Keeping Your RV Clean

Dust, mud, sap, and debris are some necessary evils of RV travels. When you're driving to camping spots, going cross country, or even storing your fifth wheel or travel trailer, there's no way around it: it's going to get dirty. There's nothing wrong with this, as it's perfectly natural, but if you want to keep your RV in good condition, you'll need to learn how to clean it properly on a regular basis. With these tips from Carolina Coach & Camper, you'll learn how to implement a regular cleaning procedure, with everything from roof washing to detail cleaning. If you're still in the market for an RV, feel free to stop by our dealership, serving Charlotte, NC, where we have a great selection of new and used recreational vehicles.

Cleaning the Roof

If you were to choose one part of your RV that absolutely needs to be cleaned regularly, it would be the roof. Sure, everything needs to get a good washing every once in awhile, but neglecting to clean the debris off the roof can lead to damaging leaks. Whether your vehicle is new or used, the roof can wear away quickly, which is why it's so important to maintain this part. With smaller travel trailers, you can easily reach the top by standing on a ladder. If you use one of these, make sure the ladder is planted firmly on the ground and stable enough for you to stand. With larger models, you can climb up and wash it from the top. In this case, take extra care of slippery spots, and keep steady when climbing up to the top. You should wear non-slip shoes, since these will help you keep your footing when walking around on a wet roof. It's easiest to clean small portions of the roof at a time with a light detergent and a brush on a telescoping handle. That way, you can scrub a little bit, rinse it off before the soap dries, and then move onto the next section. After washing everything, rinse it again with water and then use a squeegee to remove excess water.

Using a Pressure Washer

To clean the sides of your RV, a pressure washer is the most convenient tool out there. We advise that you don't use this on your roof, because it can easily tear away the rubber or other surface material, causing an expensive leak. However, if you're careful, there's no problem with using a pressure washer on the sides. Be careful not to peel off the paint and graphics, though. To effectively wash your sides, hold the hose about one to one-and-a-half feet away from the surface, start from the top of the RV, and move the nozzle back and forth in a broad sweep. Don't ever hold the water in one place more than a couple seconds, as this will start to peel away at the enamel or graphics. To get stubborn sap or other debris off, use a brush instead of the pressure washer.

Fiberglass, Metal, and Enamel

If you don't have a pressure washer, it's still pretty easy to clean the sides with the same telescoping handle you used on the roof. Simply use a bucket of soapy water and work from the top down. RVs might get dirty quickly, but they're also pretty easy to wash, so unless you're dealing with sap, you shouldn't need to apply too much elbow grease. In fact, you want to avoid pushing too hard, as this could wear away the enamel. After scrubbing each vertical column clean, make sure to rinse off the soap before moving onto the next one.

Detail Cleaning

Once the sides and roof are done, you can focus on those smaller nooks and crannies to make sure your travel trailer or fifth wheel is completely spotless. We recommend using automotive window cleaner to touch up all your windows. For your rims, you'll need to find a cleaner that's specific for their type. There are different cleaners for aluminum, enamel, chrome, and steel rims, so make sure you pick out a product that won't damage the material. Finally, you can clean up your tires with some tire shine, which looks really nice after cleaning the rest of the RV.

While it takes a bit of work to get your entire RV clean, it's a very rewarding process and will prevent a lot of structural issues that arise from an unkept surface. With this guide from Carolina Coach & Camper, you'll have everything you need to know about cleaning your fifth wheel or travel trailer. Also, if you still need a new or used RV, don't hesitate to come see us at our dealership. We serve customers from Winston-Salem, Asheville, and Spartanburg, NC.