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05-03-2004, 05:10 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 14
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To all owners of vintage units
When you were in the midst of cleaning your units up after purchasing,how crazy did you get when cleaning your trailer? We have a 1971 23 foot airstream, it is in ok condition after all. We removed the old carpet, the cushions seem to be original. We had used the trailer last fall one weekend after we purchased it, we noticed mouse poop by the back wall under the stove. We took all the cushions out and brought them in for the winter, now we are ready to fix it up, we took the old carpet away and put new underlay down, and glued some lino to it. All we did as far as cleaning goes is vacuum up the floors and areas where the water pipes are under the cupboards. Should we have done more? There was some mouse poop there, it got vacuumed. Anyways the trailer still has a slight smell, is it just because it is old? After your renos do you still have that old smell? Or should I do more? There appears to be a lot of old dust/dirt in the nooks and crannies by the water pipes, wheel wells etc. Should one go crazy and clean all these spaces? Just wondering what other vintage owners have done to get their units "clean" enough for themselves. And one final question to those who have done extensive renos, like change water lines etc. do you find a lot of mice poop down there? Just curious thanks.
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05-03-2004, 05:45 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Flying Cloud
Durango
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: 1975 25' Tradewind
Posts: 3,491
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I clean every nook and cranny at least once per year. I use disinfectent around the bath and kitchen area, scrub all the walls ceilings etc. I wipe done the the wood (plastic) with 303 protectant to give it a nice sheen. On my 59 when I had wood, I wiped it with Old English. I vaccum all the upholstery too.
Ken
__________________
1956 Flying Cloud
Founder :
Four Corners Unit
Albuquerque National Balloon Fiesta
Rally
Vintage Trailer Academy - Formerly the original
restoration rally
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05-03-2004, 05:52 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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Our trailer had a "unique" smell that triggered some type of childhood memory response in my wife (her family has owned this trailer since 1959). When I removed the belly pan and cleaned out all the accumulated wasp nests, road dirt and dead critters, the smell went away.
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05-03-2004, 05:54 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 521
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try steel wool
When we got our MH I found some of the same...one way I've found to help clean up those mice droppings...seal up those access holes anywhere that are 1/2" or larger with steel wool and slightly expanding foam insulation (not triple expanding) in a can. I caulk any smaller than 1/2". I have not noticed anymore mice droppings in three years we've had our MH. I'd heard mice will not gnaw through steel wool.
As for cleaning up...(well I have to predicate this by saying our family has sent our allergists kids though college and paid for his vacation home in Florida) ...we tore out the old 1979 brown shag carpet, sealed up any exterior water leaks we found, checked subfloor for structure, mold and dampness, washed with all porous wood with bleach solution to kill any mold and dried thoroughly before installing wood parquet flooring for low maintenance quick sweep & Swiffer mop, replaced the window roll down shades with cheapo mini blinds from WalMart (can take out and rinse off when dusty), regularly wipe down all interior surfaces with citrus degreaser solution to get rid of that "stickiness" on the vinyl clad wood grain aluminum interior skins, re-upolstered all interior cushions to get rid of embeded pet dander, replaced the original AC foam filter with a 95% efficient filter, blew compressed air back through all ductwork and vacume cleaner suction tube duct-taped to the other end of the ductwork, and keep a supply of wet-wipes and window wipes on hand just in case...obsessive you might say.
But, the musty old smell is gone.
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05-03-2004, 07:18 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2005 28' International CCD
Pagosa Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 811
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I wanted my trailer to be just like a second home so I did not clean it at all.
__________________
"would you rather have a mansion full of money or a trailer full of love?"
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05-03-2004, 07:23 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1965 20' Globetrotter
Currently Looking...
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,002
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Since my Globetrotter is almost 40 years old it had a real musty smell to it which I soon found out was rot and mildew. It then sat at my house with most of the floor out for over a year. The inside had a nice gray to it. This past Saturday I spent the day with a gallon of Clorox-Clean Up and lots of fresh clear water. It cleaned up real good and has a great smell to it. Now the inside is very fresh. Almost like new...almost. I still need to sand down the high spots from a previous beige paint job, but it is almost ready for paint. 2/3rds of the insulation is replaced.
When I pulled the shower surround I also found old mouse nests, long ago abandanded.
__________________
BobbyW
AIR# 123
-"You want to make it two inches - or, if you're working in centimeters, make sure it's enough centimeters for two inches."-Red Green
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05-03-2004, 07:32 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2005 28' International CCD
Pagosa Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 811
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Hey Bobby W., where are you located in the great Republic of Texas?
__________________
"would you rather have a mansion full of money or a trailer full of love?"
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05-03-2004, 09:03 PM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
1972 31' Sovereign
High Springs
, Florida
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 2,311
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Another source of "The Smell" can be found in your air conditioner coils. You have to remove the shroud and then the cover around the cooling coil. You will be surprised what it looks like, if it has been a while. Using a fragrant cleaner helps.
A toilet that will not hold water will also let black tank smells up through the bowl.
__________________
ARS WA8ZYT
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce!
Air # 283
WBCCI 1350
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05-03-2004, 09:34 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2005 22' International CCD
Buckhorn
, Ontario
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,449
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Hi Altastars;
Although our A/S was in relatively good shape - it came with a terrible moldy/musty smell. We were also lucky that there was no evidence whatsoever of mice - so we don't have that ammonia type smell that is common to rodent urine.
We have removed everything and cleaned with a bleach ingredient that also has a strong Mildew and Mold killer called Mean Green. I cleaned till my fingers were raw
Removed all the carpet, curtains, cushions - even the spongy folding door.
After cleaning all the wood - we still had that moldy smell - thus we decided to clean again and seal up all the wood - I even varnished all the insides of the foot lockers and the bulkheads - where there was wood it got varnished - and now the A/S has a "new" smell to it.
The floor was scrubbed with mineral spirits then CLR with wire wool - washed four times and waxed. The walls have been cleaned with Mean Green and will be done again before our first trip (and before the new curtains go back in ) - then I will have a go at that "Futurewax" on the ceiling suggestion.
The toilet was removed as we are putting in a new one - but I can smell it on the toilet and not surprised as it is a rubber material that will retain odor.
I have the folding door in the house right now. I cleaned it with MeanGreen 2x and then used a vinyl cleaner and I can still smell "that smell" I think the mold and mildew has got inside into the spongy material - so I think it might not make it back in the A/S.
The seat cushions were professionally cleaned with a wet chem. solution to penetrate the sponge (I had them out drying for 1 week in the fresh air they have then been in the house for the past 8 weeks)- I think this has done the trick there - but if I can still smell it when it comes time to making the seat cushions then I will be replacing the foam too.
It might just be me but a second hand item should have a real thorough clean - for piece of mind and for health reasons.
Happy cleaning - hard work but when all said and done - there's nothing like a brand new vintage A/S
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05-03-2004, 10:04 PM
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#10
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Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,255
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I vacumed, scrubbed, swept, and generally cleaned the inside, and did the bleach rinse of the water system (as described elsewhere on the forum) - and all this even though I bought it from a nice couple who had been using it regularly. I just figured I should clean it up so all the dirt I find after that is mine!
Mine also has the funky smell. One of these days we will have to get into the bellypan and find out what's in there - yuk! I have seen no evidence of mice in the living area. Mice did get into the underhood area of one of my cars and stockpiled dog food where I couldn't get it out without removing things that were bolted in the way - that stunk like you wouldn't believe!
Just today I did my annual treatment of the wood - oil and wax. It leaves the interior with a nice lemony smell. It probably just adds a new dimention to that 'airstream funk'.
__________________
Stephanie
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05-03-2004, 10:10 PM
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#11
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418
2007 25' Safari FB SE
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1974 29' Ambassador
Yucca Valley
, California
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 1963 26' Overlander
Posts: 4,804
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I found severe grime and dirt on the walls behind the stove and the walls under the sink. Cleaned the walls and wheel well area, as well as the floor under the stove and sink. This alone killed a large amount of odor in the kitchen area. The kitchen counter and stove has to be removed to access all the wall areas. Same happened when I re-did the bathroom, good bye questionable odor.
Actually , the trailer now just smells a bit like plastic, and only when it sits in the hot sun. Before it had a definite strange odor, even when it was cool outside.
I do believe that cleaning will diminish odors to a liveable level. Drapes, carpet and upholstery can also trap odors, usually more the stale, musty stink.
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05-04-2004, 12:18 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
1977 23' Safari
Hillsboro
, Oregon
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 348
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We literally spet a weekend cleaning filth and grime out of ours. Repairing screens and cleaning upholstery before we would use it.
Over this winter we have tore out the old nasty carpet and put down a tile floor and added new curtains. Up next, new upholstery.
__________________
Van
2009 F-350 FX4 Crewcab 4x4 6.4l
former '78 Argosy 20' Minuet owner
former '77 23' Safari owner
former 25' Fun Finder X-250BHS SOB owner
current 26' Komfort Trailblazer 262BSLE SOB owner
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05-04-2004, 04:02 AM
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#13
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Deep Cleaning?
Orginally we thought we would be just do a thorough cleaning of ours, replace the nasty carpet clean the drapes, add some new cushions and be on our way....yeah right! Found rot in the front floor so, we have pulled the interior apart back to the galley area, glad now we did, found mildew behind the fridge, and I would suspect the galley area too. At a recent WBCCI Unit gathering someone suggested using the Scruncie(sp) Steamer as a method of deep cleaning in the nooks and crannies, as well as between the joints in the interior aluminum. Anybody try this? or are we going to be the guinea pigs Makes sense to me!
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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05-04-2004, 07:44 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,702
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Initially we throughly cleaned every inch from top to bottom, washed down all walls, treated all woodwork with orange oil/beeswax, replaced carpet with linoleum, made new drapes & got new upholestry & foam. There was not a single surface that went untouched.
Each spring we wash down all the walls, treat the woodwork and clean all the accumulated dust from storage over winter. In the fall same thing and we cover all the upholstery with sheets and we put foil-bubble insulation in all the windows to protect from sun damage & "looky-loos".
Shari
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05-04-2004, 07:56 AM
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#15
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1 Rivet Member
1966 17' Caravel
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: 1962 24' Tradewind
Posts: 11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by InsideOut
Initially we throughly cleaned every inch from top to bottom, washed down all walls, treated all woodwork with orange oil/beeswax, replaced carpet with linoleum, made new drapes & got new upholestry & foam. There was not a single surface that went untouched.
Each spring we wash down all the walls, treat the woodwork and clean all the accumulated dust from storage over winter. In the fall same thing and we cover all the upholstery with sheets and we put foil-bubble insulation in all the windows to protect from sun damage & "looky-loos".
Shari
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Where do you buy this "foil-bubble insulation"? Rose
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05-04-2004, 08:59 AM
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#16
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 472
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When taking the bathroom apart we found several pieces of wood that were moldy. They are under and inside the sink for reinforcement of the sink parts. /they will have to be replaced, also reinforcing wood along the tub edge that was thrown out.
The guys have been using TSP-tri sodium phospate- dissolved in HOT water to wash the stripped interior walls. With so little in our trailer at this point, I suspect the smell comes from the 2/3 0f the underbelly that hasnt been stripped out. although we found no evidence of mouse in the 1/3rd taken out and now bare to the ground.
Everything smells, it's just getting it to the level that you can tolerate and keep healthy at! By the way ,if you can believe this, concrete was mixed in with the old foam cushions, to give them a little stiffness. If your old foam cushions are getting powery and crumbly- this is why!!! amazing what they used to do. Also fiberglass is turning out to be like asbestos. So if you have your nose ends out, its a good idea to give it a couple of coats of sealer over the fiber side. Silver suz
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05-04-2004, 10:31 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ParisianCowgirl
Where do you buy this "foil-bubble insulation"? Rose
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We got it @ Home Depot. It comes in a 24" wide roll and we just cut it to fit our windows.
Shari
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05-04-2004, 11:46 AM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member
1971 23' Safari
Joshua Tree
, California
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 259
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uwe
I found severe grime and dirt on the walls behind the stove and the walls under the sink. Cleaned the walls and wheel well area, as well as the floor under the stove and sink. This alone killed a large amount of odor in the kitchen area....
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Amen, Brother uwe.
I just spent the weekend cleaning ours so we can go on our maiden voyage on Friday. We didn't have any issues with old cigarette smoke, mustiness, or 'critter smells', just a general 'old trailer' smell. While there are still alot of things to scrub, like yanking out the stove and clearing out 30+ years of accumulated grease, I scrubbed where I could in the amount of time I had:
I vacuumed behind and underneath everywhere - this also gave me the opurtunity to check for water damage.
We had 'sticky wall syndrome' behind the curtains (I think the old backing caused this), which themselves will be replaced as funds allow, as they are disintegrating. I wiped the stickiness away with Turtlewax 2001, then wiped the walls down overall with 409.
Anyplace that could be wiped down, was. I scraped melted candle wax under on the ledge under the front windows (someone burned candles that close to curtains!?!)
I washed out all the bins under the sofa and twins.
I washed out the RM 60 fridge, including pulling out the shelves and scrubbing them. A PO had 'repaired' a door shelf with duck tape - what a filthy, sticky, brown slimey mess! I cleaned off the residue, and applied super glue gel to the cracked areas (it was on the brink of clompletely coming apart), and voila! no more Frankenshelf.
I cleaned the range hood as best I could, and soaked 30+ years of gunk out of the metal mesh filter, soaked it overnight.
Scrubbed the wet bath down completely, also the vinyl 'doors' that separate the rooms. When I sprayed them with 409, they ran dark yellow. Ugh.
Replaced foam seal on ceiling vents, cleaned same and cleaned fan + blades in forward vent.
Result: 95% of that old trailer smell is gone.
We still neeed to do 'deep' cleaning like behind the stove and vents and fridge vents. We are going to replace the carpet (which is in surprisingly good shape), replace the curtains, and re-upholster the cushions as time and money permits. Also general maintenance like replacing old window seals and screens/screen fuzzies. Luckily, to POs weren't total slobs, they just kept the stuff clean that one notices, and let the rest accumulate.
We are comfortable enough now that we can take it out, which is the idea in the first place - right?, and not feel like we are in someone else's fleabag. I was really cursing the phrase "...it doesn't show dirt", because the trailer didn't look that bad when we brought it home - it was the crud in the cleaning bucket that told the tale.
Airwick and Lysol now both make an air freshener that does more than just mask smells with perfume and formaldehyde, that was the first thing I did last month when the trailer came home. Great stuff, but you've got to get to the root of the problem.
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05-04-2004, 11:54 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1984 29' Sovereign
Savannah
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,478
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtpalms
I just spent the weekend cleaning ours so we can go on our maiden voyage on Friday. We didn't have any issues with old cigarette smoke, mustiness, or 'critter smells', just a general 'old trailer' smell. While there are still alot of things to scrub, like yanking out the stove and clearing out 30+ years of accumulated grease, I scrubbed where I could in the amount of time I had:
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Question:
Do you provide "curb side services"??
Plse PM your schedule ASAP...
ciao
53FC
__________________
WBCCI 5292 AIR 807
NEU #64
New England Unit
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05-04-2004, 11:59 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1956 16' Bubble
Rose Lodge
, Oregon
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: 1961 26' Overlander
Posts: 921
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtpalms
I cleaned the range hood as best I could, and soaked 30+ years of gunk out of the metal mesh filter, soaked it overnight.
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What did you soak the filter in?
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