Club 80-90 Forums

The foam mattress in my van smells a bit of engine. It does seem to be improving, now that it's back on the road and there's more air about, but there's still some way to go.

Once diesel installs its perfume, is it there forever? Will it fade on its own? Will washing help? The covers can be removed easily enough, but the foam inside is also affected. I could maybe have a go at giving that a bath, as its in 3 parts, but it would be a bit of a faff.

Or should I just cut my losses and replace it?

Thanks as always...

Wash the covers and buy some new foam.

Try "Febreeze" spray, and a good airing on the washing line. If it`s bad then new foam and covers in the washing machine may be in order.

Four minutes, two answers!

So diesel is forever, then?

Re Febreeze, I'm not sure about using that on bedding as it's quite a powerful chemical, and such things tend to make me sneezy etc.

I've found these people: foamforhome.co.uk
maybe I'll be giving them a call.

Did THE whole interior of mine when I got it, as it had a strange smell, not diesel but some weird German air-freshener type smell The Febreeze has cleared most of it, a good airing and drying in the sun does the trick of getting rid of and lingering Febreeze smell

Diesel is like gear oil, once it's warmed up it dont arf pong, and is a devil to get rid of the smell.

Like the previous posts said, if you can't wash it out then the only way is to renew the foam and or covers.

TR

Will never go away, was in petrol maybe is best bet

HarryMann wrote:Will never go away, was in petrol maybe is best bet

Then rinse in parrafin to achieve that lovely 'washing line smell' Ha, Ha.

you can dryclean the covers but not the foam as it will disolve

Hmm, interesting.

The covers aren't that special, I reckon I'll give them a quick wash, reinstall and if it's not sorted, chuck the lot out. But just getting regular airing after being parked up (often with engine bay open, silly) does seem to be having a big effect. It's not like I spilt diesel over them, just that the engine spills diesel and other things over itself...

Seconded what Westy.Club.Joker said about Febreeze.

When I got my white Syncro in 2003 the PO had used at a dog-taxi and it stank. A good going-over with Febreeze followed by a few days airing sorted it.

Andy

Throw the covers in the washer , throw the foam in the bathtub with a mix of fairy with few spoons of dettol n give it a good handwash

What can you do if the covers don't come off though? My Westy ones don't have a zip or anything and are just sown on. Obviously I can Febreeze them, but is there anything else I can do to clean mine?

They went on they will come off! you will find that one of the seams(prob a end one ) will be slip stiched , just unpick n pull the cover off the foam
if not sliped stiched just unpick the machine stich and slip stich it up again later

Westy.Club.Joker wrote:Did THE whole interior of mine when I got it, as it had a strange smell, not diesel but some weird German air-freshener type smell The Febreeze has cleared most of it, a good airing and drying in the sun does the trick of getting rid of and lingering Febreeze smell

I too can vouch for weird german air freshener smell, and I think every Westy I get into has it's own weird german odour!