1969 Safari - cleaning the Interior walls

[VeggieBullet]

hello to everyone from a young couple that is totally new to the AS world.
We just got our first project and we need some help not to say that we need a lot of help!
There is a difference in the color of the walls by sections but it seems to be the same material since there is the same pattern.
What should we use? Water with a gentle dish soap detergent? have de dehumidifier on all day long?
Should we just use a paint primer?
What kind of material is this?

[arodriguez60]

What has worked on our trailers has been greased lightning and a magic eraser. Made the job alot easier

[Alumaholic]

...seems to have been especially formulated for old Airstreams. I buy it by the gallon.

[VeggieBullet]

Tanks guys.
Just wondering.
What wind of material the walls are covered with?
thanks again

[overlander64]

Greetings VeggieBullet!

Welcome to the Forums and the world of Vintage Airstream ownership!

Originally Posted by VeggieBullet

Tanks guys.
Just wondering.
What wind of material the walls are covered with?
thanks again

The material covering the walls in your coach is referred to as Vinyl-Clad. It is a form of vinyl wallpaper that was applied at the time the aluminum was manufactured. The adhesive utilized to bond the vinyl to the aluminum is very tenactious, and tends to produce a sticky residue on the surface of the vinyl. Once thoroughly cleaned, a coating of Future Acrylic Floor "wax" will keep the sticky residue at bay for quite some time. My Minuet's walls were cleaned and coated with Future over five years ago and there are only one or two isolated spots where the residue has returned. A little spot cleaning and a spot re-application of Future should solve the problem.

Good luck with your restoration!

Kevin

[arodriguez60]

Its some kind of vinyl that is bonded to the aluminum. It off gasses some kind of sticky substance that has to be cleaned off periodically. Check this thread out http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...ith-82760.html

[Alumaholic]

Once cleaned, it's a very nice wall covering and always recognizable as "original." As Kevin has mentioned, once throughly cleaned it takes years for the sticky residue to become noticeable. Spot cleaning is easy.
Few people smoke in their Airstreams anymore. Nicotine seemed to make the residue worse in the "old days."

[Addicted2Tin]

Not sure I have the answer you are looking for but maybe my questions can help to find them for us both.
We have had a '87 AS 345 that had the "vinyl type ceiling" that was sticky like you are talking about. But we now own a '73 AS Argosy that has all aluminium walls that are white but don't seem to be "vinyl stuff" nor is it sticky. But they need painting badly. We have partially gutted it & remodeling it at this time. I was able to clean the metal wall panels with a brush, Dawn dish liquid followed by a rinse & then bleach water, rinsed & sprayed with a mold control. (these panels had been removed to the outside of the camper as we were replacing flooring at the time). The wall behind Kitchen cabinet was so greasy & black the wash did not clean it well. Sooooo, I used TSP & it worked GREAT!!! (read & take all precautions). Not sure you should use it on the "vinyl, sticky type" wall cover though.
Finally, my question here is how do I know which type wall I have & what paint to use on this "white aluminium panels"?? Can I use Kilz & then a good interior paint?? Also, I am being told to use Krylon Fusion on the ABS end caps or a Bonding Primer then paint??? Any suggestions are very welcome??
Thanks in advance.

[VeggieBullet]

Hi everybody. We got a chance to put some time love & patience on the interior walls.
Before than that we stopped on a professional car detail supply store and we got a commercial grade vinyl/dashboard cleaner.
Look at the results

[VeggieBullet]

Don't know why....

[DKB_SATX]

Wow! It's difficult to believe those are the same panels, your results are great. It's visible evidence of what simple maintenance can prevent. Looks like that ought to give you a sense of accomplishment.

[VeggieBullet]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Wow! It's difficult to believe those are the same panels, your results are great. It's visible evidence of what simple maintenance can prevent. Looks like that ought to give you a sense of accomplishment.

We know! well it wasn't that hard but time consuming.
Now here is the other project
1972 Sovereign.
The PO painted the Vinyl-Clad!!!!
After seen what a good cleaning can do we are wondering if there is still a way to recover the original Vinyl-clad?
Any soft enough paint remover that we can use that it won't hurt the vinyl?
Please help.

[InsideOut]

I used Motsenbocker latex stripper to remove latex paint over Zolatone...it worked well, but we ended up respraying anyways. It might work for you on the vinyl....if it's latex paint.

Shari