2. Hello, mold!

Once we got our camper home and the sun was up, I was outside inspecting the work that needed to be done. I had two weeks left of summer vacation and a lot of work to do. In my naïve thoughts I had imagined a light scrubbing and some paint. Boy, was I wrong! I went inside the camper and noticed how dirty the camper canvas actually was. In my haste to buy this bad boy I didn’t really look at the canvas, I just thought it was dark and old. It was actually covered with mold. Every. Single. Inch. I did some research online and found that many people found success with an AMAZING product called Mean Green. I found it at my local Dollar Tree and Dollar General.

There are several formulas but I found that the Mean Green Mildew formula was by far the best for the inside of the camper canvas. I sprayed it inside and out and the mold literally ran off of the canvas.

The mold removal was a messy, dirty, smelly job. If I had to do it again I would buy the Mean Green by the gallon (I bought many bottles), purchase some masks to prevent breathing in the fumes, and buy more plastic gloves. In case you need to go this route, here is what worked well for me: I removed anything that I didn’t want bleach to get on. I then sprayed the Mean Green on in a manageable and workable area (the ceilings were interesting) and left it sit for about 30 seconds. I came back in and wiped the bleach off what fresh water. I washed it off with water to 1) remove the old mold and 2) remove any residual bleach for fear it would eat through the canvas if left on. Very few spots needed to be re-touched, but nothing a little elbow Greece couldn’t help. This step took DAYS of spraying and scrubbing, but the results were fantastic. I even used other Mean Green products for the canvas over the bunk ends and the gunk wiped away with ease.

Since we were in a rush to finish the majority of the camper and get it closed before freezing weather, we did not get a chance to spray and scrub down the awning and camper top. That will be a Spring project.