Tips for Washing the Exterior of Your RV

After clocking in all those hours and miles on the open road, your RV will need some pampering. Traveling in all kinds of weather and camping under trees can make the exterior of your camper pretty nasty. Be prepared for grime, dirt, tree debris, and dead bugs sticking to your RV after every trip.

Washing the exterior of your RV is important for more than one reason. Not only is it unsightly, but all that dirt and grime on your vehicle can damage the finish and create a breeding ground for mold and mildew, especially on the roof. Ready to get to work fighting grime? Keep reading for our top tips!

Choosing the Right Equipment

You’ll need the right equipment to do a thorough job cleaning your RV. So if you have a power washer, that’s great! If you don’t, then getting the right brushes and soap can save you quite a bit of time and money. 

Invest in a collection of brushes that come in different sizes. Buy a brush with a telescopic handle that will make it easier to reach inaccessible areas of your camper. It will also save you from trudging up and down ladders. Get a bucket that is big and deep enough to fit the brush head. Keep the smaller brushes handy to clean the grill and wheels. When you have the right supplies within reach, your job gets a whole lot easier. 

When waxing your vehicle, there are more supplies required. To ensure that the exterior is completely dry, use a squeegee. You’ll need a large flat sponge to apply the wax and a soft cloth for polishing.  

Washing the Roof

When cleaning your camper, start with the roof as the water cascades downwards from there. There are two types of roofs – rubber and fiberglass – and each should be cleaned with a different technique. Avoid using sealants on rubber roofs as they cause more wear and tear and prevent the rubber from flaking naturally. Be cautious when climbing your roof and wear shoes with good grip as the surface will be slippery. As an added precaution, ask someone to stand behind you when you climb the ladder. 

You can remove a lot of leaves, pine needles, and grime with a good pressure wash, but the pressure should be just right. Too much pressure can damage the surface. Be sure to also keep the spray away from the vents, tank exhausts, and air-conditioning vents. 

Washing Strategy

As mentioned earlier, when washing your RV, start from the top and work your way down. Divide the roof into a grid so you don’t miss anything and can clean the surface without leaving any areas to dry still covered in soap and dirt.

Similarly, divide the sides of your camper into vertical columns and clean them from top to bottom. Move from one section to the next until the exterior of your vehicle is completely clean. 

Going the Extra Mile

Little touches when sprucing up your RV can make it look brand new. Use tire shine to make your tires look great, wash your windows with window cleaner, and wax your camper to make it look all shiny and new. 

When you’re ready to check out new and used RVs for sale in Wyoming, visit our dealership in Etna to see what we’ve got in stock. Airstream® of Wyoming is proud to serve our customers in the cities of Jackson and Casper, WY.