"Dry Washing" and Airstream

[wendywoods]

Hi all, Our Airstream is in a park that does not allow hoses to be used for washing an RV, and the owner suggested I "dry wash" the Airstream. It has a layer of grime, not bad, but the worst is the bugs that are stuck to the front of the coach. They need to come off. Any suggestions on how a dry wash is accomplished and any products I should use? I already wash and wax the Airstream twice a year - using a hose and car wash and wax - but this looks like it needs immediate attention.

Thanks!

[Wabbiteer]

Smooched bugs have enzymes that eat away at anything they are on - there is your mission right there. A hand pumped spray bottle with plain water and let it soak a while then terry-towel it off & repeat is a good start....

[wheel interested]

Just use a bucket and wash a section at a time. There are lots of spray cleaners you can use as well. Jackson Center used and sold me "No- Wet Micro-Mist Waterless Car Wash, Wax Polish and sealant" It reads, "No Hose, Soap, Mess or Clean-up." It came in two parts; one a larger refillable bottle, the other a self pressurized applicator bottle. You aren't supposed to have to rinse first! I would rinse any grit off with a bucket of water or spray bottle just to be cautious. Feel the surface of the Airstream and make sure you are not going to rub and scratch the surface with any residual grime. I was told lots of fulltimers wash their RVs just that way of a small section a day.

[danlehosky]

Why don't you just hook it up drive into town to the car wash? Some have bays for trucks and large vehicles. Sounds much easier than paying someone to buff out all of the grit swirls you leave dry washing it. Or wait until you go camping and leave a little early and do it then.

Dan

[dznf0g]

A bucket with very wet rag for your first go over works well. Just rinse the rag every few square feet. Then while still very wet, use a chamois to clean the rest of the water off. Doesn't scratch that way. Change water often in the buckets.

For bugs just lay a wet beach towel over the area for about 10 minutes, then repeat above method. A little scrubbing may be in order, depending how hot and how long the bugs have been on there.

[Kyle]

I use Griot's waterless wash and their green microfiber towels. I think it works great.

Complete Spray-On Car Wash Kit - Cleaners - Car Washing - Car Care - Griot's Garage

[wendywoods]

We haven't been too successful finding a place that will wash our Airstream. So we gave up. Plus we are retired with time on our hands. We are here for 2 months at this campsite.

[Gene]

It is nice to have a clean trailer, but sometimes it cannot be if you can't find a truck/RV washer. My father use to live in a condo where they weren't allowed to wash their cars in the garage, so he'd clean a few square feet every few days.

You can use bug and tar remover (comes as a liquid or spray) on the front. Most of them come with a wax added, so it kind of protects it. I use Griots One Step Sealant when we wax the trailer and it lasts at least a year, so the bugs come off easier.

When the windows get really dirty, I just use use window cleaner. I find Sprayway works pretty well.

Gene

[Wabbiteer]

Do we read between the lines that it's stormed and rained for three days?

[CanoeStream]

Camping last weekend, I was puzzled by a moho owner pumping a large canister garden sprayer. Sho' 'nuff, he then started cleaning off the front of his moho. I'd think about a backpack sprayer but a quick web search doesn't show many that are under 4 gallons -- on the order of 35-40 pounds on my back doesn't seem appealing. Here's a 5 liter "plant sprayer" that seems easier to haul around:

[Silver Otter]

I second the use of No Wet. We use it regularly on all vehicles between waxes. Does a wonderful job with just two micro-fiber rags. Get some. You'll love it.

[Bill M.]

Envy waterless cleaner works well.

[wheel interested]

Avon's Skin So Soft is a great bug, tar and paint remover and very gentle to the hands and may keep the bugs away at the same time.

[Foiled Again]

Microfiber towels make a huge difference. Used properly they pick up a lot of dirt without scratching. The waterless wash sprays are also a big help with the dried on bugs.

Buy at Sam's Club or Costco because you can get two dozen towels for the cost of 4 anywhere else.

If it's rained you can just damp wash - with a waterless cleaner if you like. If it's dusty/dirty get a bunch of towels soaking. On the front, or wherever there is sap/bird droppings, lay a wet towel on and ignore for 5 minutes. Start with a small area and slop/wipe an area of about 1 sq. yard. Turn the towel over if it turns black and stop if it's getting really dirty. Repeat if needed. Then take a clean towel, wring it until it's damp and wipe the section.

I generally take two or even three days to finish off the whole thing, but I can do it in a day. The really dirty microfiber towels I wring out, soak and rinse - then take to the laundromat. They actually get even softer once they've been through the washer/dryer. They also come a lot cleaner than terry towels though they really grungy ones benefit from the soak and rinse prewash.

Paula

[wendywoods]

Ok, the single bucket car wash soapy water, applied with a long handled brush, got the bugs off beautifully, and a second bucket of clear water, applied with same brush, rinsed it off pretty well! A rain that evening finished the job. I just purchased the Griots Dry Wash by mail order, so will use that on the rest of the rig when it comes in. Thank you everyone for the suggestions.

[twinkie2]

On our first AS we used a brush and bucket. On the next RV, the 40 footer, we always used a bucket of clean water and microfiber cloths. David washes while I rinse the microfibers and dump the water (down the sewer dump). We had it down to a fine science and could get in done in a couple of hours. On the new AS, we do the same thing except that it takes a fraction of the time! On bugs, we have super-softened the water with Calgon and that seems to release the bugs and their juice well. Then we follow with a clear water wash. We have not had any scratches using this method, but I really think it is because we rinse the microfibers often.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Another thumbs up for the Griot's waterless car wash, free sample came with an order awhile back, works really well.
The microfiber mitt on a pole comes in handy also....never been disappointed with any of there products.

Try WD40 on the segment protectors, nothing seems to stick.

Bob

[Bluto]

The mitt on the pole is a very nice tool to use when cleaning the stream & truck.
Never used the waterless wash, I'll have to try it now.

[Gene]

The Griot's "mitt on a pole" is great. I can wash most of the trailer fast with it. It also lets me clean the roof from a step ladder. The first one of the extension poles for RV's we got at Camping World started to fall apart right after we got it; the Griot's one is much better made.

Gene

[whitsend]

Griot's Garage Products
Bob turned me on to the Griot's Garage line of products, and I couldn't be happier. Thanks again Bob. Buy the extendable pole with the micro fiber scrub pads, makes washing the AS very easy & fast.