Caravan Cleaning and Exterior Care

To clean a caravan exterior safely, start with the roof and work down, use a soft long handled brush and a caravan specific cleaner rather than high pressure, treat black streaks and algae with dedicated removers, and finish with protection so the next clean is easier. Caravans have softer plastic windows, more seals and larger flat panels than cars, so the techniques differ. This guide covers the roof, sides, windows and seals, then the checks to do before a trip and before winter storage.

How should you set up before cleaning a caravan?

• Position it with a slight tilt. The Caravan and Motorhome Club suggests pitching at a slight angle so water can run off the roof.
• Pick an overcast day or shade. The Club warns that washing in sunshine can leave watermarks as the water dries.
• Gather the kit: a stable stepladder, a soft long reach brush with a water fed head, two buckets, caravan shampoo, a black streak remover, soft microfibre cloths and a chamois or drying towel.
• Close everything: windows, roof lights, vents, the door and any hatches.

How do you clean the roof safely?

The roof collects the most debris and is where algae often starts. The Club is clear that you should not be tempted to walk on the roof; caravan roofs are not designed to take a person's weight. Use a stepladder and clean in stages.

1. Hose off loose leaves, moss and grit.
2. Apply caravan shampoo or a roof cleaner with the long reach brush.
3. Work the brush gently across the panel, paying attention to the edges and around roof lights.
4. Rinse thoroughly so dirty water does not streak down the sides.

Never stand on the top step of a ladder, and have someone foot it if you can.

How do you clean the sides and remove black streaks?

Black streaks form where rain carries dirt down from awning rails, window frames and roof edges. Green algae grows on shaded, damp sides, especially in storage.

• Rinse each side, then apply a black streak remover to the marks and leave it as directed.
• Wash with caravan shampoo and a soft brush or mitt, one section at a time, rinsing each before it dries. The Club recommends working round the caravan section by section with a specialist cleaner.
• For algae, use a cleaner made for it, then rinse well.
• Avoid washing up liquid and household detergents; they can strip protection and leave residue.

On pressure washers, the Club advises avoiding them unless the pressure can be adjusted, because they can be powerful enough to damage window seals.

How do you look after caravan windows and seals?

Caravan windows are usually plastic, not glass, and the Club notes they can be very delicate and prone to scratching. Rinse them first to float off grit, wash with plenty of soapy water and a soft cloth, then dry with a clean microfibre. Never use household glass cleaners, scrapers or dry cloths on them.

Seals are what keep a caravan dry. Clean around window and door seals and along awning rails, look for cracks or gaps, and treat rubber with a product made for it. Water getting past a failing seal is a common cause of damp inside, and that kind of hidden damp is far harder to deal with than dirt.

Should you polish and wax a caravan?

If the panels look dull and chalky after a few seasons in the sun, a caravan polish restores the finish. The Club then recommends wax, which forms a protective barrier that keeps the shine in and the dirt and water out. Keep polish off rubber seals, plastic windows and textured trim, where it dries white. Apply in thin coats out of direct sun and buff with a clean cloth.

What should you check before towing and before storage?

Cleaning is a good moment for safety checks. GOV.UK's towing safety checks say to make sure there is no damage to the lights and that they all work, that tyres have no cuts or bulges, and that each tyre has a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm. Rule 98 of the Highway Code adds that you must not overload a vehicle or trailer, should spread the weight evenly with heavy items over the axle, and may need to adjust your headlights when towing.

Before storage, clean and dry the caravan fully inside and out, open interior cupboards to let air circulate, and use a breathable cover. If the motorhome or campervan interior is the bigger job, our guide to campervan and motorhome interior cleaning has a method. Our listed services cover cars, vans and fleets, so get in touch to ask about anything else; we can certainly prepare the tow car with a full car valet from £80, and our Nottingham car valeting page shows the local area.

Sources

• Caravan and Motorhome Club: Caravan exterior cleaning advice
• GOV.UK: Tow a trailer or caravan with a car, safety checks
• GOV.UK: The Highway Code, rules for drivers and motorcyclists (89 to 102)