Hey all, 3 yr old rig. Kept outside at a lot with other units on either side in Central Indiana. That's my setup.With Spring coming I am thinking about cleaning the outside. I have never with this unit or the last cleaned the roof. But I am guessing that I need to start there.The sides are all aluminum. They aren't terribly stained, but enough black streaks that I want them gone! I have a Karcher gas powered power washer. I want to do the lion share of the work with this and soap/cleaners. I don't want to do a ton of hand scrubbing basically.What are your recommendations? What works well for you and what has failed you?

Pressure washing can be touchy. There are a lot of sealed areas on the roof and sidewall, around the windows, and around doors and hatches. If you know what you're doing and use a fan tip, first letting the soap do most of the lifting, you may be OK. If you use a circle tip and decide to blast out seamed areas, you'll create problems.I'm not afraid to use a pressure washer on any surface but I don't blast away at dirt and I know when to back off. It is an art.If you have a lot of oxidation on the surfaces, buy a gallon of Jasco prepaint conditioner. Mix it at the 50% rate and spray it on your painted surfaces with a garden sprayer. Rinse well and before the Jasco dries. If you want gloss, spray or apply wax at your convenience.

On a rig that hasn't seen cleaning for a long time I would leave the pressure washer in your garage and prepare for a more thorough wash with a brush on your hose. As mentioned above too much pressure in the wrong area will do damage to decals, seals etc. Get some good soap in a bucket, some black streak remover and go at it. The roof manufacturers have recommended products based on the material on your roof. I have used simple green with good results...just please take care up there and take notice of any seams needing dicor. Some 303 aerospace protectant on tires and decals will really protect them well. I just don't think there are many shortcuts to the labor involved unless you pay others to do the work for you. Daryll

You may not want to do much hand scrubbing, but that's exactly what's required. I would not use a pressure washer for reasons mentioned above. I can't imagine not cleaning my rig for 3 yrs, but everyone is different. You probably have your work cut out for you now. I'd spray a small area at a time with rv black streak remover, scrub that in with warm dish detergent in a pale of water, then rinse off before the black streak remover dries. Be careful with it though, it can stain paint. Then when done, follow it up with a good coat of wax. Our just let it go as you have the past 3 yrs. To each their own. Like anything else, maintaining equipment takes effort, pain and simple. Your choice if you want to do it right or not. My bil has never waxed his rig and it shows. My 28 yr old rig looks better than his that's 11yrs old, but that's his choice.

I agree with others. I'll add that the best product I have found for the rubber roof is Dicor roof cleaner. And you still need to scrub some areas. I do mine twice a year. I can't imagine what it would look like after three years.

I never use a pressure washer on an rv. I use Dove dish soap on the roof and a automotive wash & wax on the sides.

Spring cleaning the roof and sides, best options

Coffee_Grinder
Explorer
Feb 13, 2017
I use a brush and a product called Orpine Wash & Wax . I generally clean 3 to 4 times a year due to the unit being outside.
pk1023
Explorer
Feb 13, 2017
OP here, thanks for all the ideas. I think I have what I need going forward!
Chandne
Explorer
Feb 13, 2017
I am meticulous about waxing and sealing my cars so I can do this. My main question is- my Lance 1575 has no ladder like most do. How do I get to the roof...with a regular ladder leaned up against the back? I assume I can get a long-handled brush I can attach to a garden hose so that seems easier. However, i will also need to get up higher to wax/seal the sides.
lgarcia
Explorer
Feb 13, 2017
I have never washed my travel trailer -didn't had an outside hose until a few month ago.
drsteve
Explorer
Feb 13, 2017
I would not use the pressure washer. Simple Green and a push broom for the roof, and the same for the sides. For the awning, spray with bleach water, roll it up, wait a half hour, roll it out, scrub with the push broom, rinse well.
hussbuss
Explorer
Feb 13, 2017
RV washing with a pressure washer. A few tips from my experience of over 25 years and 1000s and 1000s of washed trailers. I did this at campgrounds all over Wi. Use a wide tip 40 or 60 degrees. Stay at least 1 foot away from surface Use a back and forth pattern. Apply soap from bottom to top. Wash from bottom to top and then rinse top to bottom. Do not use a caustic truck wash chemical as these soaps will migrate into a Fileon type fiberglass exterior and change the color on your trailer. Run as far and as fast as you can from any Airstream trailer unless you want to buy it. A hot water washer works better than a cold water unit. Take your time. In over all my years I never had an insurance claim. The easiest way to wash your trailer is to have a mobile company come to you. Show them where the trailer is, sit on a chair, grab a cold one and watch the process. Cost will run any where from 50.00 on up depending on length. NOTE No trailer will come completely clean without some scrubbing to activate the dirt and soap. Use a soft truck wash type brush.
Camper_G
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
harley4275 wrote:
clean sides with any soap and water and scrub . finish up with maguires cleaner wax...buffer helps. all small scratches and fading gone. Polished up my 1997 lance tc with this method and it was just like brand new when done ..

I like the meguires cleaner/wax. Its a one step wax and will not harm the clear coat. I've been using it for several years now and it does a nice job, both on my cars, truck and rv.
harley4275
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
clean sides with any soap and water and scrub . finish up with maguires cleaner wax...buffer helps. all small scratches and fading gone. Polished up my 1997 lance tc with this method and it was just like brand new when done ..
spike99
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
NO power washer on my RV either. With Power Washer, way too much risk of blowing water into existing cracks and/or opening existing cracks / seams even more.

For EDPM roof cleaning I've tried liquid Spic&Span a few times. It didn't work very well. I then used Dicor EDPM rool cleaner and it worked much better.

For cleaning sides, I use diluted dish soap and rinse clean. The next day (after drying), I then apply NuFinish ( - click here - ) via manual wax on / wax off method.

Does this help? I then spray water on roof and sides and water instantly beads up and runs off. Dramatic reduction of black streaks and when black streaks needs removing, they come off very easy.

For roof and sides, I clean every 6 months. Works for me.
Ozlander
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017
My roof instructions said to use 'Murphy's Oil Soap'.
It does a good job.