How To Clean Your Pop-Up Camper

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Get Ready to Clean

As you travel, the canvas of your pop-up camper gathers a lot of dust and dirt. What with the friction of deploying and retracting your pop-up combined with wear and tear from the elements, the canvas ends up looking pretty unsightly. If you decided to store the canvas when it was wet, there’s a good chance that it’ll have a mold or mildew problem when you take it out again.

Before you begin working on your canvas, check the owner’s manual to see if there are any specific washing instructions. In this guide, we will discuss several cleaning products that are generally safe to use on most canvasses, although specific models may have added treatments that require special care and more particular cleaning products.

To clean the canvas, you can use any mild cleaner you may have in your house, such as non-detergent soaps like Lux or Ivory. If you use harsh detergents, it can stain or even break down the canvas, which will lead to costly repairs. Oxygen cleaners can be extremely effective at removing dirt and brightening fabric without being toxic or damaging to either your canvas or the environment

You’ll need to gather a few supplies to clean your pop-up camper. You’ll need a few sponges, a broom, a bucket, a soft scrub brush and a hose hooked up to fresh water. It’s wise to wash your camper over concrete or gravel so the cleaners and loose dirt don’t seep into grass.

Cleaning Canvas

Use a dry broom to sweep away any dirt collected on the roof and sides of your pop-up camper. Leaves and debris can make it mch tougher to do a good job cleaning. You also want to remove the larger bits of debris so you can clearly see where dust and grime have accumulated.

Next, take two sponges and soak one up with the cleaner of your choice. You’ll need the other one to dip in water and rinse off the soap as you go. Start on the interior and scrub down the tent walls, wiping them afterwards with the wet sponge. Stubborn stains can be worked at with your soft scrub brush and a multi-surface cleaner that’s safe for canvas, like an oxygen cleaner.

Use the same process to clean the outside as well. You may need the scrub brush here to get stuck-on dirt off. You can then use your hose to rinse off the entire exterior and remove all soapy residue. You can also check to see if any water is dripping into your camper. That way you know where you need some waterproofing.

Waterproofing Canvas

When you’re rinsing off your pop-up camper, make sure the water pools and rolls off. If you see the canvas soaking up the water, it means that its waterproof coating has worn off. Generally, this coating is good for about five years, so it’s very likely that after a few years of camping, you’ll need to waterproof your pop-up completely.

Before you begin that process, make sure all the soap is rinsed away so the cleaning solutions don’t intermix with your waterproofing products. Then, allow your camper to dry thoroughly in the sun before you treat it. Again, your owner’s manual might have some recommendations for your model.

You can usually use any waterproofing products made for cars. Apply the spray to your canvas, being careful not to let it build up on the vinyl as it can damage this material. Wipe any waterproofing chemicals off your vinyl immediately.

Tackling Mildew

If you’ve left your pop-up camper out in the elements for too long or stored it incorrectly, chances are that mold and mildew have built up. Not only can these ruin your canvas, they also make your camper smell unpleasant. Address this problem as soon as you come across it.

Don’t just decide to use bleach here! Use something less abrasive that will still get the job done, like a mixture of two parts water with one part vinegar. Another good solution is one part rubbing alcohol mixed with one part water. Both of these will kill mold and mildew spores. You can also try using a few teaspoons of tea tree oil in water for its antifungal properties, although this is more expensive.

Cleaning Vinyl

Once you’ve tackled the canvas, it’s time to pay attention to the vinyl in your pop-up camper. Vinyl should be treated with a product like Protect-All, or another comparable automotive cleaning product. Use your cleaner to scrub the vinyl thoroughly with a clean cloth, then wipe it off. This is the simplest and quickest part of cleaning your pop-up camper.

Make sure everything is dry and treated before you fold things down. Cleaning your pop-up camper ensures that it will last you a long time. You can also help to prevent damage caused by water, mold, mildew and dirt by keeping your camper in good condition.

We hope you’ll find these tips useful! If you’re still looking for the best pop-up camper for you, visit Lone Star RV at our location in Houston, Texas. If you’re looking for pop-up campers for sale in Katy, contact our sales department to arrange a tour.