Since I first wrote this post, I’ve learned quite a bit more about cleaning your pop up camper canvas. I figured it was time to update a few things. There are some new tips here, so if you’ve read this post before, it is worth a second read. You might learn something new! And if you are looking for information on how to clean and maintain the exterior and vinyl of your camper, you may find this post helpful. Thanks for stopping by! 😉
Although the canvas on our Santa Fe is in excellent condition, it still needed a bit of cleaning. It was pretty dirty, and we want to make sure to keep it in great shape for as long as we can. A little preventative maintenance can go a long way in extending the life of your canvas. And honestly, I didn’t want to be camping somewhere, have it rain, and be stuck in a leaky pop up. This was a test of sorts for us. We wanted to make sure our canvas would keep us dry in inclement weather.
We did a lot of research and discovered that Woolite detergent was the mildest way to clean Sunbrella fabric. If your canvas isn’t made of Sunbrella, you might want to research cleaning methods a little more. Woolite is pretty gentle, and I’d venture to say it will do a good job on any canvas, but if you are unsure, check your owner’s manual. We filled our 5 gallon bucket about halfway full of water. Then we added a capful of Woolite (we used the 2 line marking).
We didn’t have any mold or mildew on our canvas, so we were just going for a light cleaning to remove any dirt or residue on the surface of our camper. If you’ve got mildew, you’ll want to use something much stronger. Sunbrella recommends a mixture of dish soap, bleach, and water. They’ve got a great stain chart here you can use for reference. I’ve also seen some amazing results from the Bass Pro Shops mildew cleaner. I had never tried it myself, but I hear good things about it. In fact, Mandy over at Campfire Travelers used it on her canvas with great success. You can read all about that here. We just needed a light cleaning to get rid of the dust and dirt on the canvas, however, so we used the Woolite and water. We used a regular sponge to wash the canvas on the inside. Then we used plain, clean water and another sponge to rinse. We didn’t really soak the canvas on the inside, because we didn’t have much dirt. We just did a light wipe down. It’s worth noting that we had several black marks along the bottom of the canvas from the moving parts of the camper. I’m guessing it was grease or something, and the Woolite did not get those out.
Last year, I was fine with leaving them, but this year, I wanted to try to get those canvas panels clean. I had been in touch with a rep from 303 Products, and she suggested I use their Multi Surface Cleaner to try to remove those ugly black marks. She sent me a sample to try, and I was amazed. I used a generic brand white eraser sponge and a little bit of Multi Surface Cleaner, and those black marks wiped right off. The Multi Surface Cleaner is water based, pH neutral, and does not have any harmful caustics or acids. It worked fabulously on both the vinyl and the canvas, and it leaves no residue, which I love.
We did the same thing on the outside, only we put a little more elbow grease into it. There was a significant amount of dirt on the outside of our canvas. We took the scrub brush and sponge to the outside, using a fresh batch of the Woolite solution, to make sure all the dirt was gone. For the tough spots, we used the 303 Multi Surface Cleaner.
To get rid of any soapy residue, we used the garden hose and rinsed everything down. It’s also a great way to spot check the waterproofing on your canvas. If the water beads up and rolls off, then you are still water repellent. If you start to notice some of the water soaking into the fibers then it is time to retreat that spot. Be careful to thoroughly check areas where your canvas might have been rubbed or worn. Any high friction areas will lose water repellency sooner than others that don’t get touched. The bungees from our Gizmos wear the waterproofing off quickly, so we have to spot treat those areas frequently.
Make sure you rinse your canvas well, as any residue left on the tenting will affect your waterproofing. When all the soap was rinsed off, we let the canvas dry in the sun for several hours before we waterproofed it.
To waterproof our canvas, we broke out a bottle of this magic stuff — 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. It’s recommended by Sunbrella for treating their fabrics. It’s a little hard to find, so I recommend Amazon, but we’ve also seen a bottle or two at Ace Hardware and Lowe’s. We had to drive 30 minutes to find an Ace that carried it, and even then we picked up the last bottle — so if you are trying to find it locally, call before you head over to the store.
There is no specific rule as to how frequently you should waterproof your canvas. It really all depends on how often the surface is exposed to the elements and how much wear-and-tear the surface gets. There is no harm in retreating too often, but if the surface is still water repellent, then any new product that you spray on will not stick to the fibers and you will be wasting product. We usually do a spot check once or twice a year and retreat as needed.
The first year we treated the canvas, we found we had enough product in a 16 oz. spray bottle to do all of the tenting. The canvas was still pretty waterproof at that time. When we retreated it a year later, we easily went through a 32 oz. bottle and wished we’d had more. Because we had such a large area to treat, the 303 Products rep we spoke withtold us that we could use a paint brush or clean sponge roller to “paint” the High Tech Fabric Guard on our canvas. It does use a little more product, however, so we decided to spray ours on the canvas in a crisscross pattern. Once the Fabric Guard worked into the fibers of the fabric any excess will just run off. Remember when I said to thoroughly rinse the canvas? Well, if you have any residue, the High Tech Fabric Guard will not soak into the fibers of your canvas. We had a few of those areas, and we had to clean the residue off with the Multi Surface Cleaner before retreating with the Fabric Guard.
We used a piece of cardboard to protect our vinyl areas when we were spraying the canvas. Be sure you are wiping up any overspray on the vinyl with a clean rag. Don’t worry, once it dries, there will be no visible spotting. After we gave the canvas a light coat of the waterproofer, we went back with a clean, white rag and applied more Fabric Guard to areas of the canvas by hand. Just pour directly from the bottle onto the rag and wipe it into the canvas. Make sure you are only applying 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to the canvas parts of your pop up. The top of our pop up is vinyl, as are the green parts at the bottom. DO NOT get the Fabric Guard on the vinyl, as it will damage it. This is clearly marked on the bottle, but we found it out the hard way. We weren’t very diligent about wiping up overspray the second time we treated the canvas, and it discolored our vinyl in a few spots. To be extra sure you don’t harm your vinyl, you could tape it off or cover it with plastic.
Once your canvas is cleaned and protected, it’s time to give that vinyl some love. We wanted to make sure that we protected all those areas from the persistent sun exposure they would get. We didn’t want any drying or cracking. For the vinyl, we used a product called Protect All.
We bought this product at Wal-Mart, because it was the only place {other than Amazon} that we could find it. It was half the price at Wal-Mart, too. After looking for way too long in the automotive section without success, we were about to give up. We were directed to the RV section of the store and BINGO! We found it. You can, apparently, only find this stuff there. I think we paid about $9 a bottle, but it was so worth it.
I love this product, because it cleans and protects at the same time. Simply spray it on the vinyl, rub it on with a clean cloth, and buff it out with another clean, dry cloth. We used old socks on our hands, and it worked great. If you get streaks, simply apply more product, wipe, and dry. That’s it!
And that’s all there is to it! We spent about two hours cleaning and protecting the canvas and vinyl, and it looks brand new. Replacement canvas for your pop up camper is very expensive, so it’s best to take care of the original canvas as best as you can. With a little elbow grease, you can keep your canvas looking {and smelling} brand new.
Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. The Pop Up Princess is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means that if you choose to purchase an item from a link in this post, The Pop Up Princess earns a small advertising fee to help pay for future projects and posts… so thank you! 🙂
***I was not financially compensated for this post, but I did receive a sample of 303 Multi Surface Cleaner for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Please know that I write my honest opinion on all product reviews, regardless of how the product came to me. The content of my review will always be my true and honest experience with the product. If you see a review here on The Pop Up Princess, you know I like the product enough to give it my stamp of approval.***
Happy Camping!
Thank you for the detailed, step-by-step how to! We just took our 2011 Coleman SV3 out for its maiden voyage (to our property along the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River in Idaho) and I’m prepping to give it a thorough, post camping trip clean.
I’m headed out to get all the cleaning supplies I need today. Thanks again!
Awesome, Heather! Glad it helped. We visited Idaho for the first time on our way back from Yellowstone. What a gorgeous state!
Hi Larissa,
I find that after cleaning the interior canvas, I still have a mildewy odor…Do you recommend adding bleach to the cleaning solution?
I hear bleach is pretty harsh on the canvas, but I’ve never tried it. I hear it is the only way to really kill mildew, and if you got Sunbrella canvas, they actually recommend a combo of bleach, dish soap, and water. You can find their stain removal chart here. I also hear the Bass Pro Shop mildew cleaner works wonders, but it is bleach based as well. Best of luck and let us know what works for you! 🙂
Hi, I was reading on pop up portal, that there is a mold and mildew rv cleaner at bass pro shop, I’m going to take a trip over there this week and see if they have it…I don’t like the smell of my canvas, I need something to freshen up, lol… I’ll keep you posted 🙂
Cool, Alice! Let me know what you find!
White Vinegar and Baking soda- best all natural & cheap cleaner! Removes bad smells like nobody’s business!
vinegar or witch hazle helps remove these odors
There is a product for removing mold spores called Concrobium, it kills the mold and removes the odour (although it doesn’t remove the black spots) It also keeps the mold from coming back.
Thanks, Lori. I have heard both good and bad about Concrobium. I’ve heard from several readers who said it didn’t work. It’s less harsh than bleach, though, so it may it worth a shot. 🙂
Thanks so much for the cleaning tips. We got a 1996 coleman pop up and want to get started on fixing it aUp and cleaning it. I’ll watch for other tips from your blog. Thanks again so much. Good to just follow directions instead of having to figure it out. :).
Thanks, Mary! Glad to have you stop by. 🙂
We had one with a bit of mold/mildew growth and cleaned with 3parts peroxide 1 part water in a spray bottle. No scrubbing. Have also used equal parts of lemon juice and water in a spray bottle…again. NO scrubbing
how do you remove the peroxide and water mixture for mildew before re-water proofing?
Does it remove the black spots
We just purchased a 1999 Coleman Santa Fe. We got for a steal and it’s in excellent condition. It is outdated and we plan to do some remodeling. My daughter uses Pinterest a lot so I thought I would take a look and see what I could find out about remodeling and I found your info. I think I have pinned everything you have posted. Lol! Cleaning the canvas is going to be the first thing. It does smell funky in there. So thanks for this post and for all the other tips and ideas.
Congrats on the new PUP, Rena! We love our Santa Fe. It’s a great little camper, and much easier to maneuver into tight spaces than some of the other bigger models we were looking at would have been. I can’t wait to see what you do with your Santa Fe. Be sure to send me pictures! 😀
We are planning on doing the sunbrella too. No mold or mildew, just dirt from the AC and roof run off. Did your cleaning work on embedded dirt? Make it look new?
Rob, it did require a little hard work, but we were able to get embedded dirt out. What it did not remove was grease from the moving parts. If you have grease on your canvas, you’ll have to find something harsher than Woolite to remove it.
Thanks! Don’t mind using a little work for the dirt. No grease, so lucky there. Just want to make it look somewhat new again. I’ll order the 303 tomorrow.
You might want to try Dawn dishwashing soap. It is supposed to be very good on grease and mild too.
Thanks, Barbie. We were thinking of trying that this year. I’ll let you know if it works on our grease. 🙂
Hello Larissa You have inspired and help me so much with your detailed step by step with pictures help here. We bought a well loved 1998 Coleman 12ft Westlake 4 days ago and went one night camping with it. Its very original and dirty and neglected and your website has given me the inspiration to start cleaning it right away and then to upgrade th curtains at a later stage. I keep looking at your lovely curtains ! Wow what a difference its making, Thank you so much for all the help you are providing.
Wonderful, Gerri! I hope you make some great memories in your PUP, and I can’t wait to see what you do with it when you’re ready! 🙂
We just inherited my father in laws jayco eagle pop up trailer, it hasn’t been out for 3 years so I’m scarred of what I’m going to find but I’m glad I found your site I can’t wait tell next weekend when we take it out to the lake and set it up so I can start cleaning it and doing a makeover on it.
Awesome, Katy! I can’t wait to see pictures! 🙂
WE just opened up our new to us 96 jayco eagle pop up. So excited, needs some work, it’s ugly and a bit mildewy but so glad to have found you and truly looking forward to my remodel!
Awesome, Angie! I can’t wait to see pictures! 😉
This has been helpful we do have some mldew ormoldnot sure which, going totry the peroxide and water thiing, I know the baking soda and vinegar thing will work but I don’t like the vinegar smell. I’ll let everyone know what my results are.
I am so glad I found your site! We just got a 96 coleman pop up today. It needs A LOT of tlc! And we want to start cleaning it tomorrow, and we weren’t sure what to use. Now we do! Thank you so much!
Awesome, Tina! I can’t wait to see what you do! 🙂
Larissa, love your pup! I was directed here by Facebook pop up campers, also pop up portal. Am a newb and have a ntu fleetwood utah 2008 which We haven’t been out in yet. Trying to get it ready, tires, pack wheels….It is in excellent shape but need to learn how to care for and maintain it to keep it that way. This info was very helpful! The details of what to use and how to are appreciated. I would have used the 303 all over, ouch. Question, did you wash all of it ( top, vinyl, screens..) with the woolite?
Also loved the tips for the beds. Thank you for taking time to share!
Welcome, Jenny! I was once a newbie, too, and was trying to find tutorials for all the things I didn’t know. There are a lot of great people out there willing to help. Love the Pop Up Portal! I would have been lost without the people on that forum! 🙂
We washed the entire thing with Woolite. Woolite is gentle enough to use on everything, but be aware that any time you start washing your canvas with soap, you are going to remove some of the waterproofing. I wouldn’t recommend washing it unless you are going to follow up with the 303 Fabric Guard. That stuff is amazing! We did get some overspray on the vinyl this time around, and sure enough, it discolored it. 🙁 So… be extra careful around your vinyl and wipe up any overspray with a wet cloth immediately.
We are working on a tutorial for repacking your trailer bearings. I hope to have that up soon.
Larissa, your site has been very helpful and I can see why it pulls up first on google when searching for pop up help related questions. We are going to be cleaning our PUP this weekend and your post is my go-to guide. I was having a terribly hard time, as you said you had, to find the 303 Fabric Guard and to get it here on time for the weekend. So, I finally found that O’Reilly’s carries it and all I had to do was call them and ask them to order it for me to come get it and online it said within 24 hours usually it would be there but they said they would have it in for me this afternoon. I just wanted to pass that info on for those who needed it quicker also. Thanks for all your advice.
Thanks, Ang! I actually got in touch with the company that makes 303 Products, and they said Lowe’s carries it, too. I have yet to verify that, but it made me happy to hear. 🙂
Be careful with your vinyl. We just retreated with Fabric Guard, and I wasn’t very careful about the overspray. I got a little bit of discoloration on my vinyl. Make sure to protect your non-canvas surfaces and wipe up all overspray.
Larissa, I was just coming back to your blog to ask you about how to clean the window screens and the canvas inside that zips over the screen windows. Are the screens considered vinyl? And should we spray all the interior canvas that zip over the window screens to add waterproof protection? Thanks soooooooo much for all your expert! help!!!!!!
I think the screens are considered vinyl. We’ve always protected them when we spray on the 303 Fabric Guard. We just clean them with Woolite and water when we are washing the PUP canvas. As far as the canvas inside the windows… We didn’t waterproof it last year, but this year, we had some issues with water wicking through the windows during big rain storms. It happens right where the bungees from our solar bunkend covers rub. So this year, we waterproofed the windows, just to be safe. I’ll let you know if it helps. 🙂
So you only spray where it’s canvas? I only have canvas on each side of bunk ends. Do you spray from inside camper or outside through The screens?
I’m so grateful that you even DO this blog! I’m going to be working on the canvas and vinyl this weekend and would have no idea what I was doing were it not for your blog! Thank you! I have a question, though…I can get a copy of the manual for my 1997 Jayco Pup but the instructions/illustrations are hard to follow. I think it’s because it may be a copy of a copy uploaded to Adobe. Anyway, I have been in search of stabilizer jacks since I figured out the hard way that the pup will tip with unequal weight! It’s so low to the ground that no stabilizer available at the RV parts store is short enough. I found out through sheer luck that pop ups typically have stabilizers mounted underneath. Of course the online manual indicates “most models” have it and I wasn’t sure that included mine. I played down in the drive way to have a look and there they were! I cannot, however, figure out how to get them to come down. They seem to be stuck despite several applications of spray silicone. The photo in the online manual showing how to lower them is worthless. I need these stabilizers but have no idea how to get them to come down. Would you happen to know?
Also, it may sound silly but if you run out of pup blog ideas, I’m sure there are legions of newbies like me who could use an entry on “What the previous owner probably forgot to tell you about the fixer-upper you just bought!”
I am going to have the RV professionals replace and grease the bearings on my pup but had I not found and explored your blog I NEVER would have known that it was even something important to address! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You probably saved me and my family from an overheating catastrophe on our next outing here in Alaska!
Hey, Alison! Welcome to the addicting world of pop up campers. You’ll be a pro in no time. 😉
I’m not sure about Jayco… but we lower our stabilizer jacks with a crank. Ours are so easy to lower that I make my kids do it! You can see a picture of my daughter lowering the stabilizers below. If you are taking the pop up to the RV repair shop, you might have them take a glance at the stab jacks to make sure everything is in order. You can also ask your question on the Pop Up Portal. Some experienced Jayco owner there is bound to have an answer for you.
Here’s a tip. I stopped using a crank years ago. Instead use a cordless drill with a 3/4″ socket. You buy an adapter (home depot etc) that fits in the drill chuck that allows you to attach the socket. Now it takes about 10 seconds to lower or raise each stabilizer, all 4 in about a minute.
I have a 2000 Coleman Bayside Elite it has the 12 foot box. dinette slide and tip out over the sink. It has king size beds on each end. How many bottles of the 303 Sun guard do you suggest i use? sounds like alot of canvas to cover!! lol
It really all depends on how much waterproofing your canvas needs, Angela. If your waterproofing has worn off, the fabric will really soak up the Fabric Guard. If your waterproofing is still good, it will bead up where you spray it on, and you will just be wasting product if you continue to apply it. Some spots on our canvas were more waterproof than others the last time we treated it. We had a 32 ounce bottle, and we used the whole thing and wished we’d had more. The first time we treated it, a 16 ounce bottle was more than enough. When was the last time your canvas was treated?
It’s been a couple of years since I waterproofed it.
In Canada, 303 Fabric Guard has been recalled due to improper packaging and labeling. Something in the product, which is not shown on the label could be dangerous to children and requires child-resistant packaging.
Any other products that you could recommend?
I’ve been in contact with a rep from 303 about that, Dorothy. She says the packaging issue has been resolved, and Fabric Guard should be back on the shelves in Canada. I don’t have any other recommendations for you. Our canvas is Sunbrella, and 303 is what Sunbrella actually recommends for their canvas. We have been very happy with the results we have gotten from the Fabric Guard. 🙂
Used the protect all on the vinyl and it looks great! going to put some on the top of the roof of the canvas since that is vinyl also. hopefully it will protect that as well
We have a Jayco pop up and we have mildew on the inside walls and water stains. What do you recumbent for that? It is easy enough to clean the outside that has the extra water repellent vinyl feel. Inside though you can’t really spray it down with a hose. Thanks
We have never had mildew, Shelly, so I have no first hand experience with it. I have heard a lot of positive comments about the mildew cleaner from Bass Pro Shops, though. Everyone is always raving about it. 🙂
Try Mold Armor Mold and Mildew stain remover; it is amazing. I had black stains on our canvas and it took them out completely.
Nice to know, Nicole. Thanks! 🙂
I bought a pup last year that was completely covered in mildew. I used the Bass Pro Shop’s mold and mildew remover with amazing results. Spray on, wait a minute and wipe off. Remember to wear a mask and gloves while working, especially inside and do not use on the vinyl windows. We cleaned the canvas and then packed away for the winter. When we pulled it out this Spring it was as good as new with no issues. Hope this helps!
Thanks, Kristine. I hear the Bass Pro Shop stuff is amazing. 🙂
Hi Nicole, I just bought some of this armor mold remover. I’m using it and my canvas windows are looking splotchy…I’m worried it’s bleaching the fabric, but maybe I am not spraying it right or using too much or something? Can you give me a rundown on how you used it to clean yours?
Larissa,
I absolutely love your site. I spent a good deal of my relaxing time while camping this weekend on your site. We have a 1993 Coleman popup and we love it. We got a great deal on it ($500) but it was in rough shape. We spent the $1500 for new tents which included the installation. Best thing we ever did (I discovered tenting was not my gig!). Just finished cleaning the canvas and am about to wash down the vinyl. I used dawn dish soap and it worked great! I figures if it works for wildlife in an oil spill my popup should be ok. Next is the sealing and waterproofing. Thanks for the great ideas and step by step instructions!
Awesome, Mary! I have heard good things about Dawn dish soap. Glad to know it works so well. 🙂
We just got caught in a huge storm. Our 2000 Coleman Santa Fe popup leaked over the queen size bed. Looked like the canvas was leaking. How do we fix this? Is it too late to water proof it?
Any idea where it is leaking, Terry? It is the canvas or the seams? Also, ours sometimes gets condensation inside when it is cold and rainy outside, and we’ve got the heater going inside. You’ll want to make sure it is actually the canvas leaking. You can check your waterproofing by spraying water (nothing too high pressure of course) on the canvas. If the water beads up, your waterproofing is good. If the canvas starts to absorb the water, it is time to re-treat with 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. 🙂
Hi Larissa. New to your site and just love all the information. I too have a used 2001 Santa Fe. This last trip I had notice water beads above the beds I think from condensation. Can I treat the inside fabric with something? Or is it the outside vinyl above the beds?
Hey, Sarah! It sounds like you are dealing with a condensation issue. Warm, moist air given off by the people in your camper passes through the canvas pretty easily, as the canvas was meant to breathe. When it hits the cooler vinyl, which is waterproof, the moisture can’t escape. It will likely condense out. In certain conditions, any camper can be overwhelmed by moisture, but this is especially true on cool nights. Ventilation is the key to minimizing condensation! If the weather permits, leave a couple windows unzipped a bit. That always works for us! 🙂
Thanks for the information. I will try to vent the windows next time.
Excellent how-to article! I just got a used pop up and wanted to clean it up before use. Thanks to you I have everything I need on the way from Amazon.
So glad I found your site. I”ve been reading everything! Our NTU pop up manual says to use Oxyclean for stains but just says to “clean and rinse” for general maintenance. Is the Woolite ok to use for that? It doesn’t say what type of canvas we have. Also if you wash with Woolite, do you have to waterproof afterwards or only spot check? Thank you so much for all the info!
When you rinse your canvas, Paige, watch to see if the water beads and rolls off or soaks into the fibers. If you have water soaking into the canvas in large areas, it’s probably time to waterproof again. If you just have a few spots, you can spot treat. Woolite is pretty gentle, but any friction (from the sponge, etc.) can remove your waterproofing.
Hello,
Wanted to thank you for the recommendations. We pulled our Avalon out of covered storage after three years. The roof of as cracked and the canvas was dirty. The roof was fixed based on your tips from your other blog. We washed and retreated the canvas with the projects you recommended. We ended up using the 128 oz bottle of 303 fabric guard and a sprayer from Amazon. We are the original owners and it looks better than went first purchased.
Awesome, Ben! That’s so great to hear. If you get a chance to send me pictures, I’d love to see them! 🙂
Larissa, Thank you so much for all of the highly informative post on pop ups. We have a 98 Sante Fe that we bought in 99 and to say we have life’s greatest memories because of our pop up would be an understatement. Everything you have posted, we have jumped on with both feet. I replaced my lock on my step door and because of your tip on where to order the lock and where to buy the better rivet gun was priceless, plus my wife works at Amazon.
We are preparing and packing now for our first trip to Colorado and the rockies. We are very excited. My wife just finished making new curtains and adding two new 2 inch memory foam mattresses from Amazon. We thought a few months ago about getting rid of our little pop up after I had let it set outside for a couple years which really damaged it in certain areas. But thanks to your website, it looks almost new again.
All of your post are perfectly spot on.
I read on here somewhere where someone was talking about their air conditioner draining on their canvas cover, streaking it and really making it dirty. Years ago on a Coleman site I saw where a guy took a 2 inch pvc pipe about 3 ft. Long and slicing about half of it into then taking the cut half and after setting his camper up to control where the draining would occur and sliding the homeade drainage gutter under the rubber seal. I copied his approach and no more stains from air condition draining, small things can really help.
You have really inspired us to kick it in gear again, so A HUGE THANKS, Sincerely Kenny
We are new owners of a 1994 Coleman Royale. It’s in pretty good shape, but needs a few repairs. I’ve pinned tons of tips from your blob and plan to revisit many times when I make new curtains & cushion covers.
This feels like a dumb question, but… when you are cleaning the canvas do you go back and rinse each section as you go? I guess you would have to so the soapy mixture wouldn’t soak in?
Yes, Beth. You want to make sure you rinse the canvas well. Any soap residue will prevent the 303 Fabric Guard from soaking into the fibers of the canvas. We scrub everything and then go back over and rinse it with the hose. That makes it easy to spot check the canvas, too. 🙂
What about the “windows”?
Here’s how we clean the windows in our PUP, Kim! 🙂
When spraying the water proofing the canvas, how do you spray the canvas behind the screen? Can you spray through the canvas or do you need to do it from the inside?
You need to open the windows, Dana, and spray them from the inside. I would not recommend spraying the vinyl with the High Tech Fabric Guard.
Hi, I’m so glad to have found your site. We are newbies and just acquired a free 1990 coleman columbia pup from craigslist. I’ve cleaned the mildew inside but there are still stains. I’m gonna try the bass cleaner to see if it helps. The pup needs lots of tlc, it was left out for 7 years but we are so excited to get her looking beautiful!
I am so glad that I found your site! We have just bought a 2010 Rockwood Freedom, it needs a little sprucing up. Our pop up is mostly vinyl with canvas windows. Our box is 8ft. I sure am curious where everyone stores everything!
We live in Northern Michigan, so we only have a few times we will be able to go camping before we will have to put it away until next year.
I read your post on the curtains and will be making new ones over the winter and recovering the cushions. I am wondering where you got the extra mesh that is on the top of your privacy curtains? The ones that are up now are not wide enough, so I will have to get more mesh.
I am reading all the makeovers and all your cleaning and maintenance hints!
Thanks for a lot of great info!!
Question!! We have a 2003 rock wood pop up. We are new to campers. Have read a lot about maintance we are in process of resealing I think Fan is leaking a bit. We also have noticed a lot of condensation. I don’t think pervious owners ever sealed. So just wondering on our slide outs canvas what do we use on those wondering if that will help issue also thinking of getting gizmos. We are in MN lots of humidity thanks for help
I am so glad I found your site, it has so many wonderful tips and suggestions. We have a 2007 Fleetwood Utah, which is very good condition and would like to keep it that way. So about your tip about using the Protect All, do you you use it on all vinyl including the tops of the bed ends?
We have used Protect-All on the outside vinyl, but we recently discovered 303 Aerospace Protectant and like it a lot more. You can read all about cleaning and caring for your vinyl here, Gloria. 🙂
We purchased a 2012 Forest River Flagstaff HW 27 KS from a local dealership in January, got a good deal on it but it has some mold and mildew issues on the interior bunk panels. After much research I bought several different things to try to clean it with, but ended up using what Forest River suggested. I used vinegar, bleach and water. It got a good bit of the stain and mold off but it left a yellow stain in several places. I am not sure if it was my city water or an interaction with something the previous owner used on it Do you or anyone else have a solution to get the yellow stains out?
I had the same problem. The manufacturing company said to use oxi clean and it yellowed my fabric. I am so upset. I have yet got a answer from them how to get yellowing out. I think it was lack of instructions from there part not the water. If you find find out a solution will you please share.
I am so happy I found it site!! We just purchased a 2011 Coachman Clipper, our 1st camper, and trying to get as much info as I can to help us better take care of our new gem. LOL. Thx for all the steps to clean & better waterproof the canvas. I can’t wait to explore more of the site & learn more. THX
Have you done anything on keeping the lift system lubricated? I was wondering how to do that and with what product. Thank you. Your site is so helpful!
We grease the whiffletree on our system annually, Vicky. What type of camper do you have? Each manufacturer uses a different type of lift system.
we just got our camper. 2003 coleman, Cheyenne. I like but there is always something. I turned on the fridge and can hear it running but I tried leaving it hooked up for hours but didn’t notice I tripped a fuse in the house resulting in not getting a good test out of the 3way. So how long should it take for the fridge to cool down to a degree that is considered normal? I saw some people on other site say it could take nearly 8 hours. All dependent on outside humidity and temp. Is that true? Or should I be shelling out for a dorm fridge to replace the 3way.
That is absolutely true, Chris. We also find that in warmer climates, our fridge doesn’t cool down below 45 degrees. Sometimes, in really hot temperatures, we have trouble getting it to go below 55 degrees. In colder climates, though, it will freeze our food. It isn’t the most reliable appliance, but we find we get better results running on electric hookups rather than from our propane tank. We don’t rely on our indoor fridge much, but if you like the convenience, and you know you’ll be camping with hookups most of the time, you may want to switch out your 3-way for an electric dorm fridge like Amy did here. 🙂
We just purchased a 1997 jayco pup, canvas looks pretty good, however think we paid to much for it. Since it doesn’t have heat or a fridge it has an ice box that leaks.. But anyway, I knew it was gonna rain one night so I left it up to see what and where it leaked, the guy we bought it from said he had just sealed the top.. Well not sure what he used but it leaked, I took the middle strip off, replaced the seal and caulked it really well.. No leak from the top now.. However the canvas on the Windows leak as well.. ALOT.. I bought some Thomsons spray fabric guard and sprayed the entire inside of canvas, took 6 cans to coat it twice.. .. Ughh still leaks.. So I’m thinking of getting the 303 fabric guard, do u spray inside then unzip the Windows and spray the outside of Windows as well? I don’t want to pay $70.00 for a gallon of this and not do it correctly? I don’t know what I did wrong the first time..
The first thing I’d do is find out *where* it is leaking, Jenn. Have you spot checked your canvas to see if it is still water-repellent on the outside? Maybe you are leaking from the seams and just need to re-seal those with a seam sealer or some plain beeswax. Also, not sure if I mis-read your comment, but it sounds like you treated the inside of the canvas. If so, you’ll want to treat the outside with some 303 High Tech Fabric Guard or something similar. You want to repel the water before it penetrates the canvas fibers. 🙂
Love all the information. I have owned many different campers through my many (almost fifty) years of camping. Most of the campers were in very good condition and required very little work on my part. Now, because I have three grandchildren camping with me I have purchased an older hybrid. The vinyl and canvas could use some clean up, have a little bit of mold or mildew inside on canvas window covers. With all the commercial products available it gets a little confusing as to which product to use. I would like to thank you for all of the wonderful information you have shared with us. You have simplified a cleaning job for me. Thanks
Hello there! We just bought our first pop up and we have had quite the adventure cleaning and waterproofing the canvas. We used bleach and water to remove the stains from mildew (as suggested by the manufacturer) and that worked great however, it is no longer waterproof. We tried the camp dry spray (the 303 product is sooo expensive!) and all it did was make the canvas feel heavy and it left a bad chemical odor. Water is still soaking right into the treated canvas. Any suggestions on how to get this canvas waterproof without having to spend the money on a new canvas replacement?
LOVE your website by the way! So many great ideas!
I don’t know anything about the Camp Dry spray, Samantha, so I can’t comment there. The 303 High Tech Fabric Guard does a wonderful job at restoring waterproofing, though. It is money well spent! 😀
Love your site, and it’s so helpful! This is our second year with our pup, 98 Skamper. We were out last year in a storm and the bunk ends ended getting wet inside. No drips or anything but started out as damp and then wet feeling after a while making the edges of our mattes damp as well. I think the seams in the bunk ends needed waterproofing but it’s vinyl on the outside and fabric canvas on the inside. Can we even treat this? I’m worried about waterproofing the outer seams when it’s vinyl. Only the bunk end windows are all canvas. Any suggestions?
Sounds like you might have had some condensation going on, Danielle. When it is warmer inside your camper (especially if there is a lot of humidity–like in a storm), you’ll get condensation inside. The best way to combat this is to leave a couple of the windows unzipped a bit. We’ve had this happen during a cold, rainy camping trip. Venting the PUP a little bit helps. 🙂 You shouldn’t spray waterproofing on your vinyl, although you can use plain beeswax on the seams.
Hi,
We just opened our Coleman pop up , about 10 years old, and discover water stains on the inside canvas. It has been sealed for two years, never thought to check it last summer, and I think one of the seals was loose and water sealed in. What is the best way to clean the water stains on the canvas. Also, the ceiling cover on the inside is buckling. THanks
Are there any mildew stains, Lisa? If you’ve got mildew, I’d recommend the Bass Pro Shops Mildew Cleaner. If not, you could always try a solution of Dawn, bleach, and water–making sure you rinse well so there is no residue left to damage the fibers of your canvas. I also hear that the LA Totally Awesome cleaner at DollarTree is amazing, but I don’t have any first had experience with that on canvas. Whichever method you choose, I would spot test in an inconspicuous area first. Coleman uses Sunbrella fabric for their tenting, sohere’s a Sunbrella stain cleaning chart that might be helpful as well. 🙂
Hi Larissa, I followed your cleaning and water proofing, step by step and it has worked well, I did realize though that I probably did not do enough of the fabric guard, so more was ordered. We have a 1995 Coleman Stoney Creek that is in great shape and currently my wife and I are in the final final stages of our remodel. I currently have our camper popped up in the drive way getting ready for a trip and it has been storming very heavily for approx 2 hours now. I have noticed that only on one side is there small amounts of water coming in, only through the seams. Do you personally suggest a “Seam sealer” or utilize the fabric guard from 303? Thanks in advance,
-Zack
We had never had a problem with our seams leaking, Zack, but I have heard that either seam sealer or plain beeswax will take care of that problem. If we had to treat *our* seams, I think I would probably go with a seam sealer, just because it seems a little easier. Hope that helps. 🙂
Thanks for your great advice, fun, and camper expertise! I have a question about the canvas that I was not able to find an answer to while using a search engine. The bottom border of canvas is a burgundy/pink color–I can’t stand it. 🙁 Other than ordering new tenting (which I do not need) is there anything I can do to change the color of it? I don’t dare experiment with it unless its a know method, but I really don’t like the color. Especially since it doesn’t even follow with the original interior color scheme.
Thanks for any help and input.
Marley
I’m not really sure if there is much you can do to change the color of it, Marley. Anything you use to dye it would likely rub off onto the canvas when you fold up the camper. Short of having the canvas replaced, or taking your existing canvas to a repair or upholstery shop to have the vinyl changed, I’m not sure there is much you can do. Can you incorporate it into your color scheme. Does it even show through on the inside?
Hello,
Just got a 2010 palomino pup and was wondering the best product out there for cleaning basic dirt and such from exterior. It is painted aluminum as u probably know. I noted that you liked the 303 rv/marine cleaner. Did that work well? Also after washing it I want to protect it with with some kind of spray wax of sorts to keep water beading off. 303 aeropace protector? Let me know what u think.
Both those cleaners work fabulously. I use them both on our camper. For heavy dirt and grime, I use LA Totally Awesome Cleaner from DollarTree. It works great as well–and it is cheap. Here’s a post we did on cleaning the outside of your camper. 😀
Cleaning Pop Up Camper Exterior
Hope that helps!
This cleaning article is excellent. We are now heavy into cleaning our 2007 Fleetwood Utah pup that we’ve had less than a week. Your site is now our “go to” site for anything we do on the pup. So please keep posting and keeping us informed. There is so much to learn. Jo is already planning on brightening up our pup with many of the ideas on your site. I personally love bright colors so I’m looking forward to the transformation.
Hi there! LOVE your website. SO helpful! Thank you! We are new to pop up camping also and we noticed one of our seams on the canvas is leaking. Is this different than waterproofing the canvas? Or do we use the same 303 you recommended. I’m confused about that. It’s really our seams that need that most TLC. Any advice on a product for seams? Thank you!
I’ve never sealed our seams, but I hear a seam sealer or plain beeswax is best for that. 🙂
I will apologize if this question is somewhere in this thread, unfortunately I am on my mobile, in the sun and it is hard to see….
The 1985 Coleman popup has taken a huge hit over the wonter. It was used as a mouse neonatal ward as well as a hostel….
There is a wonder scent to it now, as i am sure you can imagine. I have been ising all the traditional cleaning methods but am only making marginal progress….
What is the best solution? I also need to repair holes in the canvas as well.
I am to the point that I am going to disassemble the thing and take it to an industrial washing machine..
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Amy
I would probably take the canvas off and use some sort of bleach product. Have you tried a mixture of bleach, Dawn, and water yet? Mice are nasty creatures, so I’d definitely try the bleach route, if you haven’t already. 😛
Bleach will damage the water sealant so be sure to retreat the canvas. Also, I was recently reminded that Odoban is a great and safe way to disinfect and deodorize a camper. Thanks for the article Larissa. Bookmarking this one for reference.
Hi Larissa. We just purchased a used Coleman Westlake POP up and we are working on going on our first camping trip. I going over your instructions to waterproof the canvas, I can’t figure out how to do the canvas covers for the bunk ends. I can’t do them from outside because of the screens and if I lay them down on the bunks, I worry about the spray getting into the mattresses. Do you have a solution for this? How have you done it? Thanks.
We usually lay a plastic dropcloth across the mattress when we are waterproofing the windows. It protects the mattresses, and I don’t have to be quite so careful. I do these last, though, and if I have enough Fabric Guard left, I will paint or roll it onto the canvas windows. That way I don’t have to worry about overspray.
which part of my jayco pop up is canvas and which part is vinyl? i am water proofing and i don.t want to get my waterproofing on the vinyl. Are the tops above my bed bunks vinyl? in my judgement it looks like the only canvas i have is the sides of my bunks with screen material on the outside.
I’m not sure, Lou. Each manufacturer is a little different. Generally, you will be able to tell whether you the surface is canvas or vinyl by the feel. We have vinyl on the tops of our bunkends. There is also a strip of green vinyl that runs around bottom of the camper canvas. The rest of the tenting is canvas, though.
thanks for the response. i called Jayco and the guy told me my camper was all vinyl and if it were him he would waterproof it all. well that wasn’t much help. so i’m assuming because the tops of your bunks are vinyl you do not waterproof them at all but just treat them with 303 protectant or protect all? i will just treat my sides which look and feel like canvas with fabric guard and the other areas with protect all. i have not had any leaking as of yet but i am trying to be pro active.
thanks for your response and i love the site. i have learned quite a bit by reading the articles and the blog.
if any one out there has an early 2000 Jayco model 1006 let me know what you think.
thanks
Hi Larissa! Your site is amazing and inspired me to get our family’s first pup. I’m getting ready to wash and waterproof our canvas, but along the inside seams there seems to be residue of something like tape? Is there such a thing as waterproof seam tape for canvas? Should I just get it all off and work on the seams with beeswax or seam wax or whatever? Thanks so much for whatever input you have.
I believe that it is seam tape, Angelica. I’m not positive though. We’ve got it in our camper, and I basically left it. It’s old and crumbling in spots, so if it starts to falls off in places, I peel it away. It hasn’t done any harm, so I mostly leave it, though. You can treat your seams with a seam sealer or beeswax. I haven’t had any problems with mine, though. The 303 High Tech Fabric Guard soaks right in and has taken care of the seams as well. 🙂
My wife and I recently bought a motor home, and the canvas was a big factor in the sale. There was some damage to the canvas, but because of that we were able to get it for a cheaper price. We took it to a professional repair location, and they replaced the canvas for us in no time.
Hi – we just became proud owners of a 2002 Coleman Utah CP pop up in excellent condition. It’s been well taken care of. I am now doing all the research on what we need to do to keep it in good shape. I asked the previous owner about sealing seams and he said it’s recommended not to do that. He also said if it is raining not to touch the underside top of the bunks because then you’d get a leak/drip of water coming down wherever you touch (under the vinyl top or something).
So, I read people say no, don’t waterproof, but then plenty of people, like yourself, who do it regularly. I don’t think anything has ever been done to this camper, nor has it had any leaks. So, should we do this process as preventative measure?
Thanks for any input!
If your camper was brand new, Elisa, there would likely be a waterproofing product on it already. But if your camper is 15 years old, and if it has been used much over the years, your waterproofing will likely need to be reapplied. Likewise, any cleaners or excessive friction can strip the waterproofing, and I’m sure your canvas has been cleaned at least once over its lifetime. It’s best to check your canvas to see if the water beads off before you take it out. You don’t want to be stuck out in the rain with a leaky canvas. Coleman campers use Sunbrella canvas, and Sunbrella highly recommends using 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to keep their canvas waterproof. It’s good stuff, and you can’t go wrong with it.
Sometimes, water can seep through the canvas if there is pressure from the inside. For example, we had some pillows stuffed between the mattress and the canvas on a rainy day, and water seeped through into the surrounding bedding. You should try to keep things away from the canvas as much as possible when it rains, but touching the canvas shouldn’t give you a leak–especially under the vinyl tops. Maybe he is talking about condensation? When it is cool outside and warm inside the camper–and we notice this a bit on cold rainy nights–you can get condensation inside. It’s best to unzip a window a bit to vent the camper in that situation.
hi! i love your site, its been helping me so much with my 91 coleman pop up. my boyfriend just got a steam cleaner and i was curious if you had ever used one in the interior canvas of the pop up? thanks!
We have not ever used a steam cleaner. Maybe try spot cleaning a small area with the cleaner first to see how it does. You’ll have to let me know how it works. 😉
so we have a coleman popup (I can’t recall the model) but the top of the canvas tent seams to be made of a different material than the sides. Does it need to be treated with a different waterproofing spray than the 303 for the sides? If so please advice. Thanks
If your Coleman is like ours, the material over the beds is vinyl. You don’t want to spray 303 High Tech Fabric Guard on those parts. You can see how we clean the vinyl over the bunks on THIS POST here, Sam.
Thanks!
We just bought the exact same pop up as you this weekend! We have never been camping and never have owned a pop up for your site has been my manual to pop up life.
What do you use to clean the clear plastic that goes over the screens? The protect all on that too? Thank you!
Yup! ProtectAll works great, Andrea! You can also use PlastX. Both are available at Walmart. Here’s a link to the tutorial on how we clean our windows. 🙂
Fantastic, informative article – Mr. Buster (my English Springer) & I took our ’11 Coleman Sedona out for four nights early this month. We had two rounds of T’Storms pass through on evening #1 with no drips or wet spots. I noticed dirty windows, however, and when we broke camp I saw that the local avian population had left a couple of ‘gifts’ on my vinyl tent tops…soooo, I ordered up bottles of ProtectAll, 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner, 303 Clear Vinyl Protective Cleaner, and 303 Fabric Guard. I read all the posts regarding overspray of the Fabric Guard discoloring the vinyl. As a mechanic who does things ‘A-B-C’ rather than ‘B-C-A’, wouldn’t it be better to treat the vinyl first, then do the canvas waterproofing? It would seem that any overspray would have a lesser chance of penetration and potential damage.
Hi Larissa,
Wondering if you know how to make the tent ends block out the light? On our hybrid jay-feather there are no rails to attach anything to. So I thought about attaching double sided Velcro to the canvas tent end & blackout fabric. Then someone said if I attach anything to the canvas it will no longer be waterproof. A bit torn as we really need a bit more sleep on our camping adventures.
You can try adding Reflectix to the windows, Kim. I hear that helps darken the sleeping areas a little more. You could also try draping some sort of fabric on the inside the canvas over the shepherd’s pole.
Like this…
I am in the market for a pop up (yea!!) and have a question regarding canvas….. we are finding quite a few in our area that are mid 90s PUPs but they all seem to have canvas with repaired tears. Can you give advise on what to look for regarding canvas? And also if we need to replace canvas how difficult is that?? A few guys that work with my husband are telling him replacing canvas is a nightmare but I’m not so sure. Thanks!!!
From what I understand, replacing the canvas isn’t difficult, it is just pricey. If you find a camper that needs (or has) canvas repairs, you’ll just want to make sure the repairs are waterproof. 303 High Tech Fabric Guard works great for that! 😀
Thanks! That’s what I was thinking regarding replacing the canvas. If we get the right price I don’t mind replacing it. I’m sorry but I have one more question…. what about a vinyl rip?? Is there a way to properly repair it? (That you have found in your research). Thanks again for all of the info!
I just did a vinyl repair using the Tear-Aid Vinyl Repair Patch Kit and it came out great. You must clean the area first and use an alcohol pad. It comes with 1 pad, but I’d recommend buying a box of them as you can also you them to clean the license plate for putting those registration stickers on your vehicle and many other uses. One other not is that the tear-aid patch is clear so you may want to put something behind it to make it look the same color as your vinyl. I used a small piece of canvas and then put the patch over that, extending an inch on each side past the canvas. Also used a credit card to work any air bubbles out after applying. It worked out great!
Tear-Aid:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RNY72M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Alcohol pads:
https://www.amazon.com/MEDca-Alcohol-Sterile-Medium-2-Ply/dp/B06XXTKJPG/ref=sr_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511070229&sr=8-13&keywords=alcohol+wipes
Canvas if you need (I used this to repair some canvas patches as well, worked great):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B91OTQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Good luck!
Hi, Larissa! I am having so much fun reading through your site. I think, after reading this entire comment thread, my question is pretty much answered but we were just given a 2000 Rockwood Freedom and its had mice (or rats?) living in it. The interior of the canvas looks terrible. I am not sure whether its mold and mildew or mouse gifts but if it’s the latter I am trying to decide the best way to clean it.
Seems like taking it off to clean it is the best option. What do you think?
We are new new new to camping and certainly pop ups but I am hoping we can clean everything and not have to purchase a new canvas or tent (whatever its called :). I am not even sure how much canvas vs vinyl is on it. We have to open it up again and look more closely. Honestly, we had it open a little over a week ago and ran away screaming. Not really but we just closed it right back up and went and bought a tent until we’re ready to deal with it again.
P.S. I’m not sure how easy this is or if it’s possible for all models of PUPs but a man recently told me he used to refurb PUPS and he always paneled the ceilings with cedar planks for aesthetics, smell and critter repellent. I thought that was genius. Have you heard of this?
I am so glad your site is available!
Hi, I’m new to the popup scene. Just bartered 4 nanny goats for my 1987 Coleman Laramie. In the process of cleaning and decorating inside and out. Already in great shape and has been well taken care of. After new tires and finish cleaning I’m ready to “hit the road”!! So excited since I am living my second childhood. Thank you for all the great info on a lot of my concerns.
O M G!!! WE FOLLOWED YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR USING BASS PRO SHOP STAIN AND MILDEW REMOVER ON THE CANVAS WINDOWS OF OUR RV….. ALTHOUGH THE BOTTLE STATES NOT INTENDED FOR USE ON FABRIC….. THIS STUFF ( AFTER TRYING OTHER ALTERNITIVE SUGGESTIONS ) WORKED LIKE MAGIC!!!.. YOU GO GIRL!!! THANK YOU !!!
I realize this is a really old post but I’m confused about how to rinse the inside canvas once it’s been cleaned. I have opportunity for a great deal on a PUP and it’s in perfect condition other than the canvas appears to have stains and mildew on the inside. Once I scrub it down do i need to rinse it? I’m worried about getting the plywood on the bed ends wet.
Yes, you do need to rinse it inside if you are cleaning the interior. We just cover the bunkends with plastic drop cloths, tarps, or plastic fitted sheet-type mattress covers. We take a bucket of fresh, clean water and a clean sponge and sponge it down inside. Then we let the canvas dry REALLY well before applying our waterproofer. If you don’t need to waterproof the canvas, just make sure it is bone dry before you put it away so you don’t get mildew. 🙂
Yay thank you! Not sure why I didn’t think to just cover it up lol! Mom brain! I’m excited to try this out! Love your page btw ☺️
We just bought a used pop-up camper and are getting ready to clean it and treat it prior to our first use. Really had no idea what to use or what to do. This was extremely helpful!!! Thank you.
What have you used to seal the seams on your pop up? Thanks!
I have heard that plain beeswax or a seam sealant works well. 🙂
Hi!
I love your blog and follow on social media too! :). We bought a 20 year old Viking last summer who we promptly named Hazel The Camper. The fabric on the entire camper is a vinyl coated canvas. Last summer to clean mildew on the inside I used Zep mold and mildew remover followed by dawn with water and then straight water to rinse it as well as possible. The good news is that now its niiiice and clean! The bad is that the cleaning seems to have eaten away the waterproofing on the seams. We left it up in our driveway in the rain for the first time this week and the rain wicked through the stitches and into the canvas that is inside. We can tell it came from the seams as there was a distinct line where it wicked. Any ideas on how to seal the vinyl coated canvas? Can we use the 303 inside only? Im stumped. Thanks!
You can use a seam sealant (they sell them on Amazon) or plain beeswax on your stiching, Amanda. Both are supposed to work well. I wouldn’t use 303 High Tech Fabric Guard, even on the inside, as it can etch the vinyl.
Do you put seam sealant on the inside and outside of a vinyl Popup?
You can seal the seams with sealant or beeswax, Sherry. We usually just run it through the interior along the stitching.
Does the sealant come in a tube?? We are brand new to the pop up games. There are so many products out there. I am not always sure if they are for canvas or for the fiberglass……
There are all different kinds and brands, Stephanie. This is the stuff I usually see used, though…
SEAM SEALER
I just want to say, Y’all are undefeated. My 2 sons and I (they’re 8 n 9), recently purchased a pop up cheeep. I found your pages and you helped us create an awesome little camper. Heck, if were not going somewhere we stay in our backyard. Keep up the great work.
That is so awesome to hear, David! Happy Camping!
First off, thank you so much for this amazing site! We have one year old twins and a two year old running around, so it’s nice to not have to spend hours that I don’t have researching questions about our new Popper (that’s our nickname for her!).
We bought a 2006 Fleetwood Bayside this past summer and I want to give it a thorough cleaning and some repair love. I plan on using a mixture of Dawn and warm water to clean the canvas. We have some brown water stains on parts of it from the AC, is there anything different I should use on those stains?
I also noticed that there is something flaking off the seams on the inside of the canvas. I’m guessing there was some kind of tape or sealant there that has aged quite a bit. No matter how often I clean it up, every time we open the camper I find more of it on the beds and under any pop-out canvas area. Any recommendations on redo-ing the inside seams?
I have already bought replacement fabric to redo the curtains and cushions. I’m looking forward to using your site this fall and winter to replace them!
Are the seams leaking, Suzanne? Ours does the same thing, but it is quite waterproof, so I’m not messing with it. 😉 It’s a pain for sure, but I’ll take it over leaking canvas.
Hi Cassi here ive got an off road camper trailer an its got spots on the in side off the roof have you got any ideas how to get rid off it ive washed with warm soapy water an its not coming off i can take a photo an show you.
Is it on the actual canvas, Cassi? Sounds like it might be mildew. What type of canvas does your camper have?
I’m confused…your pop-up looks like it’s fabric canvas (like an old military style tent). What are the different types of canvas and can this cleaning and waterproofing method be used on all of them? We have a 2002 Viking Saga and while it’s fabric on the inside the entire outside is what I would call a vinyl-canvas. It’s pretty water tight, but I’m sure it could use a touch-up.
That is a different type of “canvas,” and you’ll need to treat it differently. It won’t need waterproofing (except maybe to seal the seams), but you’ll need to condition the vinyl. You can use 303 Aerospace Protectant or ProtectAll for that.
Hi Larissa,
Hope you can help? We have a 2012 Palomino real lite (lots of vinyl) and have been having issues with the vinyl roofs over our bunks, we have been cleaning & conditioning for several years and have purchased the products from our dealer. However, the vinyl is still getting hard and cracking (with several small holes), we also have discoloration in the vinyl. Last year before putting it down we put wax on the vinyl spots inside (as was recommended in our manual), this year we have small leaks. I am fearful that this will get worse and have to replace it (yikes!). I’m really not sure what will help?? Any suggestions. Thanks in advance.
I’m not sure, Jules. It seems like canvas from 2012 should still be in relatively good shape. Have you contacted the dealer? We’ve had a lot of success with ProtectAll and 303 Aerospace Protectant to treat our vinyl. We haven’t had to patch it yet, though. I’d contact your dealer or Palomino and see if they know why this is happening.
Thank you so much for your informative blog. The vinyl on our camper is backed with canvas. Can the 303 Fabric Guard be used on the canvas side of the vinyl? If it gets on vinyl does it just discolor it or does it actually break it down so it is damaged? I’m having a hard time finding the answers to these 2 questions.
If you have vinyl tenting, Karna, there is absolutely no reason to use the 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. It will only etch your vinyl. You’ll need to find something to condition the outside (like ProtectAll or 303 Aerospace Protectant). You might need to seal the seams with beeswax or a seam sealer if you are getting leakage through there, but otherwise, vinyl is pretty foolproof. You don’t need to waterproof your material from the inside. You are trying to prevent water from the outside coming into your camper. 🙂
I appreciate all the info on cleaning and protecting camper canvas and vinyl. We have a 2005 Fleetwood bayside. It’s in pretty good shape, but the underside of the vinyl that covers the bed ends has some mold/mildew on it. Not real bad, just quite a few small spots. I have not found anything that addresses the underside of vinyl. Any thoughts? Do you know if bleach, Woolite and water would be harmful?
I would use the Bass Pro Shops mildew remover. It is similar to a bleach mixture, but it has some additional buffering ingredients in there to help mitigate damage. Just make sure you rinse really well when you are done. And like always, spot test in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t discolor the vinyl. 😉
Hi-
Great info for a 15 year owner of a Fleetwood Colonial PUP!
We have stored our trailer in a garage when not in use ever since we bought it – so it’s in very good shape. We just returned from a weeklong trip, where we had a few days of heavy thunderstorms and rain. We noticed some leaking/dripping from areas directly above the beds.
Although we have washed our pup (soap & water) on several occasions, we have never treated it.
I followed your recommendation and just finished cleaning the pup w/303 cleaner.
Before I proceed with the application of the 303 Fabric Guard I wanted to confirm one thing (IF you know). Is the material directly above the beds treatable with this? I downloaded the Fleetwood brochure – and it looks as if the sides/ends AND top of the bed area are made of the Sunbrella Tenting. Do you know if this is actually the case?
Thanks for your help!
Not sure about yours, Mike, but our Coleman has vinyl over the tops of the bunkends. The Sunbrella is only on the sides.