keri
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Rats
Jul 5, 2013 13:24:16 GMT -8
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Post by keri on Jul 5, 2013 13:24:16 GMT -8
Gross. So gross. Has anyone dealt with a trailer that was infested with rats? I've cleaned out all the bedding and foam and curtains (pretty much everything else that wasn't nailed down went into the trash) and plan on shop-vacing it out really good. But then what? What can I wipe everything down with to get it all clean? What should I do at this point?
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Rats
Jul 5, 2013 13:32:56 GMT -8
Post by bigbill on Jul 5, 2013 13:32:56 GMT -8
I would wash it down with a clorine mixture to disinfect it. Maybe a couple of times. Pull all the drawers out and clean all the corners behind them and I would also pull all the appliances out to gain access to everyplace.
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keri
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Rats
Jul 5, 2013 13:54:31 GMT -8
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Post by keri on Jul 5, 2013 13:54:31 GMT -8
Thanks!! That's what I was thinking but just wanted to get a second opinion.
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boandsusan
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Rats
Jul 5, 2013 14:20:30 GMT -8
Post by boandsusan on Jul 5, 2013 14:20:30 GMT -8
Someone else had the same problem a while back. If I remember correctly rats had peed in the drawers so bad that it was recommended that she replace the bottoms of the drawers. Someone else posted a mix to get rid of the rat smell, hopefully someone will come along and post the same mix for you. I would start with clorox for sure. Did you measure all your foam before disgarding it?
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keri
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Rats
Jul 5, 2013 15:02:23 GMT -8
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Post by keri on Jul 5, 2013 15:02:23 GMT -8
Do mean for the dinette seats? I didn't, but they are still available so I can go back and do it. Didn't think of that so thanks!
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boandsusan
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Rats
Jul 5, 2013 15:36:00 GMT -8
Post by boandsusan on Jul 5, 2013 15:36:00 GMT -8
Phew....good! If your trailer has the bench seats in it, they are soooo hard to find and super expensive. If you have just the cushion seats (without springs), they old ones are needed to take a pattern from.
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keri
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Rats
Jul 5, 2013 15:54:40 GMT -8
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Post by keri on Jul 5, 2013 15:54:40 GMT -8
The original ones have the springs in them. Can they be replaced with just foam? I WILL use it for a bed, so I know that I'll have to rebuild the bases a little differently to allow for the seats having less of a foundation, but would that work to just use foam?
There's too much work that would have to be done to make this trailer look like it did the day it was born, so I'm mainly interested in making it water-tight and functional for my son and I to use to camp in.
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lovnvintage
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Jul 5, 2013 16:17:06 GMT -8
Post by lovnvintage on Jul 5, 2013 16:17:06 GMT -8
you can strip them down to the springs and wood and clean the springs even. I know they are hard to come by and lots of people looking for them so I would not just throw them away, if you don't want to use them I am sure someone else would. Mine were not in that bad of shape but didn't smell good. After redoing they are great. They were taken completely apart and everything tossed, cleaned springs,wood and then all new burlap,batting, foam,etc. Gone Kayaking has a good tutoring link on here from when she did hers.
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keri
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Rats
Jul 5, 2013 16:51:15 GMT -8
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Post by keri on Jul 5, 2013 16:51:15 GMT -8
That's a great idea to save them for someone else if I decide not to use them! Yeah, from what I can tell the springs are fine but there's nothing else salvageable. But that's not saying much--I'm definitely no expert. Lol
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Hamlet
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Jul 5, 2013 17:46:46 GMT -8
Post by Hamlet on Jul 5, 2013 17:46:46 GMT -8
The original ones have the springs in them. Can they be replaced with just foam? I WILL use it for a bed, so I know that I'll have to rebuild the bases a little differently to allow for the seats having less of a foundation, but would that work to just use foam? There's too much work that would have to be done to make this trailer look like it did the day it was born, so I'm mainly interested in making it water-tight and functional for my son and I to use to camp in. The original seats with springs were usually 6" deep. The table was set at a height to accommodate them. If you decide to replace with foam, and would like a look similar to the original, you will need to get a very firm foam and wrap it in a couple layers of upholsterer's polyester batting. That will help give them the rounded look. Good luck, whatever you decide (and once you look at the price of doing foam, you might just decide that it's worth it to rebuild the old ones).
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keri
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Jul 5, 2013 18:00:30 GMT -8
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Post by keri on Jul 5, 2013 18:00:30 GMT -8
It isn't so much about expense or rebuilding (if there's one thing I'm confident about fixing on this trailer it's stuff that's sewn!)--I just thought they might be more comfortable to sleep on if they were foam. I've slept on some of those banquette-to-bed camper beds and they were awful! Lol. I've got a teenager I've got to convince to go camping with me--I figure a good place to sleep is much more enticing than a hard bed.
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Ten
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Jul 5, 2013 19:21:13 GMT -8
Post by Ten on Jul 5, 2013 19:21:13 GMT -8
Hey Keri, I haven't had the chance to extend a welcome yet, but WELCOME!
You are in good hands here and as this board grows up you will find even more great expert advice. I know for sure that there are a few that had experience directly with the Bellwoods, and there are plenty of members here who have dealt with all of the details, like beds and cushion rebuilding.
As to the question of rats...they should not be dealt with lightly. Be sure to use proper personal protection (breathing, latex gloves, etc.) when cleaning areas that have been directly contacted by them.
The best and most overlooked advice is "never throw anything away until you are sure you have it replaced!"...Measurements and template-making is vital to rebuilding.
There is an option to carry a mattress topper that could be used over the existing cushions for more comfort in the finished products. Of course if you are rebuilding anyway, then building to avoid that need is a nice idea ...
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Post by bigbill on Jul 5, 2013 19:59:45 GMT -8
You could rebuild the original cushions and add an inch or to of memory foam to the top and have the best of both worlds
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boandsusan
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Jul 5, 2013 23:14:09 GMT -8
Post by boandsusan on Jul 5, 2013 23:14:09 GMT -8
That's a great idea to save them for someone else if I decide not to use them! Yeah, from what I can tell the springs are fine but there's nothing else salvageable. But that's not saying much--I'm definitely no expert. Lol I`m so glad you were able to retrieve them from the trash, especially since they ARE original spring benches . They may not look usable but to someone who doesn`t have any, they would be a God send. Each piece of wood can be duplicated and each piece of fabric/vinyl used as a pattern piece. As stated above, you could rebuild them yourself and just carry a nice memory foam topper for your son.
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keri
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Jul 6, 2013 4:54:58 GMT -8
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Post by keri on Jul 6, 2013 4:54:58 GMT -8
I think I'm leaning towards rebuilding them and doing what you guys suggested for extra padding. I also had a chance to watch some of the tutorials that have been posted about rebuilding the cushions, so it seems the way to go. I'm not sure there's enough of the cushion part left to use for a pattern but I'm good enough at sewing that I think I can wing it pretty easily. Now, anyone near Dallas want to trade electrical help for sewing help? Lol
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