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Topic: Cleaning Exterior of LD (Read 19 times) previous topic - next topic
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Cleaning Exterior of LD
Yahoo Message Number: 2534
What soaps or other cleaning materials will not harm LD paint finish?  What polishes are recommended?

Bobbie
Cleaning Exterior of LD
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2535
While I have yet to wash mine as we don't take delivery until April/May, I have read the recommended procedures in the LD Motorhome Manual.

They recommend no waxing in the first 30 days for a new unit.
Initially, it's ok to wash and you can use a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and water. Do the washing when the unit surfaces are cool and out of direct sun. Never dry surfaces with a rag...use a chamois. Always do the roof, but be careful as it may get slippery. Remove bugs and gray steaks with Britex or use Poly Wipe sealant(to be discussed later).

LD recommends that you wax the unit 3 times a year. Wax all surfaces you can see. Avoid getting wax on the roof, runningboard, mirror heads, plastic bumper trim, etc. Use automotive paste wax or their long lasting Poly Wipe sealant.
Again, apply when unit surfaces are cool and in the shade. Apply and remove only in direction of decals. Let Poly Wipe set at least 45 min. before removing. They say that the more often you use Poly Wipe the longer your unit looks like new. Do color stripe and decals twice as often as white surfaces.

If on older units where the surfaces have lost some their luster or shine by oxidation, before applying Poly Wipe use a product called Reflection. Finally, don't use soap with subsequent washing as it will remove the Poly Wipe.

This is a brief synopsis of what is said in the manual. Others please correct me if I have errored. I am sure others on this board will have a lot more recommedations gained from their hands on experiences. I am anxious to hear from them.

tom
Cleaning Exterior of LD
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2541
Found Poly Wipe via the net. How about some suggestions for finding where to order Reflection product?
Cleaning Exterior of LD
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2543
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 s 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 mit. A regular trigger-type nozzle on the hose lets me just squirt when I need to. I noticed that in December, when I was again at the factory, they no longer had poly-wipe, but a new product.
I assume it is as good as poly-wipe. I use poly wipe on the sides, and a good NON ABRASIVE caranuba wax, such as Eagle 1 caranuba, on the front and rear.
This is because experience has taught me that poly-wipe doesn't last as long on the front and rear, probably due to the slip stream. Don't forget to wax the front fake windows - they are paint too. I have found it easy to lie down on the roof and wax the cabover as far as I can reach. So far I have had to make a brace for the hood so I could get the underside on only one occasion - apparently the shade and dead air doesn't attack the wax as much as elsewhere. For washing on the road, I carry one of the felt washers with an extendable 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 squegee 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 and on the rainy days, as mud splashes on the rig, I know I will be looking for a place where it is OK to wash the coach. By asking campground owners and park rangers, so far I have made out OK. Don't bother asking in a KOA, however. To remove the bugs, I blatently use a hose and scrub them with a bug and windshield scrubber on an extended handle (I always felt that if a problem arose with campground management, I could argue that safety made it necessary, as I also wash the windshield.

Lastly, bugs seem to go to the small area above the windshield to die, and they are hell to get out. I have solved this by carrying a length of cotton (?) clothesline, which I get real wet in a bucket, then my bride and I pull it up into that crevice and see-saw back and forth to remove those suckers.

This was long, but people still come over to congratulate me on my NEW rig. Good luck to you.

Gus Weber
 
Cleaning Exterior of LD
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2544
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 s 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 mit. A regular trigger-type nozzle on the hose lets me just squirt when I need to. I noticed that in December, when I was again at the factory, they no longer had poly-wipe, but a new product.
I assume it is as good as poly-wipe. I use poly wipe on the sides, and a good NON ABRASIVE caranuba wax, such as Eagle 1 caranuba, on the front and rear.
This is because experience has taught me that poly-wipe doesn't last as long on the front and rear, probably due to the slip stream. Don't forget to wax the front fake windows - they are paint too. I have found it easy to lie down on the roof and wax the cabover as far as I can reach. So far I have had to make a brace for the hood so I could get the underside on only one occasion - apparently the shade and dead air doesn't attack the wax as much as elsewhere. For washing on the road, I carry one of the felt washers with an extendable 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 squegee 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 and on the rainy days, as mud splashes on the rig, I know I will be looking for a place where it is OK to wash the coach. By asking campground owners and park rangers, so far I have made out OK. Don't bother asking in a KOA, however. To remove the bugs, I blatently use a hose and scrub them with a bug and windshield scrubber on an extended handle (I always felt that if a problem arose with campground management, I could argue that safety made it necessary, as I also wash the windshield.

Lastly, bugs seem to go to the small area above the windshield to die, and they are hell to get out. I have solved this by carrying a length of cotton (?) clothesline, which I get real wet in a bucket, then my bride and I pull it up into that crevice and see-saw back and forth to remove those suckers.

This was long, but people still come over to congratulate me on my NEW rig. Good luck to you.

Gus Weber