// Removing, well…everything.//

It was pretty clear that the floor was going to have to be removed, as it had completely rotted out in more than a couple areas. But, if you’re going to remove the floor, you have to remove everything else as well. Sounds easy, right? Well, since Scamps are fiberglass, everything that is attached is riveted to the walls. Between my boyfriend and dad we finally got all the rivets out and began removing the furniture and then the floor.

Looking sweaty and miserable removing the cabinets. 

Top and bottom cabinets removed. I was so jealous of that clean, white ensolite behind the cabinets.

The “upstairs” removed.

By the end of the day we had the whole floor removed, but a storm came so I didn’t take pictures. The next thing to tackle is to decide what to do about the peeling latex paint that’s covering the ensolite. 

// Power-washer Magic//

The next obvious task was to clean the outside of the Scamp. I insisted to my dad and boyfriend that I would be doing this all by myself. At first it was awkward to have  everyone watch as I got used to the power-washer, but I knew that if I did it myself I would feel so accomplished afterword.

Although it was a messy job, it was magic to watch years of nasty buildup disappear before my eyes. Dad made a great ladder holder and didn’t even complain when he ended up almost just as soaked as I did. 

Boyfriend is also a good ladder holder, and he’s also a little overprotective about me falling…he must know by now how clumsy I am.

To me, it’s like a brand new camper! Well, on the outside at least.

// A Little Less Trashy//

It took over an hour to clean out pretty much everything that wasn’t tied down. By the time my parents got home I’d removed everything but the mattress, which had become a metropolis for probably a billion ants.

The living room after removing the cushions and trash. Notice the trippy spray paint job…lovely.

The kitchen after getting the garbage out of the sink and cabinets…I can’t wait to fix this area with new doors, paint, a stove top, and fridge.

It’s actually a lot roomier without all those blankets over the windows and pillows everywhere.

Still all smiles after a dirty, sweaty day of work. I can’t wait to really get in there and start scrubbing everything down…years of cigarette smoke, mildew, and just nastiness has really taken a toll on this little camper. It will be a lot more fun to work on it once I feel safe to breathe or touch everything without rubber gloves on.

// A Long Way to Go//

I couldn’t wait to get started on cleaning the Scamp. The night we brought it home was spent researching countless blogs to find inspiration and tips on how to make it my own and make it safe and livable. The next morning I got up and got right to work on cleaning out pretty much everything inside it. Here are some shots of the interior before I started cleaning it out.

Here is how it looked opening the door. The previous owners graciously allowed us to keep every nasty, mildewed blanket and cushion in the place, along with every cigarette butt, bandaid, and even an almost empty bag of what looked suspiciously similar to pot.

The lovely living room area.

The bedroom. 

And the kitchen.

// A Dream Come True//

Here is my Scamp on the night we brought it home. As you can see, it needs a lot TLC, starting with the outside, which has the typical mold and mildew seen on a camper that hasn’t been moved or cleaned in years. Note how incredibly excited I am to have it home.