beetle
75 Westy "Pumpkin Van"
86 Westy "Brown Betty"
87 Cabrio |
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WestyNoobie Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Northern New Jersey
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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Ive used Simple Green to remove the mold...its "non-toxic" and it does a great job of mold removal, and it smells good. _________________ 85 westy 02 TDI |
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northwesty Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006 Posts: 45 Location: Vancouver
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know why they put that fuzz up there in the first place. It just creates more work. When I bought my rig it had half the fuzz removed. It looks really good where they removed it, it's just smooth white plastic.
I have been waiting until I have time to remove the rest. I think the person shaved it off with an exacto knife blade and some form of liquid. I can't wait to get it all off, I'm sure it can't but help the aroma. |
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vw_nick Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2005 Posts: 391 Location: Nashville, TN
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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northwesty wrote: |
I don't know why they put that fuzz up there in the first place. |
The first thing that comes to mind is to collect/distribute condensation (?) and I'd guess it cuts down on the echo? Mine is scummy too... plan on removing the top and bleaching it really well during the canvas replacement. _________________ Nick |
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bigdood Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 191 Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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hmm....i tried diluted simple green this weekend and it didn't do much. scrubbed a little and it took off some of the fuzz. maybe the 1:1 dilution was too strong and eating thru the fuzz? _________________ **http://nitsuj.tumblr.com**
"We should all be having more fun. A lot more of the time. " -Randy in Maine |
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buspor63 Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005 Posts: 1179 Location: Knoxville,TN Where America stops for gas
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:01 am Post subject: |
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Bigdood,
Try bleach mixed about 4:1 or 5:1 in a pump spray bottle. Spray on, blot off with a rag you rinse out in a bucket of water. Do about two feet or so at a time. It worked for me. _________________ Imagine that, theres not an "h" in either Westfalia or Syncro? |
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Garske Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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Last fall I had good success using a water and bleach solution. I took out the bedding first, and then used a rag to rub the top just enough to get the top damp. I didn’t scrub very hard, no really need to scrub, just need to get enough bleach on the top to kill the mildew. It looked good as new a day later.
Need to do it again but we also had 30 consecutive days of rain this winter. |
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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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I need to clean mold from most of the bottom of the bed (the part that forms the ceiling when hinged out, but comes close to the poptop when flopped back for travel).
Has anyone tried bleach on that plastic?
I already tried Formula 409 (TSP) - helped but did not help much... _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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Jake de Villiers Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 5911 Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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Noganav T3 Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2010 Posts: 101 Location: California
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Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with the Tilex. That stuff is magic on mold. takes very little to do wonders. With out the fuzz up there you would likely get a lot of moisture dripping from the smooth slick surface. it also does add insulation and sound deadening. with out it you would feel like you were inside a drum. |
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tam_shops Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2012 Posts: 1530 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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Spent the afternoon cleaning my pop top and tent...It's better, but not good enough. Though, if I'm reading the above correctly, it may be better in the morning??
I used Hydrogen Peroxide all over the tent and top. Rinsed it. Used Vineger. Rinsed it.
Then, on the top there were a few spots w/ mold and others w/ red (ink/dye??). I used Tylex on those.
Then, on the left side of the tent, there was (still is) a section w/ mold spots. I did a quick Tilex of those and then immediate rinse. Twice. With an extra rinse. Green machine carpet cleaner. It's still there...
Then, used some carpet cleaner soap and finally rinsed it again.
I still have few questions.
Anything ELSE I can do to get the mold off the remaining spots? It looks bad and I'm allergic...It's not where the kids heads will be, but I don't want it there and it spreads...
Anything I can do to make the top more uniform in colour? It's got some light spots from where I used the Tilex. Obvious answer is to Tilex the entire top, but Tilex can't be good for the top or me!
And, the tent is discoloured in a bunch of spots. Like lighter and more see through. I'm guessing it's bleached from the peroxide, as it was there before I used anything else and I didn't use Tilex there. Though, I think PO said she used bleach all over up top, so it could also be that it's just now showing b/c it's wet and the lighter fabric is actually a thinning of the fabric. Thus, I need a new tent sooner rather than later.
Finally, how do I know if my tent is original or replaced? Not sure it matters that much, but certainly makes a difference for the amount of effort I'll put into cleaning a newER one rather than an already 26yo one...
Thanks!
tam _________________ 1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic
Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885 |
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