$6.00 Vinyl Wall Scrubber

[Roadrunner]

Many of us have experienced the stickiness associated with the vinyl coated interior panels on our vintage Airstreams. A search of the forums shows many different cleaning solutions...some work, some don't. We have found that TSP works better than most other products, but may require a number of applications. So in a quest to find an easier way to clean, I came up with a power brush to use on my battery drill. Yes you can find several types online...but I decided to make my own.

A quick stop at Bed, Bath, and Beyond (but probably most grocery stores would have this) and Lowes and we're in business. Take the Good Grips Soap Dispensing Palm Brush and separate reservoir from the brush. Take a 5/16" x 3" bolt and insert it from bristle end through brush, slide on washer, locking washer, and two nuts. Insert in drill and go after the vinyl wall. Take care not to push so hard that the bolt head bottoms out on the wall. The bristles are pretty stiff and light pressure is all that is needed. Sure beats a sore shoulder and elbow!

Bob
Indiana, PA TAC PA-5 WBCCI 4871

[mayco]

Good thinkin! Im in the middle of scrubbing the vinyl right now.

[kevinb]

Neat idea. Please describe the whole procedure, that sticky is a pain to remove!!


Kevin

[Roadrunner]

Kevin, what we have done is spray TSP (trisodium phosphate cleaner) directly on the vinyl and then go over one square foot at a time. Wipe off with a damp cloth and repeat. You could use a cleaner of your choice but we have found that TSP works best as it is for surface prep before painting. Good luck!

Bob
Indiana, PA

TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871

[kevinb]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

[sharwest9782]

Bob,
This is brilliant! I'm totally going to try this!
Thanks!
Sharon

[F1reh0lder]

I acquired a 90 excella 1000 and I've just started sifting though the wealth of knowledge on this forum. Will the tsp with the bush take the vinyl off or just do a good job cleaning it?

Thank you for your insight.

[Roadrunner]

Just cleaning...you will need some type of paint stripper to remove vinyl.

Bob
Indiana, PA

[F1reh0lder]

Thank you

[kevin242]

The cleaning product "Spray nine" took the stickiness off the wall vinyl very effectively in our 1977 Tradewind.

[nm1oqrz]

Hello fellow Streamers. To get the stickiness off my 88 Excella I use "Pledge Floor Care Wood Floor Finish With Future Shine". This is what Andy at Inland Airstream recommended and I bought it at Wall-Mart. Wipe it on wipe it off, no scrubbing. The walls come out shinny and no sticky.
Happy camping nm1oqrz

[Rsmied]

Great suggestion. Much better than scrubbing by hand for hours!

[bwoodtx]

I have used 409. Works great and the stickiness does not return.

[Stefrobrts]

My walls have never been that sticky, but I'm totally making one of those for cleaning other stuff - great idea!

[Andrameda]

Hi, I am novice Airstream owner of a 1957 "ten-panel" trailer, I haven't figured out yet which one it is. It has the speckled type original vinyl coating on the inside walls. I want to have one side stripped to the shiny metal and need advice on which paint stripper to use. I tried "air craft paint remover" and it's not doing the job. Can anyone please give me an idea what to do? Thanks, Andra