Community Forums

farmerick4u · 05-04-2015, 05:37 PM

Well, maybe this is a lesson learned. Could be a normal thing. Maybe someone out there can advise?
Bought a bottle of "Best" rubber roof cleaner and conditioner from our local local rv store and dug out the brush and bucket. Followed the directions and cleaned the roof of my 1997 tioga. It looked really good when I was done. THEN, I climbed down and holy smokes!! White streaks all over. I mean everything. Even the tires. Instead of brush washing the bus I had to wash it by hand and that didn't take it all off. Anything black had to be really scrubbed. Even the windshield wipers were streaked in white residue. Took me over six hours and some spots are still not really clean. Is there a different way or different product that will not make such a mess or is this normal?

spsm · 05-04-2015, 05:51 PM

Welcome to the forum: That happened to me with my 99 Dutchstar. Scrubbed till my knuckles were raw, and then it rained and I scrubbed again. Must had bought the same stuff you used. Never used it again and I just used spic and span from then on. And that should not be normal, I would hope.

Ray,IN · 05-04-2015, 08:00 PM

Have another person on the ground, with a 2nd hose, washing away the roof washing stuff and keeping the sides wet will greatly reduce/eliminate streaking.
To remove dried streaks I use this: Crown RV and boat black streak remover and hull cleaner.

Ramets · 05-05-2015, 05:15 AM

I only use dishwashing liquid, and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Mop. Does wonders on a rubber roof. You didn't say how often you clean the roof, but I do ours at least twice a year, sometimes more if parked under trees for any length of time. That should really cut down on the white residue.

sprayman · 05-05-2015, 05:41 AM

something else to remember always wash a vehicle from the bottom up.

Jim

ArmandV · 05-05-2015, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spsm

Never used it again and I just used spic and span from then on.

I sure hope you don't get Spic 'N Span on your rig's paint! That stuff will ruin your paint job in no time!

Bigd9 · 05-05-2015, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprayman

something else to remember always wash a vehicle from the bottom up.

Jim

I have always heard that, but never understood the reasons why. Sure sounds counter intuitive to me.

spsm · 05-05-2015, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmandV

I sure hope you don't get Spic 'N Span on your rig's paint! That stuff will ruin your paint job in no time!

So far so good, but I'll keep my eyes open, and no doubt go with something else. Thanks for the input, just never heard of that.

ArmandV · 05-05-2015, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spsm

So far so good, but I'll keep my eyes open, and no doubt go with something else. Thanks for the input, just never heard of that.

We learned the hard way, unfortunately around 48 years ago. We decided to wash our 1963 Ford Fairlane and my mom mixed the soapy water with Spic 'N Span. It ruined the paint. If you Google Spic 'N Span and washing cars, you'll see that this is well-known.

Mike and Cha · 05-05-2015, 05:29 PM

I have just used dish soap or regular car wash so far. I have washed the roof about 5 times so far, with no problems or streaking. I always wash the whole MH after doing the roof. I don't get the logic of washing from the "bottom up". If you did that then all the dirt from the roof would be all over the MH, when you are done.

Ramets · 05-06-2015, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprayman

something else to remember always wash a vehicle from the bottom up.

Jim

Huh?

groeder · 05-06-2015, 07:06 AM

While serving as an aircraft mechanic for the USAF there were times that we would have to wash the planes. We always started at the bottom to wash after wetting the plane. It does not make sense, but the bottom being wet & washed will not absorb the residue from the rest of the plane. Once we did not follow protocol and, sure enough, we had to double scrub because of the streaking! Moral is that going from bottom up is doing it correctly.

Migkiller · 05-06-2015, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groeder

While serving as an aircraft mechanic for the USAF there were times that we would have to wash the planes. We always started at the bottom to wash after wetting the plane. It does not make sense, but the bottom being wet & washed will not absorb the residue from the rest of the plane. Once we did not follow protocol and, sure enough, we had to double scrub because of the streaking! Moral is that going from bottom up is doing it correctly.

Oh...the dreaded 'wash rack' !! Thats when i also learned you wash from the bottom up. Crew Chief USAF 71-75. Same applies if you wash your house down.

Ray,IN · 05-06-2015, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmandV

I sure hope you don't get Spic 'N Span on your rig's paint! That stuff will ruin your paint job in no time!

So, you are saying that happened to you? Wonder why then, Dicor used to recommend SpinNSpan to wash their EPDM roof, until they saw the money to be made selling their own brand of cleaners and protectants.
I've used SpicNSpan and Dirtex HD cleaner on my RV roofs for years without a blemish on the paint. Never had a reason to use it on an automobile.