Washing caravan at storage site with no water supply

[Barry C]

We do not have the option to park our caravan at home even for a short time, and our storage site, although very good in all other ways, has no water supply available, nor mains electric.

We have a couple of big 25ltr canisters I can fill up and put in the car, but really need to spray water and cleaner mix (so as to lift the green algae) off, including spraying across the roof. We've got a proper long handled soft bristle brush, with water feed capability, I've used for caravan cleaning before, so could at least still use the brush bit of it.

I'm fully aware that pressure washers are a big no-no, as can damage the caravan's seals, so I want something that can give a decent spray over a reasonable few feet, but not at high pressure. Also need it this way so as not to end up spraying over adjacent caravans.

I've seen a few cordless hand held spray gizmos, that look vaguely like a cordless drill, and come with a long length of tubing, which they claim will suck water out from a water container of some kind. But If I've got water in a container on the ground, and the pump bit of it in my hand for spraying across the roof, then it has to be capable of lifting the water 9 feet or so, which means it's got to be pretty good!

I'd be grateful for any thoughts or ideas for how others maybe deals with this. Many thanks.

 

[borderbilly]

Who told you pressure washers are a no-no? They are talking bull, used one for years and never had a problem.

 

[GUMPY]

Best way to deal with Green Algae is spraying using one of These on a dry day with Patio Magic, go home come back a week later and it will be clean.
Then you can look at the reset if it. I use a Dry Cleaner and lots of microfibre cloths, used to do the same on the boat.

 

[Beachball]

Who told you pressure washers are a no-no? They are talking bull, used one for years and never had a problem.

At our l site you would not be allowed to use them so i got some Greased Lighting Showroom Shine Waterless car and caravans, wash and wax ,easy and fast.

 

[Barry C]

Who told you pressure washers are a no-no? They are talking bull, used one for years and never had a problem.

Page 176 of the 2026 Swift Caravan Owners handbook:-

"CAUTION: Do not wash your caravan with a high pressure washer as these can permanently damage the seals of your caravan."

Seen it elsewhere in the past also.

 

[IanB1485]

I have several pressure washers and on the end of the wands the nozzles have two settings , one is high pressure low volume and the other is a lower pressure , higher volume .The thing with a pressure washer is not to get the nozzle too close and patience. They even have battery powered ones nowadays which would be a real boon at a storage facility like a farm were there is no power.

 

[Barry C]

Best way to deal with Green Algae is spraying using one of These on a dry day with Patio Magic, go home come back a week later and it will be clean.
Then you can look at the reset if it. I use a Dry Cleaner and lots of microfibre cloths, used to do the same on the boat.

Thanks, I'll look at that. We've been caravanning a long time, but only more recently not able to bring one home. In the past we've used the Fenwicks cleaning products, and found that once sprayed on then after 5 minutes or so the algae just virtually falls off.

 

[borderbilly]

Page 176 of the 2026 Swift Caravan Owners handbook:-

"CAUTION: Do not wash your caravan with a high pressure washer as these can permanently damage the seals of your caravan."

Seen it elsewhere in the past also.

Swift would say that, just another excuse if you make a claim on their shoddy workmanship.

 

[Mr Plodd]

I have used my domestic pressure washer ( Mains Karcher) on motorhomes and caravans for probably 25+ years without any incident.

The trick, if you can call it that, is to firstly not use the very fine pointed spray but the wide angle "flat" pattern nozzle, and secondly and more importantly, keep the nozzle a decent distance (at least 2.5 - 3ft) from the caravan/MH bodywork.

The spray is to rinse the detergent etc off like you woukd with a hosepipe and NOT "blast" it off from close range.