1960 oxidized... use VIM or Vinegar ?

[KZGoodchild]

Hey just got her home, and wanting to clean her (not polish) to get the green algae like substance off (she was under trees for 20 plus yrs), and some of the other nastyness I've read about using vinegar sollution (25-50 %, but a freind suggested VIM, which is a tile cleaner here in the great white North...... any thoughts on that?

[AldeanFan]

Start with just soap and water before you get too aggressive. I had green slime on my trillium and it came off with sunlight dish soap and a good scrub.

Vim has abrasive in it soy will scratch.
If you use vinegar you'll have to neutralize the acid after.

[ALANSD]

TSP solution is cheap and very effective. Buy it at any home or hardware store.

[andreasduess]

No Vim, ever. You'll scratch the heck out of your trailer. A good dish soap is your best bet.

[mykytiukr]

Try a truck/trailer wash solution. Referred to as "Brightener". Ones that contain hydrofluoric acid work the best from what I've seen. Been washing/maintaining trucks and trailers running through salty northern winters for years!!!

[Sodbust1]

Semi truck repair shops and dealers use what they call "acidize".
Wipe it on and it cuts all known crud off the alum..
Be careful around the tarp and other organic items.. Then a rinse with bake soda and fresh water...
Had the same mess on our A$ being parked under trees.. Our roof was black with old leaves and SAP..
Leaves a fresh but dull natural finish.. ready for polish or leave natural..
Sodbust

[NavyCorpsman]

I use a 25% solution of Zep purple cleaner. I use a regulation size mop bucket to suds it up. I apply it with one of those long extension brushes that hooks up to the water hose. Doing a section at a time, apply the suds and gently scrub for about a minute and rinse. Works Awesome. It does contain sodium hydroxide, but at a low concentration and short exposure it is perfect in removing the gunk safely.

[kdickinson]

Wash it (I use an automotive liquid soap as the input to my power washer with the soak tip on the wand), then rinse it (use a low pressure fan pattern on the wand if using a power washer and don't aim straight at the trailer at any time) and let it dry. Then get some of the good old stand-by Walbernize. It has a slight abrasive quality to it. That and a little elbow grease should get all that off. (also don't lean a ladder against the trailer, always use an A-frame ladder) And the best part is you will have by the time the Walbernize is dry and removed it will be waxed and protected

[mykytiukr]

Also, with any truck wash/acid/brightener solution...do not let it dry!!! Especially on any stainless steel as it will permanently ruin the finish. Just make sure to rinse with water before it begins to dry. In the shade is best! On aluminum, if it stains a little, rinse, let it dry completely then go over it again. Brushing helps a lot too. Safe for any plastic, Plexiglass, rubber, paint or clear coat. I think the directions on the jug say something like a 20 to 40 parts water to 1 part solution. Forget that! I use about 20% to 50% mixture in a spray bottle or a garden sprayer for big jobs. A little goes a long way. Also on already polished aluminum it will take the high shine off but will easily polish back out.