Based on recommendations here, I used the ZEP floor wax process last year and totally transformed the exterior of my dull motorhome. I initially put on 5 coats of ZEP wax and the motorhome shined like new. Now a year later and the shine is still there. However, the drips seem to be staining the exterior. I regularly clean/wash the roof/motorhome, but these drips/stains are getting more persistent. I did go to Camping World and buy a product made specifically to remove black streaks. I tried it on some areas and it did remove the streaks. However, it also seems to remove a layer of the ZEP wax as the surrounding area is a slightly different color. Not what I wanted.Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for keeping a ZEP shine streak free? Any specific product?Thanks.

I read on another forum that the only solution was to strip it and reapply the Zep.

I assume you are using a car wash soap. Try some dish soap and scrub the problem areas by hand. I have found that just scrubbing the stained areas repeatedly, usually removes them.

I have been using a quality car wash soap when washing. I was planning on adding a few more coats of floor wax and I guess I will scrub the areas really well first and recover with floor wax. Not looking forward to doing that again. A very long process. Thanks for the suggestions.

I had some light black run marks and used some more zep on a clean towel and it picked up the marks .. Not sure what it would do to an area with deeper stains

Get rid of the floor polish and do the job right. After stripping, using either using an orbital buffer or hire professionals, have it buffed back removing the dead finish and apply several coats of quality wax. You are going to get a lot of people telling you to wash and apply more of the same. But from personal experience it just does not last as advertised on the forums.

Streaks/stains on ZEP floor wax exterior - need advice

15 Replies

Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Mar 13, 2014
Every spring I do a light stripping of the Red Max Pro 3 using a diluted LA Awesome and a bit of scrubbing as needed with liquid Bar Keepers Friend. Once all the strikes, dirt, greasy figure prints and anything else are remove I normally only need one may two coats of RMP3 to return the shine.

What helped the most was installing gutters to keep the rain water from draining down the side of the coach.
hershey
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014
I use a mild soap solution when washing of Dawn detergent. It cleans the MH well and doesn't effect the shine or cause any other problems. My initial application is going on 3 years now and the only places that I've had to retouch is the door (poor preparation to start with) and the overhead cap...I tend to be very agressive on the bugs. I never add any wax so reapplication is an easy job on the small areas.
brirene
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014
ThorResidencyNewbee wrote:
I have been using a quality car wash soap when washing. I was planning on adding a few more coats of floor wax and I guess I will scrub the areas really well first and recover with floor wax. Not looking forward to doing that again. A very long process. Thanks for the suggestions.

That's what I would, and in fact will do, as soon as the weather breaks. I've had mine on for three years without any problems. Time for a new couple of coats.
FormerBoater
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014
Starbrite Black Streak Remover.

http://www.wholesalemarine.com/starbrite-instant-black-streak-remover-83061.html?gclid=CMibyrzbjb0CFYc7Ogod7WkAFw

Should work like a charm...available at most marine stores.
fpresto
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014
I recommend that when you was use an automobile wash solution only use the wash and not a wash and wax. I wasn't paying close enough attention and used a combo. A few months later I noticed that the front really looked bad and seemed stained and I was upset. On closer examination it was the wax discoloring and staining. When I removed the wax with Dawn detergent and 0000 steel wool the shine was back to normal. I assume that the Zep prevented the wax from adhering properly.
OnaQuest
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014
donn0128 wrote:
Get rid of the floor polish and do the job right. After stripping, using either using an orbital buffer or hire professionals, have it buffed back removing the dead finish and apply several coats of quality wax. You are going to get a lot of people telling you to wash and apply more of the same. But from personal experience it just does not last as advertised on the forums.

This is just your opinion. If you had a bad experience with ZEP (it is just my opinion) that you didn't do the prep work correctly. I've had ZEP (the original RMP-3) on my old Bounder for three years, and it still looks great.

I did coat the roof, to whiten it and stop the streaks, and will put a coat or two of ZEP on it if the streaks return. So far, they haven't returned.
C-Leigh_Racing
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014
The black streaks, normally are a combination of fall out junk from the sky & oils from the sealants used to seal the joints in the roof, so washed down by the rain.
As noted above, the dish soap, if you use a good quality type, take a wet rag & squirt some onto the rag & apply it full strength to the streak, let it sit a few minutes & then wash off, normally it will remove the streak.
By the streak containing oils, most regular soaps wont touch the streak & any other harsh/strong type of soap will harm the Red Max.
Neil
wildmanbaker
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014
Tor, that's the reason a lot of people use ZEP. If you do not want to use the ZEP, you could use auto paint. It would be reasonable if you can spray it yourself, otherwise ZEP is the way to go.
ThorResidencyNe
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014
Yep, I have a rubber roof. But thanks for the idea. As for "doing it right", I don't have a painted RV. The original gel coat was long gone when I got it. I tried the wax/buff method first but that does not work when it's just fiberglass. Having the whole RV re gel coated would be to costly, hence the reason I went with the ZEP wax.
2bzy2c
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2014
Do you have a fiberglass roof? If so, you might try applying the ZEP to the roof to avoid the streaks in the first place. What to do about the streaks that exist now I haven't a clue.

Just checked and you have a rubber roof. I'm clueless