Forum Discussion

JimK-NY's avatar
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Feb 24, 2020

Spring clean up with an RV treated with ZEP.

For those not familiar with ZEP, it is an acrylic floor treatment that some of us use instead of wax.

I waxed my RV with ZEP several years ago. Every Fall I give it a quick wash and wipe on another coat of ZEP. It has been sitting unused for over a year. Today was unseasonably warm on Long Island so I cleaned the RV getting ready for my first trip in a couple of weeks.

I spent a long time cleaning the dirt and rotten leaves and twigs off of the roof. The RV itself looked totally clean after sitting all winter. There were no streaks or stains. It just took a quick rinse to clean it up looking like new. The water still beads on the surface.
Seeking Advice
  • JimK-NY's avatar
    JimK-NY
    Explorer II
    Feb 25, 2020
    With ZEP I only needed a strong cleaner once. I drove through an unbelievable hatch of bugs at Klamath Lake. They baked on and months later I tried to clean up the mess. I had to scrub the nose of the RV to the point where I just stripped the ZEP in that area and started over. Typically dried on bugs will wash off with regular car wash soap. I would think lysol or vinegar would also work. Dampened anti static dryer sheets also work.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Feb 25, 2020
    The active ingredient in many Lysol products is benzalkonium chloride, but the active ingredient in the Lysol "Power and Free" line is hydrogen peroxide.

    bumpy
  • Pheonix87's avatar
    Pheonix87
    Explorer
    Feb 25, 2020
    I actually make my own floor cleaner with white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. I find it better than store-bought solutions, honestly.
  • Retired_JSO's avatar
    Retired_JSO
    Explorer
    Feb 25, 2020
    Used Zep several years ago. The decals along with the luster had degraded on our 2004 Sandpiper. I used a wallpaper steamer to remove the decals and taped off new ones, sprayed using Krylon spray paint. Then covered with Zep. As you can see, the Zep did good. Recoated about every spring.





  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Explorer III
    Feb 25, 2020
    kellem wrote:
    Can't say I've heard of Zep.....always use 303 couple times a year on entire exterior, yes roof too.

    303 Protectant is a completely different product than the one being discussed in this thread.
    Click here to read one of the original posts way back in 2012 of the instructions for using the Red Max Pro or Zep3 to restore the finish of an RV that has deteriorated over the years. There have been many satisfied followers of that post and I will probably do the same to my trailer one day. I already have 3 of 4 gallons of the Red Max Pro that were on sale several years ago. Gave one away to a friend.:)
    Barney
  • kellem's avatar
    kellem
    Explorer
    Feb 24, 2020
    Can't say I've heard of Zep.....always use 303 couple times a year on entire exterior, yes roof too.
  • JimK-NY's avatar
    JimK-NY
    Explorer II
    Feb 24, 2020
    Zep makes a stripper but a solution of ammonia works great.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Feb 24, 2020
    there recently (2,13,20) was an article in the washington post concerning removing mop and glo, an acrylic coating on the floor and recommended lysol, not a bleach. don't know if that was/is similar stuff however.
    bumpy
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Feb 24, 2020
    That's what I use on,our 96 Southwind, it does a nice job and is easy to apply.
    Actually mine is Red Max Pro, I still have some left, a gallon lasts a long time.
    RMP is the same as ZEP 3.
  • wildtoad's avatar
    wildtoad
    Explorer II
    Feb 24, 2020
    Nice report. ZEP does a good job. No one ever said it was a once and done (Forever). I used a different floor product and it too did a good job. But you still need to replenish it.

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