HOW TO KEEP THAT NEW CARAVAN SHINE

Spring is here and what better way to celebrate than with a good ol’ spring clean of your caravan.

Living in a more compact space such as a caravan means you need a quick and efficient way to keep it clean. Small spaces can become untidy and cluttered quickly, which can impact your enjoyment of the space. Keeping your caravan’s exterior clean is also a good way of extending its life and retaining its resale value. There are subtle differences between washing a caravan and a car that should be considered to avoid damage. Cleaning your caravan also gives you a great chance to inspect it and find things that need to be fixed.

Here are our top 10 caravan cleaning tips to get it sparkling for Spring. Before you start, remember to close the windows and doors and make sure all hatches are shut. You wouldn’t want any moisture creeping its way into your caravan.

Tip 1: Time and location

The first thing to consider is when and where you should get scrubbing!  It would be best to find a spacious shady area to park your van. You’ll also need to find a space where you can access all sides of the van.

Washing your caravan in the sun could prove to be a redundant task as the sun makes the surface dry quickly, causing watermarks. If you can’t find a shady area, wash your caravan during the early morning or later in the evening. Be sure to use a microfibre cloth to dry off surfaces as you go.

Tip 2: Pressure washers

Pressure cleaners are powerful cleaning tools. While they will clean your caravan they could also seriously damage your rig. Pressure cleaning your caravan could knock off small delicate parts and damage seals (causing leaks). Let’s not forget about the possibility of chipping your paintwork, particularly if you have an older caravan.

Rather than a pressure washer, use a regular garden hose with an adjustable nozzle or a bucket with warm water for wetting and rinsing. Washing by hand will also allow you to take a closer look at your caravan’s true condition.

BOSS TIP: If you have a pressure washer, you can use it on certain parts of your caravan such as the wheels and underbody. This will help get all the nasty stubborn grease and mud off those hard-to-reach places.

Tip 3: Have the right gear for the job

Unless you want an extra good workout with a hand sponge and have super long stretchy arms, consider using a soft-bristle brush attached to a broomstick or pole. You’ll also need a:

• Hose/ bucket of water
• Sturdy step ladder
• Sponge or wash mitt
• Specialist caravan shampoo/ cleaner
• Caravan window cleaner
• Caravan polish
• Caravan wax
• Microfibre cloth

BOSS TIP: Remember to rinse and inspect every washing tool before use to make sure there’s no rocks or debris that could scratch your RV.

Tip 4: Products

When washing your caravan, make sure you have the correct products on hand. Many people assume that washing a caravan is the same as washing a car and that the same products may be used. Many caravans are coated differently from cars and require a good shampoo, wax and polish meant specifically for caravans. Although a car shampoo will remove most dirt and grime, it could be quite abrasive to your caravan’s paintwork. It is always best to use products made for caravans that will provide the quality and long-term protection that your caravan needs. For example, if your caravan has fibreglass sides ensure that you only use fibreglass polish.

There are a number of leisure vehicle products on the market, such as Ozone Shield Caravan Shampoo and many more.

Adding some extra protection to your caravan with a product like RVGard will also help keep your caravan looking spick and span for the long term.

Tip 5: Start from the top

This might seem obvious, but you might think it is a good idea to start with the sides as they provide a larger surface area. Cleaning the top portion and roof will allow the dirt to run down the sides of the caravan. This way, you won’t ruin your hard work and cause double handling by requiring you to redo the sides.

The soapy water running from above will also help loosen grime, meaning it will be less stubborn when you reach the lower sections. This is the best way to save you time, water, and energy.

To reach the roof of the caravan a ladder will help along with a soft bristle brush attached to a pole/ broomstick. Although some caravan manufacturers say that it is safe to walk on your van’s roof, we would advise against it as it will become very slippery when wet.

Safety is very important so be sure to use a good sturdy ladder that is placed on a firm surface.

When cleaning skylights, undo the skylights and clean under the edges with a small brush, rinse and squeegee off. Sealants should be cleaned carefully as if you dislodge them you risk creating a gap.

BOSS TIP: Use a toothbrush dipped into a shampoo solution to carefully clean sealants.

TIP 6: Clean it everywhere

People often skip cleaning their caravan’s roof, wheels, and underside.

It may save you time and energy taking shortcuts and only cleaning visible parts of your caravan – which is ok if you are only giving it a quick clean to shine it up. But if your objective is to give it a thorough clean then be sure to get into every nook and cranny.

This will give you an even better opportunity to inspect your van. Cleaning parts that are not visible could help make your caravan last longer and age gracefully.

Do not forget awning rails and sides. All you need to clean canvas is some soap, water and a brush. You can use polish to remove stubborn black marks as it is a fine cutting compound. Do not use any harsh chemicals on canvas as it can cause it to deteriorate at a much faster rate. Be sure to dry all canvas before rolling it up again to prevent mildew and mould.

BOSS TIP: While you’ll find advice all over the internet advising you to use vinegar to kill mould, this is somewhat of a myth.  Vinegar is only effective against one type of mould, Penicillium chrysogenum. However, its low pH of 2 makes it acidic and potentially damaging to fabric.

Instead, we recommend using heavily diluted bleach to kill mould on your canvas, as it has been proven to kill a broad range of mould and spores. Bleach eventually breaks down into salt water, but can be dangerous when active. Make sure you read the instructions on the bottle thoroughly.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23016564/

TIP 7: Do not clean the windows like normal windows

Most caravan windows are made of acrylic, not glass. This means extra care needs to be taken when cleaning your windows in order to prevent scratching.

First, start cleaning your windows by gently rinsing them off with warm water to remove dirt or grime. Then use a non-abrasive product to clean the window before drying them off with a soft microfiber cloth. There are many specialised caravan window cleaning products on the market that are kind to acrylic, such as Vuplex .

BOSS TIP: Apply a thin layer of furniture polish to your clean caravan windows. It is non-abrasive and makes the rain just run off them.

TIP 8: Finishing touches

Once you have given your caravan a good clean, it’s dry and polish time. You can choose to let your caravan dry naturally or you could speed up the process with a large microfibre or chamois cloth – this is recommended if your caravan is out in the sun. When your caravan is dry, apply a good polish and plenty of elbow grease. Polish helps to eliminate surface scratches, swirls, oxidation, dirt, and other minor imperfections. This is a good opportunity to buff out additional marks/scratches and give it a last once over. Look out for issues that may be more visible up close.

BOSS TIP: If your caravan has swirl marks, use a multi-stage cutting compound which will help to smoothen the imperfections.

TIP 9: Keeping the shine

I know you may be thinking – why give yourself more work once the caravan is already clean? Is an additional step really necessary? Don’t worry, this step shouldn’t take too long.

Waxing and polishing achieve different results. Waxing your caravan is a great finisher as this will add a layer of shine to your caravan as well as a layer of protection to paintwork. This is the step that will help you get the sheen back on your caravan and leave it looking as good as new. When polishing, be sure to use a clean polishing pad to apply the polish and follow the instructions of the polishing product you are using.

TIP 10: Keep it clean and protected

You have put in all this effort to clean your caravan. By letting your caravan sit uncovered, it will get dirty all over again while you’re not even using it.

We highly recommend investing in a durable caravan cover that is breathable but will also protect your caravan from moisture and the elements.

Simply using warm water and a soft brush to clean your caravan cover will do. Do not use a pressure washer, detergents or chemicals as this could block the pores and affect the hydrophobic properties of the fabric.

Buying a caravan is a big investment, so maintenance is critical. Great maintenance all starts with keeping it clean. This may seem like a mammoth task, but regular washing helps prevent the accumulation of dirt and will reduce the amount of time required to routinely clean the caravan.

In essence, keeping your caravan in tip-top condition will not only keep it looking good, but it will also help it last longer. This should also help retain resale value when it comes time to sell.

BOSS TIP: Keep a log of when you clean your caravan. This will remind you to be consistent with your cleaning schedule.

Keep it Shining

Now that you’re informed with our top caravan cleaning tips, find your perfect RV to keep clean today. Search our extensive list of motorhomes and caravans for sale in Australia.

Have we missed your top cleaning tip? Share your handy hints, tips and recommendations from your caravan cleaning experiences with us on social media @facebook & @instagram.