5 Smart Tips for Cleaning The Exterior of Your RV

As most RVers would agree, your RV is your badge of honor and a gleaming, well-maintained RV is a huge source of pride! Travelling on the road in adverse weather conditions and camping under trees always takes its toll on your vehicle. It is essential to wash the dirt, grime, bird droppings, and tree sap off your rig if you want to to keep it in great condition. 

To avoid raking up a heavy maintenance bill in the future, keep your RV clean and waxed. This guide by Broadmoor RV provides some great hacks for RV washing and cleaning. Wanna give your RV a thorough cleaning after a hectic vacation? Swing by Broadmoor RV located in Pasco near Tri-Cities, Yakima, and Seattle, Washington and let us take care of it. 

Use The Right Equipment for Great Results!

Spraying down your RV requires the right equipment. While soap, water, and an assortment of brushes will get the job done, a power washer provides great convenience of use and promises a thorough cleaning. The most important tool for RV care is a brush with a telescoping handle. This makes the hard-to-reach spots more accessible. Plus, no more trudging up and down ladders! 

And then of course the basics: You need detergent, brushes of different sizes, and a bucket big and deep enough for the brush head. When polishing your RV, a few more supplies are required. You’ll need a sponge to apply the wax and a few soft cloths for polishing the wax. Make sure your vehicle is absolutely dry before applying wax. 

RV Cleaning: Start from the Top

When hosing down your vehicle, start with the roof. Start spraying at the top and work your way down. If you choose to pressure wash your roof, be careful around your AC unit and the tank exhausts, as the seals around these components can be easily blasted away under such strong pressure.

RV Care Hacks to Keep in Mind

Vinegar is an excellent cleaner and is a mild acid that prevents water spots. You can also clean the exterior of your RV with baby shampoo if the dirt and grime is not too deeply set. If your RV has a roof that is built to be walked on, wear shoes that give you enough traction. Keeping in mind the ample space to be covered when cleaning your travel trailer, divide the roof into a sort of grid plan and then wash and rinse each section individually. This helps to keep areas from drying out with soap and dirt still on them and minimizes your chances of missing any spots.

Gaskets and Seals

Constant exposure to heat, cold, and the sun takes its toll on the gaskets. Keeping the gaskets in good working condition requires some basic and easy steps. Spray them with  silicone-based spray once a year or so to protect from UV degradation, and keep the seals flexible. This ensures the tight seal and solid fit you want. 

Wheels and Rims

When washing your RV, pay close attention to the wheels. The three common types of wheels on an RV are painted, aluminum, and chrome. You can use traditional cleaning methods on painted metal but keep your eyes open for rust or corrosion. Aluminum needs to be cleaned using aluminum cleaners. Chrome wheels are a little trickier than the rest, and require chrome wheel cleaners as they are non-acidic and protect the wheels' finish. Using the right brush and polish is an absolute must, or you might end up stripping the shiny outer coating right off.

Looking to give your RV a thorough cleaning? Trust the experts. Broadmoor RV is located conveniently in Pasco, WA. We proudly serve those in Spokane and Walla Walla, WA, as well Portland, Pendleton, and La Grande, OR. Get your RV fixed, accessorized and cleaned or swing by for a quick walkthrough. Our helpful staff are always there to show you around!