Dawn Ultra or Borax to clean epdm roof?

This whole roof scrubbing and cleaning is somewhat confusing to me. I guess getting bird poop and other sticky residues off is a good idea but what's the purpose of shining it all up with chemicals?

mosseater wrote:
Soft bristle brush and Spin-N-Span. Twice a year, tops. I don't see the point in getting too carried away with it. It's meant to be in the weather.

X2, if you can find the powdered Spic N Span which is much better than the liquid stuff, it works great to whiten the roof up. Dawn works fine too, I've used both. Spic N Span will get the roof whiter if that's what you're after.

my primetime owners manual states that dicor recommends 4 cleanings per year... i wonder why they do this? i wonder if a dirty roof will void any warranty issues, or if the dicor roofs actually need to be clean? i rather not fuss over it..i rather just sweep it and forget it..i dont care honestly if its dirty... but if i have to i will mix some ultra dawn with water and use a sponge mop and take 5 minutes to do it... but i rather just sweep it and forget it..i can care less if its dirty or not..i just want the pine needles off it... will not cleaning it shorten the life at all? my dealer keeps telling me it will, but i dont belive them

These are the cleaning recommendations from the manufacturer (Alpha Systems) of the rubber roof on my Skyline Koala trailer.

Use a non abrasive house cleaner such as TOPJOB or SPIC N SPAN and a medium bristled scrub brush.

Do not use Acetone or any other product that contains distillates. Any product that includes oil distillates will damage the rubber roof.

They added that with periodic cleaning, no other roof treatment is needed.

Soft bristle brush and Spin-N-Span. Twice a year, tops. I don't see the point in getting too carried away with it. It's meant to be in the weather.

My trailer is not in covered storage and exposed to the elements all year. I used the Protect-all cleaner and then the protectant on my roof about twice a year. Looked great after doing. It did nothing to protect or extend the life of the roof. After 8 years the black was starting to show through. Now I coat it every two years with Hengs rubber roof coating. I for future trailers I think I will refrain from doing the cleaning and protecting thing.

I bought a trigger spray bottle of a product meant specifically for trailer roof cleaning and protection. Using that with a soft brush was very easy and I won't hesitate to do it again at the end of the season.

Although they sell a bigger bottle of the stuff, the smaller trigger bottle goes a long way if you're using a brush to build up a little foam. My TT box is approx 25' long.

Unless it's just unsightly to you, just sweep it as you said. It will add no life to the roof and may actually shorten it by cleaning. It's an industrial roof material that's meant to go a lifetime without cleaning.

in the year i have owned camper(purchased new)this will be my first time up on roof..dealer has been up there to do inspections, but i myself never went up there. i know its dirty because it sits under trees in a seasonal site.. i know i will at the very least sweep it all off.. if it looks dirty i will then just scrub it off very gently.. i am not gonna get it perfect nor spend all day up there, just give it a quick clean with dawn soap and get down and grab more beer...

I just use a soft bristle brush on a pole that attaches to my garden hose. With a little bit of scubbing and a stream of water it cleans up nice.

It can be slippery if you use soap so be careful.