I try to use the Cleaner/Conditioner at least a season. Is that enough? We try to camp once a month starting with Easter weekend and finish Christmas. When it's not in use it's stored inside a shed, so the sun is not an issue. The shed has a dirt floor and the tires are on 2x12's when inside, so dust is sometime an issue.Thanks for any advise.

Some people seem to be amazed that we would ever wash/clean the roof??? I have done ours 2-3 times a year. I have been told this is over kill, but I like to keep the whole thing clean...this extended stay on the roof also provides me an opportunity to inspect for any brewing issues.

In the 13 plus years of owning my 17 year old MH. I have never used any Cleaner/Conditioner on the roof.I do wash it twice a year with a power washer without any soap or brushing.I Full Time in it and it has always been outside 24/7/365The Roof still looks good for a few more years use yet.My tires are covered on any over two week stays. I do replace the G670's every 10 years if needed or not.

Just wash it with soap and water with a bit bleach a couple of times a year and at the same time inspect the roof for any needed maintenance. No need for conditioners.

I imagine the OP is using an RV type roof cleaner and an RV type conditioner. If you are, you're doing well once or twice a year at most. I use only RV cleaner and conditioner. I wash the roof, usually in the early Spring and go ahead an use the conditioner at that time. If I begin to notice black streaks forming on the sides too much, I'll then wash the roof again, usually by August or early September. If washing, I always use the conditioner.There are some that say it's OK to to use bleach, Spic-n-Span, all sorts of stuff. For me, using the cheaper cleaning solutions is not something I want to take a risk on, in the long term, deteriorating the roof. But RV roof cleaner and conditioners are designed for the rubber roof. I don't mind paying the little extra for the correct cleaning solutions. I've NEVER had to caulk anything on my roof, on 3 different travel trailers because the caulking was deteriorating and cracking, NEVER! .... I think the reason so many folks have to recaulk so much is because of using harsh cleaners! That's something to think about. So if you are using the RV cleaner, go ahead and use the RV Conditioner every time you wash. It's an extra step, but well worth it in long long. If you wash once a year, use the conditioner once a year. If you wash twice a year, use the conditioner twice a year. Basically, every time you wash, use the conditioner. It will keep the rubber roof healthy, and will also help the areas where caulking is.

The title said how often SHOULD you... I'm fairly certain your owners manual doesn't have any requirements about cleaning or conditioning your roof. I know that if it is a Dicor roof, the manufacturer has ZERO requirements about cleaning or conditioning.The rubber roofing material is designed in such a manner that washing isn't needed. It is designed to sit out in the sun and not leak water. It naturally chalks off the white material over time and still does not need to be cleaned.The only portion of your roof that requires any maintenance at all is the caulked seams where the roofing material ends and the sidewalls of your camper start. That is the only thing that you need to worry about cleaning and inspecting. Water and a brush are more than enough to clean that to inspect. I usually have Eternabond tape covering that caulked seal, so I never needed to worry about any of that.My old trailer was 17 years old when we sold it 2 years ago... never once washed or conditioned the roof. In fact, I think I only washed the walls once the entire time I owned it...I have washed my new trailer exactly twice in a year and a half... just because its new and I feel compelled to wash it. The roof... never washed. At some point this year I plan to Eternabond the seams, so I will wash the edges in preparation for the tape.That being said... I'm sure you can wash and condition your rubber roof as much as you can afford. Just make sure that you don't use a product that contains petroleum distillates, or anything else specifically excluded by the manufacturer.

How often should you use cleaner/conditioner on your roof?

seaeagle2
Explorer
Apr 11, 2016
I'm gonna toss this out there. One of the older threads on roof cleaning pointed out that this is the same stuff they roof warehouses with. When was the last time you saw a warehouse roof getting washed.
bogie514
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
I wash my roof twice a year with a weak Simple Green solution and do not use a conditioner. I scrub with a long handled car wash brush and rinse with lots of water. I do apply 303 Protectant to the plastic covers. My camper is stored outside.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2016
D and A plus 6 wrote:
I try to use the Cleaner/Conditioner at least a season. Is that enough? We try to camp once a month starting with Easter weekend and finish Christmas. When it's not in use it's stored inside a shed, so the sun is not an issue. The shed has a dirt
floor and the tires are on 2x12's when inside, so dust is sometime an issue.

Thanks for any advise.

Never since it's not needed and is basically a WASTE OF $$$. Also IMO it might actually reduce the overall life of your roof by removing any built up sacrifical layer that naturally happens and/or remove any layer of dirt that actually provides extra protection not to mention any scrubbing even with soft brushes you might do.

The only time I would consider cleaning my roof is once the weeds get too high.

Larry
crcr
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
Taz 23 wrote:
I wash my roof once a year in the spring. A clean roof doesn't streak the sides of the trailer as much as a dirty roof.

x2
rbpru
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2016
My Dutchmen Lite has a roof you cannot walk on so the only way to clean it is from a ladder against the side. Good luck on that, you will end up taking a bath in whatever you are cleaning the roof with. You can of course erect scaffeling or try hopping about and moving 3'x 3' peices of plywood to stand on. You can, I am to darn old.

At best my roof will get a once a year bath with a garden hose and an inspection of the seals from the a ladder.

Dirt does not leak, seals, cracks and worn spots leak.
Triker33
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
spoon059 wrote:
The title said how often SHOULD you... I'm fairly certain your owners manual doesn't have any requirements about cleaning or conditioning your roof. I know that if it is a Dicor roof, the manufacturer has ZERO requirements about cleaning or conditioning.

YES they certainly do.
Dicor's Rudy's Expert RV Roof Care PDF
Download HERE
Taz_23
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
I wash my roof once a year in the spring. A clean roof doesn't streak the sides of the trailer as much as a dirty roof.
D_and_A_plus_6
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
Thanks for all the info, when I wash the roof, usually wet it down, have a bucket of hot water and a mild soap and a long handled soft brush, go over all the roof, front to back. Then take the Thedford Premium Rubber Roof cleaner/conditioner, spray in on, brush it in then rinse off then wash sides of camper. Just trying to keep my camper looking nice and last longer. I also realize the sun's UV rays are hard on things and that's why I keep it under roof all I can, but then its dust and birds.
OH48Lt
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
A good product to use on the rubber roofs is Tide powder without any additives. Getting hard to find, as most Tide comes with bleach and other oxydizers, abrasives, or perfumes, or any combination of the above. A small box of the stuff will last a lifetime. A small amount in a 2 gallon bucket and a soft bristle brush will do the trick. Rinse VERY well. Hose down the side of your rig so streaks don't form with the rinse water. Be careful up there, that stuff is slippery.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Apr 10, 2016
Camping Life article.

Dicor You Tube video.