cleaning the rat fur - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-21-2008, 04:16 AM   #1
Member
 
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 45
A stupid question, but here goes anyway...what do you use to clean the rat fur? For general maintenance, will just any carpet cleaner work, or is there something that is preferred??? Thanks!
Diane G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2008, 11:38 AM   #2
Member
 
Trailer: 2007 17 ft Escape B / RAV4 (19 ft74 13 ft Boler for sale)
Posts: 50
Quote:
A stupid question, but here goes anyway...what do you use to clean the rat fur? For general maintenance, will just any carpet cleaner work, or is there something that is preferred??? Thanks!
Ummm ..rat fur?
Deb H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2008, 03:10 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Ricky 4's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1970 (Circa) Compact Jr and 1993 Casita
Posts: 404
Quote:
A stupid question, but here goes anyway...what do you use to clean the rat fur? For general maintenance, will just any carpet cleaner work, or is there something that is preferred??? Thanks!

I vacuum with a small hand held vacuum-I just spot clean with a damp cloth and carpet cleaner mixed with water.

I presume you are talking about the carpet on the walls and ceiling-we hate that stuff but also hate the amount of work it would take to remove it.

Hope this helps
Ricky 4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2008, 08:38 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Pete Dumbleton's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 3,072
Send a message via Yahoo to Pete Dumbleton
Quote:
Ummm ..rat fur?
Rat Fur is the nick-name we've applied to the marine carpet-like material that Scamp has been using since the late '80s as a wall covering (it is glued to a layer of Reflectix, which is glued to the fiberglass -- Reflectix is a layer of plastic bubbles sandwiched between two layers of reflecting foil).

Prior to Rat Fur, Scamp used a thick layer of Ensolite foam glued to the fiberglass; that is nick-named Elephant Hyde.


Pete Dumbleton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2008, 10:12 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Adrian W's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp 16 ft Side Dinette
Posts: 1,185
Thumbs down

Pete for the name of the foil covered bubble rap insulation: "Reflectix is a layer of plastic bubbles sandwiched between two layers of reflecting foil". I have been wanting to know the name of the stuff.

http://www.reflectixinc.com/

Richard? Why! Why would you hate the Marine Fabric (I hate the term "Rat Fur")? It really isn't very carpet like. Backus does not like the term "Rat Fur", nor do we. It just does not look like rat fur, wrong color for rat fur, not really furry. A Fuzzy Downy Wooly, yes, a Soft Fuzz Down would be it. Remember: Sleeping in a travel trailer with ceiling and walls coved in tan fuzzy-woolydown must be something like sleeping in a Marsupial's Pouch. Cozy! The Marine Fabric is not only fuzzy-woolydown, it is very water, mold, mildew and odor resistant and so soft to the touch and to bumped heads and elbows.

So far we have not found anything we hate or dislike about the covering. We have not needed to clean the fabric, nor felt like vacuuming it. Our Trailer has seen 3 years of use, since Aug, '05. It seems to be fairly soil resistant and water resistant as well as odor resistant. I am thinking vacuuming it would be a first choice in up keep. I would think it would be best too keep away from harsh chemicals, most cleaners would tend to leave a film which would attract dirt. However, I have NO experence with an older Scamp and what age does to the fabric.

So far we really like the stuff.

Adrian
__________________
DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA
2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
Adrian W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2008, 04:07 AM   #6
Member
 
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 45
I like the rat fur, too, it makes it kind of cosy inside. So far, I've only vacuumed it, when we just got it. It hasn't needed anything else, but, what I was wondering was for future reference...I don't want to do anything that would reduce the mold-resistance or the water-resistance. There is a place at the bottom of the door that could use a little cleaning, I'm thinking just some soap and water will do the trick.

Diane G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2008, 06:13 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Alf S.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 2007 19 ft Escape 5.0 / 2002 GMC (1973 Boler project)
Posts: 4,148
Registry
Send a message via Yahoo to Alf S.
Hi: Diane... I use Orvus W A Paste avail. from Tractor Supply Stores (TSC). It is a livestock shampoo and you just add a TBSP. or two, in a pail of water, say a ltr. or so, and whip it into foam then scoop the foam up with a soft bristled brush and apply to the carpet etc. Then vaccuum when dry. My mother used it 50 years ago in the "Dry Cleaning" business and it still works today...carpeting in the car, house, trailer etc!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie
Alf S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2008, 05:47 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Adrian W's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp 16 ft Side Dinette
Posts: 1,185
Post

I emailed the Scamp Factory about cleaning the marine fabric. I also asked what the insulation they use is called. This is their reply:
"Adrian,
Use a fabric cleaner to clean the marine fabric. The insulation is called Astro-foil.
Kent Eveland"


It never hurts to ask the Horse to get an anwer from the Horse's mouth.


http://www.astrofoil.net/astrofoil.insulation.home.html

http://www.astrofoil.net/

http://www.astrofoil.net/website.ima...ROLLsample.jpg

http://www.astrofoil.net/website.images/shuttle100.jpg

http://www.astrofoil.net/astrofoil.i....r-values.html

The Astrofoil does look a lot like Reflectix.

I liked seeing the Space Shuttle being insulated with Astrofoil.

Adrian


__________________
DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA
2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
Adrian W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2008, 06:02 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Al V's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2005 17 ft Casita Freedom Deluxe
Posts: 315
Send a message via Yahoo to Al V
But where is the fur ? all i see is shiny silver. that would be easy to wipe clean
Al V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2008, 07:20 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Pete Dumbleton's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 3,072
Send a message via Yahoo to Pete Dumbleton
I believe Scamp was using the Reflectix at first and have now changed to Astrofoil, for reasons unknown to me. Nearly identical products, as far as I can tell.

Of course they don't like anything on the product to refer to 'rats' any more than they'd like 'roach', just not good marketing. But we are the owners and calling it rat or roach or elephant or something else is up to us -- I don't feel personally degraded because something in my egg is called rat -- In fact, I like rats and when I had pet rats in my Scamp I called it the 'Rolling RatHaus', also making fun of the German city hall.

As for the color being wrong for rats, that's only true for the typical sewer rat evolved for dark colors; bred rats come in all sorts of colors, from black to white to hairless (pink), even blue, and I am hard pressed as to which rat color matches the Scamp rat fur (several are close). Judge for your self:

http://www.dreameyce.com/eagleseye/rattery.../rat_colors.htm
Pete Dumbleton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2008, 09:38 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Adrian W's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp 16 ft Side Dinette
Posts: 1,185
Arrow

Al V wrote: ".....all i see is shiny silver...."

I hope you are not seeing the "shiny silver" in your Scamp. I assume you mean in the photos from the Astrofoil web site, you can only see the shiny stuff. You normally can not see the shiny silver in a Scamp, they did not have a photo of the Astrofoil being applyed to a Scamp on the Astrofoil web page. In the Scamps the Astrofoil is under the marine fabric, the marine fabric is glued on top of the shinny silver (Astrofoil).

From the photos of Astrofoil and Reflectix, the bubbles in Reflectix seemed not to be as large as those in Astrofoil. Reflectix looked more like what we use to cover our windows and vents with.

Mabe NOT....very simular at any rat, oh, I mean rate!

As for rats and color of rats....when I think of rats, it is the old fashioned ones, but even the ones which were close to the tan color of the marine fabric or even if they are just the right shade, rat fur and Scamp fabric do not look alike, no matter how much you like or dislike rats. It just does not look like fur. In my opinion. If the term was "Rat's Down", maybe so.
Attached Thumbnails
Rear_Window_latch_safety.jpg   P7100393.JPG  

__________________
DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA
2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
Adrian W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2008, 03:30 AM   #12
Member
 
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 45
Great information here, on cleaning, insulation materials, and even rats! Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts! Love the rat website, Pete, and since the color of the rat fur (I really do like that name) is similar to the color of Crumpet, the Burmese rat, I now have food for thought for a name for my little egg!
Diane G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2008, 08:10 AM   #13
Administrator
 
Mary F's Avatar
 
Name: Mary
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21; formerly Casita 1999 17 ft Liberty Deluxe
Posts: 10,941
Registry
One of Pete's rats even made it into our "Hello World" album.

Pete and Ratatouille.

__________________
Mary F Fiberglass Rules!
________________________________
FGRV Forum Custom Search
Info on Adding Photos to a Post
RV Life Network FAQ
Mary F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2008, 05:02 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Pete Dumbleton's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 3,072
Send a message via Yahoo to Pete Dumbleton
The Late and Great Ratatouille -- Traveled from Florida to Newfoundland, back to Florida, then to PacNW and then to Alaska -- He died at a state park in Alaska, by a lake, so I buried him up on a hill.

BTW, even the real rat fur comes in several kinds, smooth, longer and semi-curly, plus the hairless (really fur-less because they do have tiny hairs) -- At normal rat temperature of 106*, the hair-less rats feel very warm.

One doesn't need to clean the real rats, BTW, because they clean themselves and each other all the time, even more than cats do.
Pete Dumbleton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2008, 04:36 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
james kent's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler 1984
Posts: 2,938
We used the spray on type canisters of carpet foam that you then brush in and let dry. Then use the shop vac to clean the trailer.
I only had to do this after a spill but the vac is used each spring. That stuff still looks like new after 24 years and we've had no problems with it. A good spray of Scotch Guard doesn't hurt either.
james kent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2008, 09:40 PM   #16
Member
 
Trailer: 2007 17 ft Escape B / RAV4 (19 ft74 13 ft Boler for sale)
Posts: 50
Quote:
The Late and Great Ratatouille -- Traveled from Florida to Newfoundland, back to Florida, then to PacNW and then to Alaska -- He died at a state park in Alaska, by a lake, so I buried him up on a hill.

BTW, even the real rat fur comes in several kinds, smooth, longer and semi-curly, plus the hairless (really fur-less because they do have tiny hairs) -- At normal rat temperature of 106*, the hair-less rats feel very warm.

One doesn't need to clean the real rats, BTW, because they clean themselves and each other all the time, even more than cats do.
Ratatouille was quite a looker. And what a travel log he had.
I remember a friend's hairless rat who was quite social. And as a child, my brother had a white rat who could charm the fur off of any mammal.
Rats don't get the credit they deserve.
Deb H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2008, 11:04 PM   #17
Member
 
Jim Sherwood's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 48
Post

Quote:
A stupid question, but here goes anyway...what do you use to clean the rat fur? For general maintenance, will just any carpet cleaner work, or is there something that is preferred??? Thanks!
I use a Bissel upright and the little hand turbo brush cleaner that attaches to the hose. Lots of dust and stuff comes off. Do it twice a year.
Jim Sherwood is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Best cleaning Solution for.... remington850 Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 7 06-27-2007 10:26 AM
Cleaning plexiglass james kent Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 4 04-22-2006 07:12 AM
Fun with Cleaning! BOBSMITH General Chat 7 04-17-2006 04:12 PM
Cleaning & Waxing Terry McB Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 10 04-01-2006 02:13 PM
cleaning carpets Christi V. Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 4 03-05-2006 07:35 PM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.