Roof Cleaning Advice Needed

[toad a caravan]

I cleaned this roof using the method I used in my previous post on Oct 24..Gary

 

[Dustydog]

A lot of elbow grease👍👏

 

[toad a caravan]

Yes but not to much effort all at once,this is the second one I've done recently,my own and my cousin's,on my own I split the roof into four separate sections on his into eight,due to the different size of roofs,this I found the easiest,I used a soft nylon sweeping brush and a light pressure after applying blaze cleaning fluid,then hosed it of,until a decent finish,,the power washer stayed in the shed.

 

[Beachball]

Looks stunning what a great job you have done

 

[otherclive]

Looks fantastic but I don’t think I’ve seen one so bad. Mine would go October to end of March unwashed but I did use Fenwicks Overwintering fluid.

What causes yours to degrade that badly?

 

[toad a caravan]

The images are those of an Ace statesman that had been on a storage site,the a seasonal pitch,it belongs to my cousin that is partly disabled on bringing the caravan home I cleaned it for him,,

 

[toad a caravan]

Mine is shown on#4

 

[birdman101]

Looks fantastic but I don’t think I’ve seen one so bad. Mine would go October to end of March unwashed but I did use Fenwicks Overwintering fluid.

What causes yours to degrade that badly?

Another one for Fenwicks Overwintering keeps it very clean until washing in the Spring using Fenwicks Caravan Cleaner. Caravan is kept at home and used each month and on return home always give it a wash down with hose using the water only. Then end of November a good wash with Fenwicks first and then use the Overwinter again.

 

[otherclive]

Another one for Fenwicks Overwintering keeps it very clean until washing in the Spring using Fenwicks Caravan Cleaner. Caravan is kept at home and used each month and on return home always give it a wash down with hose using the water only. Then end of November a good wash with Fenwicks first and then use the Overwinter again.

We used ours during winter and the overwintering seemed to attract road muck, but I didn’t wash it, so by Spring it could look pretty grubby. But as you say Fenwicks cleaner would bring it up looking good again.

 

[Dustydog]

I find the hardest part of roof cleaning is the build up of lichens which need a lot of elbow grease. This year I finished off with Greased Lightning two in one cleaner and polish. Then sprayed over with Fenwicks as said by Clive and Birdman. Half done below

 

[woodsieboy]

I see on another forum Paul from Tourershine has given up, traffic problems, age related issues, and moving to France, given as reasons
I have booked our caravan with a local valeter who specialises in caravans, says it will be an all day job , just for the outside, and charges by the hour, cam highly recommended, will report back once it's been done

 

[Dustydog]

I see on another forum Paul from Tourershine has given up, traffic problems, age related issues, and moving to France, given as reasons
I have booked our caravan with a local valeter who specialises in caravans, says it will be an all day job , just for the outside, and charges by the hour, cam highly recommended, will report back once it's been done

Circa £200?
Let me loose on yours 😉

 

[Newtonian]

I've just been cleaning our caravan and am really struggling with the roof.

I usually use Fenwicks caravan cleaner, with a brush and it comes up fine, but not this time! I even tried a spot test with neat Fenwicks on a cloth, and that didn't make much impact.

Not wanting to use anything abrasive I used Silky cream on a patch, which works but takes a huge amount of effort.

I have added a couple of photos showing the problem and would welcome any advice/suggestions.


View attachment 7787View attachment 7788

How are you even getting to the roof, ladder and long arms?

I tried cleaning mine but it didn't go well

 

[Mr Plodd]

Strong concentration of domestic washing up liquid! It's designed/marketed to remove stubborn grease etc from saucepans and the like, so a caravan roof is well within its capabilities. Just be sure to apply a decent wax or similar once its clean as it will strip anything of that ilk that's currently on it.

 

[Beachball]

Our latest caravan looks stunning apart from the roof but one of the site rules cannot wash it so I ask they said they allow someone who washes the caravans and from £45 to me that sounds very reasonable with my motability issues .

 

[borderbilly]

Look at it another way, the only way anybody will see the roof is if you have a accident and roll it.

 

[woodsieboy]

Look at it another way, the only way anybody will see the roof is if you have a accident and roll it.

 

[woodsieboy]

You don't know my wife..........looking out of bedroom window,and also on the ferry in her words 'It's disgusting' so despite my protests that no one else worries, it has to be cleaned, there will only be one winner and it won't be me!

 

[RogerL]

You don't know my wife..........looking out of bedroom window,and also on the ferry in her words 'It's disgusting' so despite my protests that no one else worries, it has to be cleaned, there will only be one winner and it won't be me!

We have the same issue - the caravan is parked in front of the garage and the roof is visible from the front bedrooms - there are trees nearby so it gets filthy green over winter but there's a valeter not too far away that comes every spring and cleans it.

 

[Kevin M]

I always use the roof cleaning process to check the tape etc that is used over the joints.
I have a good ladder, use pipe insulation taped on it to stop any damage when against the van and always have either my son or wife footing it properly.
If it’s kept reasonable clean it doesn’t take much effort.

 

[GaryB]

One of the issues I've noticed with low caravan cleaning routine is the build up of algae/moss etc in joints, leaving those to continue to grow could well compromise the seal hence keeping things clean can prevent seal failure.