Letters Readers offer their expert advice on the most effective ways to keep your caravan sparkling clean, and discuss the potentially thorny question of levelling across the axle
I WAS SORRY to read that
Phil Tupman labours so hard and with only mixed success when cleaning his stored caravan, soaking himself in the process (issue 417, p8)!
I use a waterless cleaner/ polish called Greased Lightning on our car and caravan, and have previously used it on gliders, too.
Forget about any risk of scratching, even if road grime and grit are involved. The product apparently contains cunning negatively charged anionic surfactants, which lift grit away from a hard surface. The polish is carnauba wax.
The product is finely sprayed on, allowed to haze over, then wiped (not rubbed) off, leaving a high-gloss finish. Tar, bird droppings and tree sap are also removed.
Various brands of waterless cleaners are on the market, but of all those I have tried, I find this one the best.
Good-quality fibre cloths should be used – be prepared to find that all the muck that was on your caravan is now on your cloths.
I am now in my 80s and can clean a car in one easy session and my caravan in two.
You can purchase Greased Lightning in shops and from websites. And just to reassure you, I have never had any connection with a cleaning product company or shop! John Colbert
DON’T CLEAN, JUST COVER UP INSTEAD!
In response to Mr Tupman’s letter on keeping his caravan clean – I totally agree with what he is saying.
It’s such a disappointment to see your pristine caravan getting dirty. I would spend hours cleaning, but storage areas left sap or mud all over it.
I splashed out and bought a Pro-tec caravan cover.
With the clever design and the poles they supply, it’s a doddle to put on and keeps the van spotless. Yes, it is expensive, but it means that you can just remove the cover and go.
The next purchase will be a towing cover to stop the bugs splatting the front of the van. Nicholas Hicks
Being keen on watersports, as well as touring in our caravan, I find treating the van as I would a boat works very well, with the construction materials being very similar.
I use products designed specifically for marine craft
– a little more expensive, but worth it. The results are just as good, if not better, than the commercial paint sealers offered by the dealers.
GRP needs to be treated in a specific way to keep it in prime condition, because cleaning and buffing can leave a fresh layer of the gel coat exposed, which then yellows.
To deep-clean, first apply a gel coat stain remover, which will remove all stains, then use a polish, and finally, a UV wax sealer.
The polish will provide a high-gloss finish and lasting protection, while the wax gives a hard-shell finish that is UV-, water- and dirt-resistant.
The van then only requires a wash and wax to keep it clean; but avoid household detergent, because this will strip the wax. You would then have to apply the wax more often.
Any painted aluminium can be treated the same way, with a good polish and wax, but be careful about stain removal – unlike your car, the paint is not protected with a clear coat.
Rubber seals, awning rails, plastic trim and hinges can be treated with silicone spray. Paul Harrison
TIME FOR A WASH AND BRUSH-UP
As a keen caravanner for some 39 years, I have found that the best way of cleaning a caravan is with a long wash brush, hosepipe and Rhino 105, a cleaning product you can buy from any motor trade supplier.
You also need an empty 25-litre drum, which you should be able to obtain from one of the handcar-wash firms.
Put 20 litres of water in the drum and add the five litres of Rhino 105. Then, using a garden sprayer, just spray this onto your caravan and leave for a few minutes. Finally, simply use the wash brush and hose off.
I also use Fenwicks Bobby Dazzler, which puts a wax onto the surface – the result is a gleaming caravan.
I have recently purchased a scaffold ladder, which saves wobbling on stepladders – I bought mine new from ebay at a cost of £74.
Ivan Currell
REMOVING THOSE BLACK STREAKS
Here’s how I eliminate those black streaks down the side of my caravan!
When my van is parked, I have noticed that, in the rain, the front gutter over the windows is very short and lets the rain trickle down the side of the van, leaving the dreaded black streaks.
My cheap and simple tip to eliminate this is via two six-inch pieces of garden hose pushed onto the ends of the gutter spouts, extending the flow far enough away from the caravan to prevent the black marks.
These are just pushed on and no technical know-how is required – then they can be quickly pulled off, the next time we use the van.
Joe Mcgeachie
WHERE CAN I BUY BATTERY CHARGER?
I have subscribed to Practical Caravan for more than 20 years. Earlier this year (issue 409), you gave a favourable review of a battery charger costing, at the time, £18.99.
I have subsequently read plenty of favourable comments elsewhere and so would like to purchase this model.
Unfortunately, I can no longer remember the name of the manufacturer (I thought I made a note of it at the time) and in spite of extensive searches of the internet,