[A/S] Re: cleaning up

["overlander_64" <overlander64@xxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings DanG!

There are several techniques depending upon how bad the odor happens 
to be as well as what might have caused the odor.  I would suggest 
the following as a few alterntaives:

Sunning/airing can helpt to alleviate many odors.  It may sound like 
something out of the Beverly Hillbillies television show, but it can 
be helpful in reducing odors in upholstered goods.  Wait for a warm, 
dry, sunny day and take all of the upholtered pieces and spread them 
out where they can be exposed to sun and fresh air.  This has been 
most effective with stale to somewhat musty odors.

If the sunning/airing isn't successful, steam cleaning or shampooing 
the cushions MAY solve part of the odor issue provided the 
upholstery and/or foam is not dry-rotted.  I know with both my '64 
and '78 the foam was so degraded that cleaning was not advisable 
(the foam was tunrning into something resembling coarse sand 
particles) and the upholstery fabrics were so sun bleached/dry-
rotted that any shampooing/steam cleaning would have likely shredded 
the fabric.  You may even find that the cushion covers are removable 
and could be removed for careful cleaning as well.

Another possibility is to try Febreze Deep Clean (available in 
WalMart detergent/cleaning products section).  I haven't tried this 
with my Airstreams, but have used it in rental property that I clean 
between tennants and it is quite effective om eliminating odors at 
least in the short-term.  It can take several applications over a 
period of a week or more to eliminate strong odors from smoking or 
pets.

I will admit that my luck has not been great in dealing with odors 
in old upholstered goods in my Airstreams.  The usual final resort 
was new foam with new upholstery.

Good luck with your project!

Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI/VAC/Free Wheelers/Computer Club #6359
1964 Overlander International/1999 GMC K2500 Suburban (7400 
VORTEC/4.10 Differentials)
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre/1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (8.2 
Liter V8/2.70 Final Drive)