How to Clean Aluminum RV Siding

There are few things on the road that look better than a clean, beautiful aluminum RV. And if you happen to be the proud owner of an RV with aluminum siding, you need a game plan to keep it clean and flawless. Read on for some basic tips on keeping your RV looking its best before your next outing.

Protect It from the Elements

In addition to cleaning properly cleaning an RV, one of the best ways to care for it is parking under an RV carport. To add a durable carport to your property, turn to American Carports, Inc. and our Build & Price tool. With this tool, you can create a custom structure that will fit your RV and anything else you would like to store under its roof.

Shop Carefully

Before you pull your RV into the driveway to start cleaning, you need to shop intelligently for the right products to use on the sides of the rig. While you should be able to use most general RV wash products, remember to read the label to confirm that the product is meant for use on aluminum. Also, avoid using an acid wash product to clean the sides of your RV. Although you may get pretty good results with that approach, you would also be eroding some of the aluminum, leading to eventual damage over time.

In addition to a cleaning agent, you also want to have a scrubber that isn’t going to damage the aluminum siding. Something soft without much of an abrasive surface is your best choice. When in doubt, test your scrubber on a small, out-of-sight piece of aluminum siding to see how it works before proceeding with the rest of the job.

Preparing for Great Results

The first step in the cleaning process is to perform a general wash to remove any build-up or debris present on the RV. After returning from a trip where you explored trails that were beyond the end of the paved roads, your rig could be quite dirty. Doing a pre-wash with your hose and sprayer means you won’t have to work as hard once you start applying soap and scrubbing.

If you are the type of RV owner who likes to add stickers to your trailer, you may want to remove them as part of the cleaning process to start fresh with a clean look. Consider using an adhesive cleaning product that helps remove the stickiness with minimal effort. Once the stickers are off, proceed with the actual cleaning of the RV.

Work from the Top Down

This is the same approach that you take when washing a car, but it’s a little harder to do when washing an RV. You might need a ladder to get the water and soap up to the top of the rig at the start of the washing process, working your way down as you go. If you get this backward, you’ll end up with streaks of dirt and grime that drip down onto the lower parts of the RV that you already cleaned. Get the top sections out of the way first and work your way down until you reach the level of the tires where you finish the job.

Don’t Forget to Dry

Drying off the RV after you clean it is an important step that helps you come away with excellent results. If you fail to dry the RV, you can expect streaks all around the body of the trailer and not the clean and shiny appearance that you imagined. A couple of clean, soft towels and a few minutes of work will leave you with a beautiful, dry RV.

Keep Your RV Looking Its Best

The task of cleaning your RV’s aluminum siding doesn’t have to be a long, laborious process. Using the tips above as a starting point, you can create a system that leaves your RV looking great without spending too much of your time. Of course, be sure to consider the possibility of parking your RV under a carport that is supplied to you by American Carports, Inc. Don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance. We look forward to serving you!