Community Forums

stevenapril · 03-08-2023, 05:56 AM

I'm new to this and have never washed something so large. Advice would be appreciated in terms of products and techniques. Thanks!

Dennis C. · 03-08-2023, 06:30 AM

There are several options for RV washing. The first is to wash it yourself. It’s really no different than washing your car, but you’ll need a ladder and a sponge/mop with a long handle. I use automotive car wash products on my RV. I prefer the products from Adam’s Polishes. You may find a self-serve car wash or truck wash that has bays large enough for your RV. There’s one relatively close to my house that’s nice to use when returning from a trip.

The next option is to use a truck wash service like Blue Beacon. I use these occasionally, especially if I’m on the road and I’ve driven in dirty conditions. They’re available at selected truck stops across the country. They aren’t great, but they remove the majority of the dirt from your RV’s exterior. There’s almost always a line, so the process takes about 30 - 45 minutes. It’s about $40, depending on the size of your RV and the options that you choose.

The third option is to hire a professional RV detailing service. I do this occasionally at the start of the season. In fact, I’m having this done on Saturday. I’m scheduled for a wash, polish, ceramic coating, and new roof sealing. This is obviously not cheap, but it makes sense to me to have it done periodically.

Mr. T · 03-08-2023, 07:01 AM

I just prefer to wash the coach myself. It takes me 2.5 hours to wash and spray wax. Yes, I'm moving pretty fast.

I have the following:
Pressure washer (Ryobi 1600 PSI)
Foam sprayer
Brush or lambs wool pad
Extension handle (get the one at Lowes in the paint section)
DI rinse (for a spot free rinse)

As for wax, I hand wax mine once a year and use spray wax while on the road.
Most (what I would call non destination) parks do not allow washing at your site.
For those, I've never had an issue just washing the front.

Dennis C. · 03-08-2023, 07:05 AM

Some large RV parks offer a mobile washing and detailing service at your camp site. I had this done once at a park in Arizona and it was nice.

twojayhawks · 03-08-2023, 07:24 AM

I recommend a foam cannon. I have a cheapo from Chemical Guys, and it is used with the garden hose. I spray the coach down with the garden hose, then spray it down with the foam cannon, attack it with my Marry Moppins wool pad on a telescoping pole & bucket of clean water, rinse & call it good. Sometimes I hand dry it. If your wheels are a polished & sealed aluminum product keep harsh wheel cleaners away & use only soap & water. Let's not get into which car wash soap to use as there are a zillion products & they are all good. I use Meguirs only because that's what's at Costco in a gallon jug. I use a lot of soap with the cannon.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/torq-fo...ernal%20Search

https://www.goclean.com/rv-cleaning

Gumpster808 · 03-08-2023, 07:37 AM

You probably have Diamond Shield installed like we have on our 22 SuperStar.

To ensure that doesn’t get messed up I reached out to them for approved products along with going through the paperwork provided.

I’m using their wash for now since they had it in stock.

They recommended either Mothers or Meguires wax products. I’m using the Meguires ultimate liquid wax with a Ryobi 5 inch 18 volt buffer at 3800 rpm to polish.

The other product for the diamond shield is 303 Aerospace protectant which they approve for use.

Use a lamps wool mitt or the microfiber mop type on an extension pole to reach the higher areas - no brush type on the paint.

Our outer wheels are polished so just some dawn in a bucket to wash those.

Lois Clark · 03-08-2023, 03:25 PM

I agree with what the others have said. I have a water softener, so my tank water is softened and reduces spots. I hook my pressure washer to my coach for both water and electric (generator on). When I do a good job, it takes 2-3 hours.

BayRunner · 03-09-2023, 07:21 AM

There’s a Mega RV wash location just off I-95 in Virginia that I’ve used in the past. They use reverse osmosis water to prevent spots and have options for brush or touch less washes. It’s also a Harvest Host location so makes a stop over and wash convenient.

Country Road · 03-09-2023, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenapril

I'm new to this and have never washed something so large. Advice would be appreciated in terms of products and techniques. Thanks!

I believe you are asking for self wash tips and you have received several that will work well. If you do it yourself, you’ll like the extension pole idea with a lamb wool pad and rinse of with softened water. Wax or polish periodically except for the front, do it more often. Storing indoors helps me a bunch.

Oh yeah, don’t forget to clean the roof and check caulking while you are up there. Be careful.

Capt. Bill · 03-09-2023, 10:27 AM

I have been washing my coaches for close to 50 years! I have always used Theford Wash & Wax with a very soft brush - green in color- and DI water. The DI water systems comes from CR Spotless Water ( 866-350-9993- Give them my name if you order one & we'll both get $50 rebaits) and will leave your coach spot free- I only dry the SS & glass. I mix the Wash & Wax in a 5 gal bucket of DI water with a silt grate in the bottom- Auto-zone stores have these silt grates for 5 gal buckets.

Be sure to wet a 4-6' area ahead of your brush washing- then rinse thorughly & move on. Wash & wax will leave a nice clean shinny surface. I wash the tires with a separate smaller brush using McGuyers Aluminum wheel cleaner. I wash the AL rims with a hand wash mitt using the wheel & rim cleaner sprayed on the mitt- be sure to rinse it after each rim to remove all grime & grit so as not to scratch the AL rims.

I polish the Diamond Shield with Aero Space 303-based on their recommendation, I polish the coach once a year with Protect-All polish & it really holds up.

It takes me about 2.5 hours to really get it clean- the coach is stored in a heated & A/C shed with concrete floor when not in use.

Rev. Roy · 03-09-2023, 11:34 AM

I adopted the principal years ago of NEVER using a brush on my RV. Tiffin actually has a sticker on their new motorhomes stating that. I use sheepskin pads for cleaning and do my final rinse with deionized water. Once a year I do ceramic coating. I have the advantage of a large RV garage where I have scaffolding so I don't need to work off a ladder. For on the road I have a foam cannon and a power washer along with the water deionizer.

Rescar · 03-09-2023, 03:29 PM

We full-time in our Bay Star and there's no garage storage for us. Careful use of pressure washer, soap of your choice, USE LAMBS WOOL ONLY on all painted surfaces, and I hand dry with a chamois to avoid water spotting. I wax annually (use what you want... the opinions are all over the place) using a 6" buffer with microfiber application and removal. Diamond Shield gets semi-annual treatment using their own renewal chemical. If you wash the roof as well (I recommend it), do that first but DO NOT use bleach... Dawn dish soap or regular car soap will do just fine (I do use a gentle brush on the EPDM surface). I take my time over a couple of days - but I'm retired so can afford the extra time and detail attention I want to give our unit. Whatever you decide - LAMBS WOOL ONLY on the painted surfaces to avoid nasty scratches on the clearcoat finish. Have fun!

Rescar · 03-09-2023, 05:31 PM

Sorry... we have a DuraShield on the front of the coach... not Diamond Shield. My bad.

buddy110 · 03-14-2023, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. T

I just prefer to wash the coach myself. It takes me 2.5 hours to wash and spray wax. Yes, I'm moving pretty fast.

I have the following:
Pressure washer (Ryobi 1600 PSI)
Foam sprayer
Brush or lambs wool pad
Extension handle (get the one at Lowes in the paint section)
DI rinse (for a spot free rinse)

As for wax, I hand wax mine once a year and use spray wax while on the road.
Most (what I would call non destination) parks do not allow washing at your site.
For those, I've never had an issue just washing the front.

That's pretty much how I do mine as well, less the spray wax. However, I prefer a touches wash with DI rinse and my maintenance washes. Image car wash makes a two step, alkaline/acidic ph soap which lifts the dirt off really well. I get about 90%+ of the crud off without touching the paint. I don't know what paint Newmar uses but Entegra uses Sikkens and it's stupid soft and mars easily. I try to keep my paws off, because correcting the paint on a 45' motorhome is not something I want to do often. I hate swirl marks!

https://washproduct.com/collections/...caAtCbEALw_wcB