Hi, we have today cleaned the canvas. Most of the marks/dirt has been removed, the odd mark remains but it is a huge improvement. Waiting now till Saturday when hopefully the weather will be good enough to do the reproofing. Sandy @ Jandi also told us that reproofing wasn't needed but it seems a bit of a gamble to me,we will go for the belt and braces approach.

You got your new van? Have now ordered the 303 fabric guard not taking top off did you have any mould spots on your top and do you think they came off with the 303 cleaner

Yes thanks Yvonne, we got the new to us van at the end of March, we had to fly up to fit in between my elderly parents latest crisis and the middle daughter's baby being born. So it was all a bit of a rush. The canvas had been cleaned in situ and still had quite a few marks, don't think it was actually mould but it might well have developed into mould. It was sort of greenish marks, we think caused by the pop top being put down wet. The 303 has pretty much got it all clean, it's not perfect (not to Agger's standard maybe) but it's a big improvement.

Well the day I have been dreading turned out to be today. The canvas had been reproofed and it was decided that this morning was the time to refit it to the van. As we struggled to get the canvas out I cleaned the rail out and then ran a small paintbrush with a PTFE type liquid around it (wait for screams from someone telling me this is the wrong thing to use). It was still a bit tricky but the canvas went back in a lot easier than it came out. Then it was just a case of reversing Pop540's brilliant instructions to refit all the rails, screws and herzim strip. The canvas isn't perfect but it is better and I know it's as clean as it can be and hopefully waterproof too.
Now I have to clean the van out again as removing the canvas disturbed a lot of muck and dust so out with the hoover and duster AGAIN. I hate cleaning.

pleased it all went well,

Thanks Agger.

Interesting thread. Being new to owning a pop top how often should the pop pot be reproofed. Should we, for example, do it on a yearly basis or do we wait until we experience rain drops while sleeping? Would it be sensible to reproof every year or every 2 years. I can understand that if the canvas is stained or dirty removing it is probably the best way to go but can the canvas be reproofed it in situ?
Robin

depends on how dirty the canvas is to when should do it, normally cleaning removes the waterproofing.so its belt and braces to reproof
mine lasted 10 years of use before we tackled the canvas, it was really soiled and should of been done sooner
not really knowing how to proceed we dismantled the upper frame from the pop , now we have an easier method
will be doing again this year. we pitched under sappy trees last couple of years

vacuuming can help to keep the canvas clean,

its up to you which is easier, standing on ladder washing a pop canvas and possibly letting water in eriba, or standing inside eriba to remove and take canvas in kitchen to clean and reproof, dropping the roof as you leave..

then you also have to consider the 303 guidelines

Thanks Pop540. Thanks for the advice. Robin

If you wash the fabric using soap flakes chances are you will not need to re-proof it as it is detergents and such like that effect it. Similar to modern waterproof clothing wash in soap flakes will retain the waterproof characteristics use a bio detergent and you will need to reproof.

We used the soap flake method about 3 years ago didn't need to re-proof but it was really grubby this time and I noticed in the heavy rain that we've had that the bottom of the canvas soaked through so decided to use 303 cleaner which did a very good job not removing all marks but certainly improved now just waiting on suitable day to re-proof with 303 leaving pop top in situ . Our van is 12 years old so think it warranted a bit of tlc