As thoughts turn to better weather ahead and the start of the new caravanning season just around the corner, we show you how to clean your caravan thoroughly. Before you begin, however, and especially if your caravan has been in storage throughout the winter, it’s vital to carry out some basic maintenance and safety checks – our blog post Getting your caravan ready for spring will help.
Approach the cleaning methodically, and work through it in an orderly way – if you do this, you will be more thorough and nothing will be missed.
Clean the outside of the caravan
Always start at the top of the caravan. If you work from bottom up, as you get nearer the roof you will be showering the area you have just cleaned with dirty water.
How to clean a caravan roof
Often overlooked because it’s quite tricky to do properly, the roof is the place on your caravan that will get the dirtiest, as it is a large, flat surface. Use a stepladder and a hose and gently loosen any accumulated dirt and moss around the edge. If the hose won’t reach to the middle of the roof, a wash brush with extendable handle will help. To remove dirty water and dislodged debris, use a pressure sprayer on a gentle setting (avoid the area surrounding the skylight) or failing that, throw a bucket of clean water across the roof (make sure windows are shut!). Once loose debris has been removed, use a proprietary cleaner specially formulated for caravans such as Silky, which is non-abrasive and non-scratch to leave the caravan smooth and gleaming. Around the skylight, use a soft brush, always rinsing well afterwards.
Washing the sides of a caravan
Tackle the sides of the caravan like the roof – use a hose or bucket and sponge, with a specialist cleaner to avoid scratching the surface. Try not to use a pressure washer, however tempting, as you may damage window seals, resulting in leaks. Where black streaks appear after washing the sides of the caravan (from perished rubber seals) a specialist streak remover can help. A final coat of a specialist caravan polish will add a protective coating to keep dirt, black streaks and algae at bay.
How to clean caravan windows
Unlike houses, and static caravans which feature glass windows, touring caravan windows are usually constructed from double glazed acrylic panels. These can be prone to scratching and crazing (the appearance of cracks on the surface). Always use clean cloths on windows such as a chamois cloth or microfibre wash brush, and avoid anything abrasive (scouring pads) and avoid cleaning products with a chemical content. Use a specialist product for caravan windows and always rinse thoroughly before drying with a soft, clean cloth. For detailed instructions, read How to clean caravan windows. Once windows are clean, lubricate window seals to prevent sticking and cracking.
Products for cleaning your caravan from BEC Ingoldmells
Specialist black streak remover
At BEC Ingoldmells, we always carry stock of touring caravan, motorhome and awning accessories and supplies. Browse our touring caravanning supplies online or contact us via email at sales@becingoldmells.co.uk
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