Month: June 2022

Washing your RV is one of those tasks you probably wish you got around to more frequently. There is a certain pride that comes with driving down the road in a freshly-washed RV, and you’ll also be helping to maintain the condition of your rig for the long run when you keep it clean. To help make it more likely that you’ll keep up with this chore, and to help you get great results, this article is going to provide advice on making your own RV wash cleaner.

Beyond regular washing, another good way to protect your rig’s condition is by parking it under a cover. An RV carport from American Carports, Inc. makes for a great home for your recreational vehicle, and these structures are surprisingly affordable. See what’s possible today by using our free Build & Price tool or by reaching out to us for more information. We are here to serve you!

Different Cleaners for Different Jobs

To get started on this process, it’s important to note that you’ll probably want to make a few different types of cleaners to bring back the shine to your RV. This is necessary for one specific reason – the exterior of your RV features a variety of different materials. It’s hard to get ideal results if you try to use just a single cleaner for the whole RV since you’ll be going over so many different surfaces along the way.

If you decide to mix up some different cleaning solutions, then organization is going to be critical. You won’t want to get these things confused, so it’s important to mark your bottles or containers so you can always reach for the right one for the right job. Even if you are using all of the cleaning solutions on the same day, it’s still worth marking a container for each. Then, you won’t run the risk of getting mixed up, and you can use those same containers over and over for future projects.

General Cleaner

For most of the outside of your RV, and even some of the inside, you can use a general cleaner that will help to remove dirt and debris with ease. While you can experiment with the proportions to get something that works well for you, start by trying a mix of 3 parts water and 1 part white vinegar. This is a good basic mixture, and you can then add a bit of baking soda for added cleaning power and something to bring a nice scent to the party.

For example, you might decide to start with six cups of water and two cups of white vinegar, which would perfectly match our ratio. Then, you could three or four tablespoons of baking soda, and maybe a little bit of citrus or essential oil that has an appealing smell. The inclusion of vinegar in this formula is the key, as it will work effectively to knock out mildew and even mold if it has begun to grow in certain areas. Just wet the RV, wipe it down with this solution, and spray it off again with fresh water.

Specialty Cleaning Solutions

Once you have mixed up your general cleaner, you might also want to get out a couple of other jars to make some solutions that will address other areas of the rig. Here are two ideas that will come in handy for most RV owners –

• Cleaner for a rubber roof. If your RV has a rubber roof, getting that surface clean is important and will require a good plan. For this cleaning solution, you can keep things simple and mix water and dish soap in a bucket. If you have it available, add a tablespoon or two of mineral spirits to improve your results. Of course, you should always be careful when washing the roof of your RV, so don’t hurry through the process and get help if you feel uncomfortable with any part of the job.
• Glass cleaner. Not only will getting the glass on your RV clean help it look great out on the road, but it will also improve your experience when looking out from the inside. Again here, we are going to turn to vinegar for its cleaning power, mixing it with warm water, rubbing alcohol, and a bit of cornstarch. For proportions, try 8 parts water to 1 part vinegar and 1 part rubbing alcohol, with just a small scoop of cornstarch added to bring everything together.

Keep Your RV Looking Its Best

Sure, making your own homemade RV wash cleaner won’t do the work of washing the RV for you, but it will help you get excellent results whenever the chance arrives to complete this task. And, by keeping your RV under a carport, you will be able to maintain the results of your wash for longer than if you left it parked out in the elements.

Get started on a carport project today by exploring our free Build & Price tool!

It’s a reality for most RV owners that their rigs will sit idle for long periods during the year. Maybe you’re waiting for better weather before you take a trip, or you simply need some time off from work to explore the world. Whatever the case, it’s common for mildew to accumulate during these idle times, and you need to know how to remove that mildew properly to restore the condition of your RV before heading out on a new trip. Read on for some basic steps on how to easily remove mildew from your RV.

To help keep your RV in good condition between trips, you can also consider parking it under a roof – such as a metal RV carport from American Carports, Inc. Explore our free Build & Price tool to create a custom design for your structure. If you have any questions along the way, contact us. Our team is happy to help!

Why Should You Care?

On some level, mildew on the outside of your RV doesn’t seem like a big deal. Sure, it doesn’t look great, but if you aren’t too concerned about the cosmetics of your rig, you might think you can leave the mildew and go on about making your travel plans. Unfortunately, that plan won’t lead to a good outcome.

For one thing, mildew accumulation on your RV leads to exterior damage. When you do get around to taking it off, or when it comes off on its own, you might find that the paint has been damaged and the exterior shell has been compromised. It’s also possible that the mildew will start to work its way inside.

There is also an unpleasant odor that comes along with mildew. Even if the mildew is only on the outside, you can smell it while you are hanging out under the awning, and you might even smell it inside the RV while relaxing or trying to sleep. Any way you look at it, getting rid of the mildew promptly is your best bet.

Create a Plan

The first step involved in eliminating the mildew on your RV is thoroughly examining the rig to track down all areas of mildew that have developed. Take your time to walk around the RV, and consider using a ladder to get a closer look at the higher areas of the RV. For a large rig, use a notebook to write down where you found mildew so you can come back through and clean them up later.

With the areas of mildew identified, the next step is choosing the correct cleaning products. Here, you have a couple of options – you can purchase a premade product from an RV supply store that is specifically designed for this task. That will work nicely, of course, though it might be a little bit expensive. As an alternative, you can opt for a homemade solution such as spraying plain white vinegar on the affected areas. This is a proven, affordable method that should lead to excellent results. Leave the vinegar to sit on the surface for an hour or two, then scrub it off and rinse the area.

A Few Important Points

Before you dive into this job, remember that safety is always paramount when working on your RV. Be careful if you need to use a ladder, and find the flattest possible area to park the rig while working. Also, pick out a dry day to make sure your cleaning solution isn’t diluted before it can go to work on eliminating the mildew. With good weather on your side and enough time to work safely and patiently, you can check this task off your to-do list in soon enough. Removing the mildew from your RV doesn’t have to be a difficult job, but you do need to have the right tools and a little bit of spare time to do it right.

We hope the tips in this article on removing mildew are helpful. Feel free to reach out today for more information on the quality, affordable RV carports we have available to keep your vehicle looking its best!