RV washing lessons learned

[ctpres]

1. Do not ask how I learned most of this.
2. Raise TV and Sat antennas BEFORE you go up to wash roof. Easier to wash under them.
3. Extend awning, easier to clean exposed section from roof.
4. If you have a ladder on rear, put rope or something between rails at highest point. I used rope thru piece of PVC pipe for a roller. When washing roof this allows hose to go up/down without dragging on sides or roof edge of RV.
5. Park with windshield uphill or use leveling system to get front higher than rear. Start roof wash at front and dirty water will run to back. Kind of like washing car top to bottom. Dirty water dosen't run over cleaned area.
6. On roof, leave shoes at ladder and wear old socks to wash. Much less damage to roof material and wet socks get good traction, much better than shoes. Small added benefit-if you miss a spot, just rub it with your foot.
7. Wash roof more often than sides to reduce the dreaded black streaks.

Lets see what else can be added to this to make washing our RV easier.

[mahon1993]

Also, do not wash roof alone. My wife is always near by when I am up there. A friend of ours fell off of his roof and laid there for 20 min. before his wife found him. [He's ok]
Greg

[John_N_Terry]

Originally Posted by mahon1993

Also, do not wash roof alone. My wife is always near by when I am up there. A friend of ours fell off of his roof and laid there for 20 min. before his wife found him. [He's ok]
Greg

Yep, that roof is slicker n' snot!

[okgc]

Never been a fan being on the MH roof if I didn't have to.
For me it is much easier, quicker and safer to climb a 10 foot step ladder and use the same extension pole/brush I use on the sides.

[scenic route]

I love working on the roof...on my hands and knees for 2 &1/2 hrs., scrubbing black grunge off a never before cleaned 'runway' with a bottle of Soft Scrub and a 3 by 5 inch kitchen sponge with a 'scrubby' on the back of it. Great FUN nursing those 'surfer knots' on my knees...but man, was that a CLEAN roof! Bob

[Wayne M]

Always send DW up to wash roof. (I have pictures of previous RV)

Actually, she's afraid I'd slip and fall and she wouldn't know what to do without me. ($$$)

[Meandering Retiree]

Hire someone else to do it.....

[Tugboat]

Was at the campground at the start of the season last year mid week in the afternoon. When pulling in a friend waved at me from the roof of his new fifth wheel. About three hours later I took my dog for a walk. And found out that his latter had fallen over about five hours earlier. Before I set up his latter I took his picture with my cell and sent it to his wife.

[wa8yxm]

The standard methods of washing the roof

One: On hands and knees..
Two: Mop and bucket

Better method: Replace the mop with a long handled "Van Wash" type car wash brush.

[scenic route]

Originally Posted by Tugboat

. Before I set up his latter I took his picture with my cell and sent it to his wife.

LOL! You sure know how to kick a man when he's...ahh, UP! I'm sure your friend appreciates the 'ammo' you gave her for future campfire tales. Oh well, women need some material for 'payback' where they can get it. Bob

[Triker56]

I have always done that in the past 8 years with my old awning. And I didn't care if all that dirty water ran onto it.
But I got a new 21' awning last summer. Non vinyl.

When I power washed my rubber roof today the awning was rolled up. It is a once a year wash to get all the Florida winter mold off it.
MH was level as it is set up to live in, but the roof is higher at the center then the sides. So no problem with the dirty water running off.

And I just found out it is a lot easier to wash the sides with the awning up.

I use to use the long handle brush and it took forever to do the roof. 3 years ago I went to a 1550 PSI 1.4 gal minute Power Washer and now can do the roof in 1/3 the time. And it gets under the vents, AC's, backside/front of the Datastorm & Trav'ler.

I will never go back to a brush.

On EDIT: To help cut the mold some I put 20% Algaecide on through the dispenser tank on the washer. Spray on and let sit for a bit. And then Power wash off.

[sadiebug]

I am told there are three points of saftey being used here even when using the part of the ladder that says "This is not a step".