Washing an Airstream!

[nm1oqrz]

Hello fellow Streamers
Getting ready for a trip and the old stream has been stored outside for a few years and it needs a good washing. There is some gren algee on parts of it not thick stuff but a green haze. What is recommended to wash it with to get it off without damaging the clearcoat?
Thanks in advance
Happy camping nm1oqrz

[ROBERT CROSS]

A first class car was soap, (no dishwashing soap), and one of these.

Bob

[interstateflyer]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

A first class car was soap, (no dishwashing soap), and one of these.

Bob

So no Ivory or Dove dishwashing detergent?

[ROBERT CROSS]

My 2 cents....I wouldn't use anything thats formulated to melt grease on china.


Bob

[nm1oqrz]

Thank you all for the replys and I will get some good auto soap and go to work. Thanks arain.
Happy camping nm1oqrz

[lundrunner]

If you take a look at most dish soaps they contain an oil (lanolin) ? of some sort to soften hands which will leave a film on the AS.... Car wash soaps do not

[jcanavera]

We look on the bottle and make sure the ingredients don't contain any ammonia or petroleum products. Apparently these two products are hard on the clear coat and are present in many dish soaps and car wash products. Armor All car wash liquid was once one of the safe products.

Jack

[featherbedder]

One of the washes I use is turtle wax & soap in one, does nice job leaves shiny plus gets rid of green algae which me have lots this year. Bill

[crabbey1]

I used Armor All and a brush on a pole that allows water to flow through the brush. I picked it up and Home Depot.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Some of the car wash brushes can scratch the clear on the newer trailers...

Microfiber mop on-a-pole has worked well for us...

Bob

[Griff]

I Finley found the magic waund for washing all the noks and cranes. While visiting Airstream NW in Oregon I saw them washing a rig with a Microfiber head on a wooden pole. I took a close look and knew I had found the magic waund. It's by Carrand and called "Microfiber Washglove" it's not really a glove but a pad with a strong elastic band around the opening to hold it onto the plastic base. Size is about 10 X 6" with a up and down mount with standard broom handle threading. AutoZone is where I got it. It is the ideal tool to wash the delliquite finish WITH!
Exscuse the spelling it's late at night.
Griff

[mstephens]

I've had my 25FC for two years. I have tried all the usual "car washing" techniques with not much luck. Using the typical bucket, soap, mops and hoses, I found the following results: Soap left behind as runs and drips; dirt left behind in small places. LOTS of work trying to dry; spots on windows.

Then I discovered a different idea - dry washing. Well, not exactly dry, but close.

You need about four 16" x 16" cotton terry towels, a pail with clear water, some charcoal lighter fluid. No hose!

STEP 1. Make all four towels wet. Wring 2 of them until as close to dry as possible. The remaining 2 can be slightly wet, but not dripping.

STEP 2. Squirt a small amount of lighter fluid into the middle of the wet towel. This is the "washer." (The lighter fluid will loosen road films and grease spots. )

STEP 3. WIth the washer towel, wash a small section, say 3 feet wide, beginning at the top with a step stool. Turn the towel frequently. Rub stubborn dirt with the center of the towel that has lighter fluid.

STEP 4. Use the clean drying towel (slightly damp, never actually dry) to go over the area you just washed. ALL residues and streaks will come off, leaving a gleaming finish beneath with no streaks. It will dry without spotting in a minute or two.

STEP 6. REPEAT with each new section.

I find it takes much less time than conventional 'hose and soap' techniques and leaves a much clearer finish. I have tried various materials like "Sham-wow" and others. Nothing comes close to clean cotton terry towels. Not even close.

[Goal15]

I use a similar technique but with Dawn dish soap, i figure if its good for rescuing ducks it can't be all bad. Just wash a section, rhen rinse and dry with rags made from old tshirts

[Kingsmen 33]

Since the Airstream exterior is aircraft grade aluminum you do not want to use a cleaner with a pH above 10.0 or you may cause corrosion. If you use a highly alkaline or caustic product you can permanently ruin the finish. I use Penetone Corporation aircraft soap named Penair C5572. This is the same product used by the Navy to clean F-18's. Penair C5572 meets a military specification and will not corrode steel, aluminum, cadmium, or magnesium.
It is safe on all painted surfaces and will not degrade plastic windows.
Product is amazing. I have great cleaning performance and since product is almost neutral it is easy on the skin and eyes.

[ROBERT CROSS]

^
X2

Originally Posted by Goal15

I use a similar technique but with Dawn dish soap, i figure if its good for rescuing ducks it can't be all bad. Just wash a section, rhen rinse and dry with rags made from old tshirts

Great for greased ducks...but if you seal or wax your AS the DW soap will remove it lickity split.

IMHO...a quality car wash soap is a much better option.

Bob

[Goal15]

Thanks Bob, good to know. I'll get some car soap for Thumpers spring bath to wash off the storage dust

[FOILED]

Originally Posted by nm1oqrz

Hello fellow Streamers
Getting ready for a trip and the old stream has been stored outside for a few years and it needs a good washing. There is some gren algee on parts of it not thick stuff but a green haze. What is recommended to wash it with to get it off without damaging the clearcoat?
Thanks in advance
Happy camping nm1oqrz

I also have green stuff along my seams and windows after winter storage. Small amounts still remain after washing with Maguire's car detergent. I don't want to damage my clear coat. Does anyone have experience using "30 Seconds Cleaner" to spray the AS and rinse?

[featherbedder]

I use turtle wax car wash and several other brands but only ones that have wax in formula, if nothing else works can mix small amount bleach in wash water, green gone. I see no damage to clear coat, only damage was washing in Fla. got some unseen sand on sponge.

[Papa smurf]

Has anybody ever used a foam cannon like this.
http://www.chemicalguys.com/MTM_Cann..._p/eqp_304.htm

[WGreg]

I might be deviating from the topic, but brushes leaving scratches in the clear coat was mentioned. Is there a cure for those scratches? They are only visible when the sunlight hits them and i'm standing and looking from a certain spot but are annoying to see. Will a good wax remove the scratches? They don't seem deep at all. That's my plan to try anyway. That and no more brushes no matter how soft they feel. Thanks for any ideas that are shared.

Greg