Forum Discussion
Today - staining doors and drawers, cleaning windows, report on past cushion work.
DW didn't have the full day to work with me. Afternoon commitments. But we got started early on our separate jobs.
Me? I did quick preparatory work on the doors and drawers while DW broke into the stains.
As she completed each, first they got stored on various surfaces, then eventually down onto the packing blankets.

Here are some of her tools.

I had to laugh. At one point, from the other side of the garage, DW said, "I'm licking the can!"

Cereal! That happened twice! Like the tinted polys, as you get down low in the can, even if you've been good at stirring it in every so often, the pigment falls, and the stain gets thicker, and darker.
We had the last of some "natural" stain (a half pint) we'd used on Lil' Queeny's counter and table. We mixed it into her remaining thicker pigmented "Gunstock". And she licked that can clean too! And had to really think on how best to stretch it right at the end, on some of the door backs.

But stretch it she did. And in reality, she got a really good amount into this old dry wood. She said it really drank the stuff up, that dry wood.



Then she got the ebony into these decorative drawer front grooves.

And the rear sofa slide out edge board (and the upper front bunk edge).

I haven't shown this yet either, the sofa back. That white is the same as the blackout fabric she's using behind the curtains, whip-stitched to the sofa vinyl edges over the sun damaged fabric. You maybe remember seeing the tear before.

This is how it started out. These photos, and this work, was back in early July.


See the manufacturer tag?

And the other cushion. I tore this one off, at risk of getting arrested!

The front sofa was in good shape.


Just a few minor tears to watch.


And I stretched and re-stapled the backing fabric.


My attempt to stabilize a vinyl tear at the folds.

To fix the rear sofa cushion, first DW did some under support stuff.


These covers are not zip off. So she did all the work by hand. That is a different kind of elbow grease, and somehow makes the fingers sore! She gets cuts and pokes (domestic stuff as much as anything) like I get cuts and pokes. We try to keep our hands hidden.
Okay, back to yesterday's work.
Me? I kept up on the organizing and finishing various little portions of the things going on, but mostly attended to the removal and cleaning of all the Jalousie window panes. I'll give a little info on those - a simple reminder to many of you.
The inside lower surface aluminum tabs are pulled down slightly, to let the glass pane slide over it, on both sides. Here you see the panes pulled out about an inch or so. To reinstall, the tabs snap back into place and hold the panes right fine!

This shows two panes back in place after being cleaned. The upper frame vacant.

With the glass out of the way, I could brush and clean up in here.

No full strength cleaning, just brushing off the loose stuff, and shop-vac-ing. I also sprayed silicon spray lube into the works. Each window now cranks open in an easy spin - with a thumb and forefinger.
As to cleaning the glass. I tried dull, and sharp razor blades, in a broken, and in a new razor blade scraper tool. That was over two days, with a shopping trip in-between the days, so I could replace the single razor blade I've been coaxing along now for months, and the tool I've been fighting for years. Oh I also bought a new steel scraper - for those other chores (I use those on EVERYTHING!).

I tried steel wool, I tried vinegar and steel wool (and razor blade).
I tried window cleaner. I washed them in the sink. I cleaned them wet, I cleaned them dry. I didn't find anything worked particularly better than anything else. Just like any other time, what I found worked best was the tub of elbow-grease. There's just no results like "putting in the work". Probably 50 years of hard-water buildup.


Eventually, I got to all the windows. Now these are not all removed and re-sealed yet. Just the frames serviced and the glass cleaned. New screens coming next.

See how much nicer these look cleaned? On the view above, the only window which has been removed and sealed is the upper bunk front. There is pretty good caulking on the remaining windows, so I have some time to get to them, and the door is okay, but a priority over the windows.
On this side...

The windows which have been removed and re-sealed are: the galley and rear side.
And the back window has been done too.

But at least they are all now cleaned and fresh.
Countdown to camping - 6 days!
DW didn't have the full day to work with me. Afternoon commitments. But we got started early on our separate jobs.
Me? I did quick preparatory work on the doors and drawers while DW broke into the stains.
As she completed each, first they got stored on various surfaces, then eventually down onto the packing blankets.

Here are some of her tools.

I had to laugh. At one point, from the other side of the garage, DW said, "I'm licking the can!"

Cereal! That happened twice! Like the tinted polys, as you get down low in the can, even if you've been good at stirring it in every so often, the pigment falls, and the stain gets thicker, and darker.
We had the last of some "natural" stain (a half pint) we'd used on Lil' Queeny's counter and table. We mixed it into her remaining thicker pigmented "Gunstock". And she licked that can clean too! And had to really think on how best to stretch it right at the end, on some of the door backs.

But stretch it she did. And in reality, she got a really good amount into this old dry wood. She said it really drank the stuff up, that dry wood.



Then she got the ebony into these decorative drawer front grooves.

And the rear sofa slide out edge board (and the upper front bunk edge).

I haven't shown this yet either, the sofa back. That white is the same as the blackout fabric she's using behind the curtains, whip-stitched to the sofa vinyl edges over the sun damaged fabric. You maybe remember seeing the tear before.

This is how it started out. These photos, and this work, was back in early July.


See the manufacturer tag?

And the other cushion. I tore this one off, at risk of getting arrested!

The front sofa was in good shape.


Just a few minor tears to watch.


And I stretched and re-stapled the backing fabric.


My attempt to stabilize a vinyl tear at the folds.

To fix the rear sofa cushion, first DW did some under support stuff.


These covers are not zip off. So she did all the work by hand. That is a different kind of elbow grease, and somehow makes the fingers sore! She gets cuts and pokes (domestic stuff as much as anything) like I get cuts and pokes. We try to keep our hands hidden.
Okay, back to yesterday's work.
Me? I kept up on the organizing and finishing various little portions of the things going on, but mostly attended to the removal and cleaning of all the Jalousie window panes. I'll give a little info on those - a simple reminder to many of you.
The inside lower surface aluminum tabs are pulled down slightly, to let the glass pane slide over it, on both sides. Here you see the panes pulled out about an inch or so. To reinstall, the tabs snap back into place and hold the panes right fine!

This shows two panes back in place after being cleaned. The upper frame vacant.

With the glass out of the way, I could brush and clean up in here.

No full strength cleaning, just brushing off the loose stuff, and shop-vac-ing. I also sprayed silicon spray lube into the works. Each window now cranks open in an easy spin - with a thumb and forefinger.
As to cleaning the glass. I tried dull, and sharp razor blades, in a broken, and in a new razor blade scraper tool. That was over two days, with a shopping trip in-between the days, so I could replace the single razor blade I've been coaxing along now for months, and the tool I've been fighting for years. Oh I also bought a new steel scraper - for those other chores (I use those on EVERYTHING!).

I tried steel wool, I tried vinegar and steel wool (and razor blade).
I tried window cleaner. I washed them in the sink. I cleaned them wet, I cleaned them dry. I didn't find anything worked particularly better than anything else. Just like any other time, what I found worked best was the tub of elbow-grease. There's just no results like "putting in the work". Probably 50 years of hard-water buildup.


Eventually, I got to all the windows. Now these are not all removed and re-sealed yet. Just the frames serviced and the glass cleaned. New screens coming next.

See how much nicer these look cleaned? On the view above, the only window which has been removed and sealed is the upper bunk front. There is pretty good caulking on the remaining windows, so I have some time to get to them, and the door is okay, but a priority over the windows.
On this side...

The windows which have been removed and re-sealed are: the galley and rear side.
And the back window has been done too.

But at least they are all now cleaned and fresh.
Countdown to camping - 6 days!
About Travel Trailer Group
44,026 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 23, 2025