Hi all, just come back from Cornwall and opened up my pathfinder, and noticed a few marks on the canvas. There's nothing major but I'm a bit of a weirdo and like things to look nice and clean.
Anyone got any ideas on how to clean a few marks off. Don't want to use anything that will ruin the canvas or go into re-water proofing , as I've found this last couple of weeks it's well water tight.
------------- Up there for thinking, down there for dancing. 😎
A soft brush, like a child's hairbrush, is good for brushing off dust or dried on mud or bird poo.
For everything else use plain water and a clean sponge, one that has never, ever come in contact with detergent. Do NOT use detergent, supermarket cleaners, WD40, lemon juice, anything that has "surfactants" on the label or weird home remedies. Trust me there have been x10 more canvases ruined by over-enthusiastic cleaning than a few dirty marks so restrain your cleaning impulses whenever possible. Dirty marks don't leak in general!
Sponge from the top down, blot with a clean white cloth, like old t-shirt or towelling fabric. Do not rub or scrub or scrape or pick. Do not use a nail brush on wet canvas. You can blot from both sides, it's quite effective to get one person to hold a pad of clean dry towelling on one side while you squeeze water through a stain, then blot from your side with pressure between the two pads.
If you do want to do a major clean buy good quality products made for canvas, like the Graingers range. The trick with using cleaners is in the rinsing so when they say "rinse well" you're looking at rinsing it at least 3-5 times, then a bit more. You're probably going to end up reproofing after this clean though so hold off as long as possible.
I just live with my marks if I can't get them off with a brush or cold water. Once every couple of years I sponge down the canvas (while erected) from top to bottom with lots of water, to get dust and pollen off. My canvas is still as waterproof as new and its 25 years old. And though it's faded it has surprisingly few marks for its age...in my experience they often fade away over time as well.
Thanks val, it's just a few squished bugs and probably where it's been out in its first downpour.
It's looks like dust that was on the top has left a few faint streak marks on the side, so I will go with new sponge and water.
------------- Up there for thinking, down there for dancing. 😎
A clean scouring pad, one of those with a sponge on one side, and wirey stuff on the other. Make sure the scourer is white, cos the colour does some off if they're say green.
If you want to use luke warm water Mr T, learn from my mistake and used distilled water. I used tap water to clean mineral deposits left by rain, like white spotting...??!!
The tap water left more of the white marks and made it worse. Try get off anything you can bone dry first, I had more luck with bone dry scourer, than a damp one
Forgot to mention, I also use soft bristled brush, you rmbr the ones we used to use to polish our shoes??!!
Post last edited on 11/08/2013 14:02:42
------------- As a child my families menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.
Thanks Paul, just gave the roof a quick damp wipe over and it's dust from the roof as my cloth is black and its gone down the side and left little streaks with the down pour we had hardly noticeable.
Just me being a bit over fussy.
------------- Up there for thinking, down there for dancing. 😎
If it's just dusty streaks, they'll be washed off next time it rains.
I wouldn't use a scouring pad on my tent canvas btw. If you abrade the fibres you'll get a thin spot there, not to mention a fluffy bit on the fabric which will pick up dust faster than the surrounding unabraded section. Stick to the sponge!
Pressure hose cleaned mine very well.
One year I used Isabella awning cleaner ... it did a fantastic job ... ended up looking like new ... a lot of green stain from being under trees all winter.
I did re-proof it immediately after the clean (again Isabella) ... that was four years ago .... narry a leak 'tween then and now ... and it's withstood some heavy storms!
Actually I'm glad you said about a jet washer as I was going to ask if I could use one it, without causing a problem.
The rain we had was pretty much going on for a jet washer for nearly 2 days constant.
I nearly took a photo of the roof, as it was saturated yet on the sides it beaded off, wondered if it was normal, though didn't leak one bit.
------------- Up there for thinking, down there for dancing. 😎
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Canvas cleaning
