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Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 3:39 pm
by MrsHomeSweetRoam
I'm wondering what the consensus is on cleaning products.

Coach walls in general (hand prints and more)
Keeping the walls around the stove clean and in good shape
Have a favorite black tank chemical?
Windows inside/out
Exterior care

Tips, tricks or procedures that you swear by?

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 5:05 pm
by avalen
for the inside, I've just used regular cleaning stuff like I did in the stick n brick and usually it was what ever was on sale or what I had on hand.
windows..regular windex. But the outside of my fifthwheel was fiberglass and a product called Protectall was recommended to me. The roof
is entirely a different thing if you have a EPDM roof you have to make sure you don't use any cleaners that contain solvents. Make sure its
safe for an EPDM roof. If you use the wrong stuff it will cause bubbles on the roof and that means its separating. Do inspect your roof from
time to time for tears from low branches. Also, don't use oil based cleaners...like Murphys Oil Soap. Spic n Span is fine though, and so is cleanser
but ya want to think about runnoff as it runs off the side when ya use the cleanser.
Chemicals in the holding tank....I didn't use any. I lived in mine full time for 4 years and the tank would hold two to three weeks before I opened
the valve to dump it, then I just flushed it with the hose real good. Never had any smells come into the rv. If your parked for a long time you can
keep the grey tank open and let it drain but keep the black tank closed until its full as it will dry out and you don't want that. Although the sensors
are helpful, they are not always accurate, especially with age. Some of the ladies will do the ice cube thing where you put a bag of ice and some
dishsoap in there before you go down the road a bit and the road action is supposed to clean the sensors. I've never tried it so I don't know if it
really works.You'll get lots of opinions on the tank thing.
My rig has been in storage now for almost two years so a lot of this I've forgotten but the girls going to the bootcamp thing I'm sure will be fresh
with ideas. :D

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 5:27 pm
by Bethers
Moved this to maintenance room. General would have worked also. Nothing to add to Ava's reply.

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:18 pm
by Sandersmr
Backsplash area around the stove, I put up a backsplash from stuff found at Home Depot and that helps with the grease around the stove.

Image

I use Simple Green outside and especially on the awning - helps with streaks and mildew.

As far as the blank tank, I try to use one of the enzyme solutions rather than the blue formaldehyde-based solution. I leave about a gallon of water in my black tank and half a bottle of solution after I dump. My trailer may sit for several weeks before I use it again so anything that might have gotten left in the tank will be solublized hopefully the next time I use it.

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 7:31 pm
by Redetotry
I clean with cheap stuff! Baking soda (make a paste for sinks especially stainless steel) but I also use it on just about anything, Bon AMi which is similar to Comet, vinegar/water for windows and to wipe down sinks, clean up doggy accidents. I don't use anything in my black tank just rinse well and so far I haven't needed anything. I haven't done anything to the outside yet so was interested in what Ava said about making sure the roof wasn't EDPM, I have no idea how to tell that! I did get a recommendation from the RV repair place I go to for someone who will come and wax mine. Hopefully they will know what to use!
Here is a link to other inexpensive ways to clean. Hope this helps.

http://ecocycle.org/hazwaste/ecofriendly-cleaning

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:21 pm
by Liz
Redetotry wrote:I clean with cheap stuff! Baking soda (make a paste for sinks especially stainless steel) but I also use it on just about anything, Bon AMi which is similar to Comet, vinegar/water for windows and to wipe down sinks, clean up doggy accidents. I don't use anything in my black tank just rinse well and so far I haven't needed anything. I haven't done anything to the outside yet so was interested in what Ava said about making sure the roof wasn't EDPM, I have no idea how to tell that! I did get a recommendation from the RV repair place I go to for someone who will come and wax mine. Hopefully they will know what to use!
Here is a link to other inexpensive ways to clean. Hope this helps.

http://ecocycle.org/hazwaste/ecofriendly-cleaning


I believe your roof is fiberglass, same as the sides, BJ. At least that's the way it was on my PW and the Roadtreks.

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:29 pm
by MrsHomeSweetRoam
Bethers wrote:Moved this to maintenance room. General would have worked also. Nothing to add to Ava's reply.


Thanks- I thought I looked for a more suitable sub-forum but I guess I looked too quickly- that's what I get for trying to do so much at once... ;)

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:32 pm
by avalen
the EPDM roof is a rubber type liner installed on top. I've walked on it, its kinda like a rubber gritty thing, reminded me of that grit stuff they put on steps so ya don't slip. I wouldn't know how to tell if it wasn't EPDM. My paperwork told me mine was.

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:34 pm
by MrsHomeSweetRoam
Great replies- thank you! I need to research to see what type of roof we have- thanks for the headsup on that! I like the back drop idea for the stove area...need to go shopping and see what's available...and then see how to apply it. Has anyone noticed products that were too harsh for the material the walls are made (plywood or whatever it is) of or anything like that?

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:35 pm
by avalen
Sandersmr wrote:Backsplash area around the stove, I put up a backsplash from stuff found at Home Depot and that helps with the grease around the stove.

Image



I like that backsplash

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:37 pm
by avalen
my walls had that pressed on vinyl wallpaper on them. The steam cleaner was not a good idea for cleaning but it was a great idea for taking off the wallpaper,
which I started to do before I put it in storage. Will continue that project as I do the remodel.

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:36 am
by rvgrammy1953
We did plexiglass for our back splash around the stove area....does a great job and easy cleaning with Windex and paper towels....we use the "blue stuff" for the black tank....use regular all purpose cleaner for walls and floors, but do use a mildew product for the awning. Zipwax for the exterior as it is a cleaner & wax combined....when needed, Ernie uses a Rubber roof conditioner for our rubber roof.... ;)

Re: Cleaning/cleaners

PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:46 am
by MrsHomeSweetRoam
Thank you so much, girls.