How should I clean wall and ceiling carpet?

[Stavig]

I am just getting to cleaning-before-everything-is-completely-finished stage in my new to me Casita and I can't decide how to deep clean my wall and ceiling carpet (By the way, is that called "rat fur?") One auto detailer discouraged a steamer as that could make the carpet sag...

Also, has anyone ever seen sculptured shag on the inside of a Casita before?
I can't seem to find anyone else with the same carpet! (The pictures are from the "before") Thanks!

[likeair2me]

I believe your camper was "decorated" by the Festrunk Bros.

[Stavig]

Omg, nooo! It's looking a little better now but that hideous carpet... [emoji51][emoji51][emoji51]

[likeair2me]

Really, I would vacuum it really well, and use a spray on foam carpet cleaner. You will have to massage the foam in my hand, but it won't saturate the carpet too deep.

[Jon in AZ]

"Rat fur" is a nickname for the long-napped marine headliner used by Scamp for many years. This is not rat fur. It is a vintage sculpted residential carpet, popular in the late 70's and early 80's. I've seen two different colors on older Casitas of that era, brown (yours and here's another) and blue (you can see a few glimpses here and another here).

I'm not sure what would be best to clean it. I used a spray carpet cleaner (Oxy-something-or-other) to take some stains off the rat fur on the door of my Scamp where the door seal was not tight. Seemed to work well. If you're going to use a chemical cleaner inside, you'll want to ventilate well, use protection, and do it in sections. Others may be along with suggestions of less toxic cleaners that are effective.

[Stavig]

Ok, that's a good idea. First I'm probably going to scrub it with a scrub brush and then vacuum it...

[Stavig]

Did the carpet cleaner dry well, or did you have to put fans in your trailer...?
I know AZ is so much dryer than MN too so I'm worried about mildew developing before it completely dries

[Jon in AZ]

You're right about AZ- it was bone dry next morning (cleaned in late afternoon, vent open, no fan). But I wonder if chemical cleaners will even support mildew growth. You don't use water, just the cleaner.

All the same, in a confined space, I would open windows and run a fan for the odor as much as anything. If in doubt, start with a small section and see what happens.

[Stavig]

Ah ok
Sounds like good advice, thanks!

[likeair2me]

You have a lot of square footage you are wanting to clean. Once you get the humidity up it will take some time to dry. Try putting a dehumidifier in the camper with the windows closed. You don't want to try dehumidifying the entire state. If you don't have a dehumidifier available, or electricity is a problem, you can get a product like this DampRid 10.5 oz. Fresh Scent Refillable Moisture Absorber-FG01FS - The Home Depot which works like those little silica gel packets that you find in new products. Once again, shut the windows. If you can, park in the sun. It will steam it up and draw the moisture into the atmosphere where it can be dehumidified.

I left the windows down in a new car in a torrential rain storm. Dried up the worst of it, threw down towels and covered them with Damp Rid. Parked in the sun with the windows shut. The seats and floor were soon dry and the Damp Rid pulled the moisture out of the seat, through the towel and into the product. It can be purchased in bulk bags. I will continue to do stupid things, so I keep some on hand all the time.

[cmartin748]

I used a Bissell upholstery cleaner
https://www.lowes.com/pd/BISSELL-Spo...IFYaAl6p8P8HAQ

[Mike_L]

I've used the upholstery attachment of my steam cleaner. The glue used to attach the carpet isn't water soluble so it shouldn't detach. Better than chemical cleaners. If you are concerned with drying, don't do it all at once.

[Stavig]

Ok; yeah I was thinking more of the heat from the steamer causing problems... [emoji51]

[Mike_L]

Don't use hot water in your cleaner. Use cold water and a small amount of laundry detergent. Rinse with clean water and then again a small amount of fabric softener and again with clean water. If your cleaner doesn't have a lot of suction use your shop vac to get as much water out as you can to speed drying.

[Stavig]

In the past few years I have gotten my carpet cleaning down to a science haha
I start by spot vacuuming then I wash the walls/ceiling with a home carpet cleaner, just using the handheld attachment. In the tank I use a water and Lysol laundry sanitizer solution and just use the water suction feature about three times more than the water spray feature to get it as dry as possible.
To dry I either leave the windows open, dries in about two-three days, or if raining I close it up and use the DampRid and dehumidifier as suggested and also dries pretty quickly.
Then, when mostly dry/dry I put an ozone machine in the camper for 24 hours and it smells great and is totally clean for the season.
After each trip, in the season, I just spot clean. [emoji106]

[stevebaz]

I used spray on carpet cleaner and brushed with a soft brush and then sucked it dry with a wet and dry shop vac with the filter out. Did about 2 sq feet at a time.

[Stavig]

Originally Posted by stevebaz

I used spray on carpet cleaner and brushed with a soft brush and then sucked it dry with a wet and dry shop vac with the filter out. Did about 2 sq feet at a time.

That sounds like a good method too, especially for spot cleaning in between trips.

[Natalie21]

I've used Camco RV Wash Brush to clean my car and recently the vinyl siding on my home. It's soft enough to be gentle, but works well for scrubbing the mold off my siding. Great telescoping handle that locks into place easily.
https://vogeltalksrving.com/best-rv-...hes/#more-1734

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Stavig

In the past few years I have gotten my carpet cleaning down to a science haha
I start by spot vacuuming then I wash the walls/ceiling with a home carpet cleaner, just using the handheld attachment. In the tank I use a water and Lysol laundry sanitizer solution and just use the water suction feature about three times more than the water spray feature to get it as dry as possible.
To dry I either leave the windows open, dries in about two-three days, or if raining I close it up and use the DampRid and dehumidifier as suggested and also dries pretty quickly.
Then, when mostly dry/dry I put an ozone machine in the camper for 24 hours and it smells great and is totally clean for the season.
After each trip, in the season, I just spot clean. [emoji106]

I love it when posters return to give long-term feedback on advice and proposed solutions! Thanks for the follow-up report. It’s what makes this forum such a valuable resource.