Oxyclean? Dawn? Bleach? Spic-n-Span? Thetford Premium Rubber Roof Cleaner & Conditioner?The roof was in a coastal wooded area, not directly under trees.It is the white EPDM and feels a little "slimey" with a little green tint, especially on the edges.No cuts, holes, or leaks.I'm thinking maybe algae? A little mildew?I've read a wide range of opinions about cleaning EPDM/Rubber roofs. Generally "leave it alone but keep it clean, unless you have to"I am thinking I need to kill off any of the growth, but prefer not to hard scrub our 12 yr old roof. I plan to reseal and possibly replace a vent or two, but not much else since there aren't any active leaks that we've found.We were considering oxyclean or bleach to kill the growth, but will that be any problem for the fiberglass sides or the Dicor sealant or plastic roof parts, like vent cover, fridge vent cover, etc?It's on our 2005 Keystone Cougar 304BHS Bumper Pull.Opinions and ideas? Favorite products?

Here's a link to the Thetford Premium Rubber Roof Cleaner & ConditionerI've seen roofs get thin and wear through on the edges. Trying to avoid that.Does anyone else clean their roof? How often?

The growth does no harm to the roof and as you know, aggressive cleaning only shortens its life.The manufacturer recommends SpicNSpan. Anything with bleach does a great job (I once spilled some Tylex up there and it was the whitest spot on the roof!) cleaned but probably isn't very good for it.

I cleaned my rubber roof 2x a year wih rubber various suggested roof cleaners that did not contain petroleum distillates'Its been advised NOT to use on rubber roofs : Petroleum distillates are hydrocarbon solvents produced from crude oil. These solvents include mineral spirits, kerosene, white spirits, naphtha, and Stoddard solvent. Petroleum distillates are good for removal of heavy oil and grease, tar, and waxes.http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-how-to/trailer-tech/keeping-an-rv-roof-in-tiptop-shape/

ScottG wrote:The growth does no harm to the roof and as you know, aggressive cleaning only shortens its life.The manufacturer recommends SpicNSpan. Anything with bleach does a great job (I once spilled some Tylex up there and it was the whitest spot on the roof!) cleaned but probably isn't very good for it.I'm not sure if the growth will hurt the roof or not? I could believe either way ;)I've read bleach is okay...but...it is still bleach, so too much for too long is detrimental to most things. I'm hoping it would be okay to use one of the hydrogen peroxide products instead to kill off the growth.Then there is the fiberglass sides and plastic trim, over which whatever used on the roof will drain as it is rinsed. Will it hurt or leave marks?Aggressive cleaning? Yeah, trying to avoid that. My goal isn't "whitest whites" rather preserving the roof. I do not intend to get into a roof cleaning routine, except maybe hose and rinse, maybe use some dawn to keep the sticks and leaves and residue off it on occasion.I appreciate your thoughts on it, trying to do the right thing here.

bobndot wrote:I cleaned my rubber roof 2x a year wih rubber various suggested roof cleaners that did not contain petroleum distillates'Its been advised NOT to use on rubber roofs : Petroleum distillates are hydrocarbon solvents produced from crude oil. These solvents include mineral spirits, kerosene, white spirits, naphtha, and Stoddard solvent. Petroleum distillates are good for removal of heavy oil and grease, tar, and waxes.http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-how-to/trailer-tech/keeping-an-rv-roof-in-tiptop-shape/I read that exact article, thanks ;)What did you use to clean the roof? Was it just a cleaner or also conditioner? How old was your roof?I'm not sure about the Murphy's Oil Soap suggested in the article? We thought it a bit odd suggestion, didn't you? We've used that indoors on wood with good results.After the roof, we're planning on a full wash and then some kind of wax. I use a cleaner wax on my vehicle, maybe the same for the camper? I've read automotive wax is good for the fiberglass, but also read about marine gelcoat stuff?Whatever we finally use, it's good to take care of the roof first, otherwise the runoff could strip the wax we just put on :EI'm going to have to setup a place to host pics....Thanks ;)

Cleaning Brite-Ply EPDM Roof? | Good Sam Community

DiskDoctr
Explorer
Apr 05, 2017
LarryJM wrote:
I recommend you do the same as the commercial roof folks .... NOTHING ... attempting to clean will IMO only shorten the overall life of the roof due to abrasion and removing the naturally occurring residue that forms over time.

Larry

Thanks, Larry.

My main concern is the algae and/or mildew on the roof. I know it can be destructive to a lot of materials. The killing of it was the reason I started this thread.

I agree once this stuff is killed that leaving it alone appears to be the right solution.

It seems no one else is concerned about killing possible growth on their EPDM roofs?
Community Alumni
Apr 05, 2017
DiskDoctr wrote:

Yeah? What does it do to the fiberglass sides? Do you then wash them off and wax or whatever...or do you use Murphy's Oil Soap on the sides, too?

I've washed trailers, cars and trucks, and a whole bunch of other stuff with it. It's not really that aggressive of a cleaner. It doesn't strip wax well so it ends up being a good car wash type solution. It leaves it's own film which is where you get the shine from. I normally put Nu Finish on once a year and just wash with something mild like car wash soap or Murphy's in between.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2017
Out of sight, out of mind is not a very good mindset concerning a RV roof - IMO of course. I clean mine at least once a year, continually make sure derbies are washed/blown off. You can't get very aggressive with a soft brush and some spray cleaner. I've never had algae or moss growing, and it makes it a heck of a lot easier to check my caulk seams for cracking.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Apr 15, 2017
Dawn dish liquid and a "mop" swashed around on top is what I'm using so far. Still looks dirty up close, but see the pic for the difference.

I need a better brush/mop. This one wants to flip over and I don't want to damage the roof.
drsteve
Explorer
Apr 16, 2017
I clean mine once a year with a bucket of Spic-n-Span and a push broom. Keeping the roof clean will help avoid getting those unsightly and hard to remove black streaks down the sides of your camper.

As for the algae growth, the best cure for that is probably a little bleach in the wash water, and sunshine.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Apr 16, 2017
drsteve wrote:
I clean mine once a year with a bucket of Spic-n-Span and a push broom. Keeping the roof clean will help avoid getting those unsightly and hard to remove black streaks down the sides of your camper.

As for the algae growth, the best cure for that is probably a little bleach in the wash water, and sunshine.

Thanks! I think after washing and drying in the sun, we may try a little bleach water with lots of rinsing, just to be sure.

Then off to re-seal-it land ;)

Happy Easter everyone!

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