General Cleaning
The Lazy Daze Manual is quite good on the subject. Based on 2 1/2 years of experience with my new LD, let me expound. First, avoid soaps. They not only remove wax, I believe they harm the finish (despite what the advertisements say). Cold water does a great job. I use an RV brush on an arm to do the roof and the areas too high to reach. Then, for the areas I can reach, I use a lambswool mitt.
For washing on the road, I carry one of the felt washers with an extendible handle. To dry the areas I can't reach, I use a windshield squeegee with an extendable handle to remove the droplets, and then I put the chamois over the squeegee and dry. For the rest of the coach, I use a large window squeegee and the chamois. The artificial chamois with the small holes work best for me because they hold more water than natural ones.
On the road, I always remove the bugs every sunny day. To remove them I blatantly use a hose and scrub them with a windshield scrubber on an extended handle.
I use the Microfiber towels primarily for cleaning. Specifically, I use them when detailing the cars and cleaning windows. They do an excellent job of removing polish and wax without scratching the surface. 100% cotton terry cloth can be nearly as good if a) the towels are indeed 100% cotton (made in USA is the safest bet. Burning a fiber is the best test. If the towel fiber leaves an ash residue, then you have pure cotton. If it leaves a hard "ball" behind, it contains polyester or another synthetic that will scratch your paint surface.) and b) they have been washed repeatedly without fabric softener.
For those folks who don't have access to - or don't wish to - wash their LD's the conventional way (soap, scrub, rinse), we have found a great product: Dri-Wash 'n Guard. You simply spray it on and wipe it off and you have a washed/waxed vehicle that compares to the best of the best. It's a bit pricey, but we think worth the price. Find it at http://www.dri-wash.com
Cleaning the cab-over
The top and sides of the faux windows are easiest done from the roof. Lie down with your feet to the rear and reach down the windows and sides (don't forget to wax the faux windows.
The front (curve) of the cab-over is reached from a ladder set up by the engine hood. The bottom of the cab-over is more difficult. Try placing a furniture pad on the hood to protect it and then lie on the hood on your back, reaching up to clean and polish that area. It's hard to not slide off the hood, so park close to your closed garage door or some other object and use it to brace your feet.
The worst part is the inch or less between the windshield and cab-over. To remove bugs use a soft clothesline, soaked with bug remover, and see-saw it back and forth from the sides with the help of your SO. For waxing and buffing, use a cloth on the end of a metal strip (an old long Tee square, for example) but even with that, you're probably fooling yourself if you think you are giving it a good coat.
Or try this: Getting the bug stains from the crease above the windshield has always been difficult for me. I am 6'4" and still can not reach the middle section without balancing on the hood - and that's not a good idea.
My solution was to use a refrigerator coil cleaning brush which just the right size and add a length of PVC to stiffen the flexible handle. Use Bug Off to make it quick and easy. Wash off the Bug Off.
If you have a better solution, please tell.
Black Streaks
The dreaded black streaks are usually caused by dirt on the roof, as well as by smog and junk in the air. Any thorough cleaning of the rig should begin on the roof.
You can greatly reduce black streaks by installing stick-on gutters along the top of each side. At least with them, you will have to contend with the streaks only at the ends of the gutters. A neat trick to help with the streaks at the end is to clip a clothespin on the spout at the end of the gutter to divert the water away from the side of the RV. Be sure to remove them before traveling.
Bug Removal
When your coach is well-polished, bugs will generally clean right off without too much extra effort. Occasionally, though, you may find the of the rig plastered with some pretty persistent remains that defy the normal methods. About a year ago I wanted to try "Bug-Off", which had been touted in this group, but could only find "Bugs-b-gone". Wow! did it do a job. You spray it on for a minute then wipe off. I can say I unhesitatingly recommend it. [Both remove bugs. Be sure to remove it promptly don't let it dry, if you like your paint. Hose off any drips on the hood promtly]Tannic Acid StainsWhile camping under newly blooming oak trees in Georgia a few days ago we had a light rain that put tobacco juice-like water stains on the roof of the LD. Then it dried. Tried washing it off but the staining was quite complete! Soap & de-greaser didn't work well.
- Try baking soda and water on it, maybe with some brushing. Try a small area to see if it does anything for you. Make sure to rinse it all off with lots of water afterward in any case.
- Try a standard "mix" of water and a dentures cleaner, and gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush. Dentures cleaner is supposed to help with tannic acid from tea and wine.
- You might try one of the nonabrasive toothpaste for natural teeth.
- Diluted Simple Green. Scrub the stains. Keep the sides, back and front well rinsed as you are cleaning the roof if the diluted solution runs over the edges.
- Check with a local nursery/arborist to see if they have a suggestion to get oak stains out.
Contributors: Gus Weber, WxToad, Madonna Hoecker, Anne, Linley Gumm, Alex Rutchka, Chris Horst, Delta Mike
Revised 2 Dec 2017
Return to FAQ Index
