Washing Airstream

[arwebbwind]

Well, to a seasoned AS owners this must seem like a dumb topic. As a newbie owner I am scared to even touch the trailer. All I have heard is how "delicate" they are and anything I do will scratch it. This from another AS camper. We have our trailer in a park for six months and they do not allow you to wash your trailer with a hose. Only a bucket. This wasn't a problem with our other trailer but with AS I don't know what to do that won't damage it. Is bucket washing ok? I have been researching and Meguires sells a water-less car wash product. Love the trailer and what to take excellent care of it.

[Piggy Bank]

We store at a storage facility and don't have access to water.

We used the Mcguires waterless and their brand of microfiber towels. it did a great job. Took about ½ hour for 2 people to do our 22 sport. We then followed with walbanizer

We did this last year after winterizing. We will do it again this year.

We obviously don't obsess much about washing, but did like the waterless product.

[CRH]

I like to wait on a good hard rain storm. I put on a rain coat, mix up some car wash in a bucket and go at it with a lambs wool mitt. I can stand on small step stool and reach at least as high as the awning rail. I let the rain do my rinsing.

[hoagy_007]

Has anyone tried used this kit? It is very $$$$, but would be interested to see if how it works, and no water needed (other poster mentioned they didn't have access to water).

https://www.amazon.com/Aero-Cosmetic...wash+kit&psc=1

[Cowbell]

I’ve used the blue wash wax solution but not the applicator. I like it.
FYI...you do need water to wash off ANY grit before using any waterless wash products. Good luck if you don’t! 😊

[Frey]

I live in Moab, Utah, and we get more wind blown dirt than rain. But when it rains, like a couple days ago, it fell as mud. I waited until it dried, then used the garden hose to wash it down. There's six solar panels on the roof, and dirt and dust will diminish their ability to produce power, so I start there and continue down until the dirt is gone from the trim line, where it will collect, and down to the belly pan. Since the water is hard, I towel it off with Microfiber cloth and try to keep to the grain rather than swirling the cloths. I wax it a couple of times a year when it's cool. Finish up with a good window cleaner so you can enjoy that impossible view.

[gypsydad]

We are on our 4th AS and typically we wash/wax couple times a year...or less... It can be a real time sink to wash, wax, and wipe dry. We found an all in one product with Carnauba wax at Costco called Meguiar's Carnauba Wash & Wax, for $29.00. In summer we stay at our place in Montana, which requires a mile in/out on a very dusty gravel road, so the AS and TV are always looking dirty. We also have well water, so it needs to be wiped off quickly to avoid spotting, typically. We used the Meguiars Carnauba Wash & Wax and applied after first rinsing the dirt off using a long handled soft bristled brush and a rectangular wash bucket. This wash/wax cleaned real good, but what I didn't expect was the water sheeting off when I rinsed the soapy mixture off the AS. We do a quarter of the AS at a time with a ladder and the water did not bead up and spot so we did not have to wipe dry! 2 weeks now and she still is shinny. I am impressed.

Anyone else use this stuff? Carnauba seems to be the recommended wax to apply, so an "all in one" that works is appreciated! (sorry the picture loaded sideways)

[LBOskiBear]

My AS is stored in a facility, so can't wash there and usually they don't allow washing at campsites. When I do get around to washing it (not nearly as often as I'd like), I pretty much do a combo of the above options. If I can use a bucket with the wash/wax solution, I'll do that. If not, I just work on small sections at a time until I get tired or lose interest. I use a spray bottle of water/solution and microfibers. I think I've only ever done the "hose the whole thing off" once since I've had the AS.

[gator.bigfoot]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

We also have well water, so it needs to be wiped off quickly to avoid spotting, typically. We used the Meguiars Carnauba Wash & Wax and applied after first rinsing the dirt off using a long handled soft bristled brush and a rectangular wash bucket. This wash/wax cleaned real good, but what I didn't expect was the water sheeting off when I rinsed the soapy mixture off the AS. We do a quarter of the AS at a time with a ladder and the water did not bead up and spot so we did not have to wipe dry! 2 weeks now and she still is shinny. I am impressed.

Anyone else use this stuff? Carnauba seems to be the recommended wax to apply, so an "all in one" that works is appreciated! (sorry the picture loaded sideways)

I use the Meguiar's shampoo and conditioner then apply the carnauba wax by hand. It's ok again now that it rained. With all of the housing and road construction this year it gets completely covered in dirt. The town is on well water so I understand the issues with wiping it off quickly. The chap whom I purchased the trailer had a spot free rinsing unit just so he didn't have to dry it.

I'm going to try the Nufinish and see how that goes, but I will keep an eye out for the product you're using.

[Jomac]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

We are on our 4th AS and typically we wash/wax couple times a year...or less... It can be a real time sink to wash, wax, and wipe dry. We found an all in one product with Carnauba wax at Costco called Meguiar's Carnauba Wash & Wax, for $29.00. In summer we stay at our place in Montana, which requires a mile in/out on a very dusty gravel road, so the AS and TV are always looking dirty. We also have well water, so it needs to be wiped off quickly to avoid spotting, typically. We used the Meguiars Carnauba Wash & Wax and applied after first rinsing the dirt off using a long handled soft bristled brush and a rectangular wash bucket. This wash/wax cleaned real good, but what I didn't expect was the water sheeting off when I rinsed the soapy mixture off the AS. We do a quarter of the AS at a time with a ladder and the water did not bead up and spot so we did not have to wipe dry! 2 weeks now and she still is shinny. I am impressed.

Anyone else use this stuff? Carnauba seems to be the recommended wax to apply, so an "all in one" that works is appreciated! (sorry the picture loaded sideways)

I used the same product last week with the same results. I was very pleased.

[mikeinca]

I use Meguiars Gold Class car wash but any good quality car wash soap will do; just don't use dish washing detergent. I use a soft bristle RV brush with an extension handle and a ladder to reach the roof. If the trailer is really dirty I will drag out the power washer but for routine washing, which I do once a month or so, I don't find that it's worth the extra trouble.

The best washing tool I have is the CR Spotless water filtration and de-ionizing system that I use on the trailer and my vehicles. (no affiliation-just a satisfied owner). It removes contaminants and minerals from the water so that I can wash, rinse and literally walk away leaving the trailer to air dry with absolutely no spots. It's a huge time saver.

About every 6 months I apply Meguiars Polymer sealant to protect the finish which is important since I have to park the Airstream outside.

[John&Vicki]

I use the filtration device that I use for city water to rinse it off and don’t bother to dry it. Works well.

[brad1]

The only guy on this entire thread who is spending the proper amount of time and money on washing his Airstream is mike Inca. The tell is the ionizing water filter, ~$150 at Griots. And he washes his AS about once a month. I admire that. I’ve read a bunch of the washing threads, here and at specialist detailing sites. mike exemplifies best practices. If only I weren’t so lazy or parsimonious.

Mikeinca, I lift a beer to you!

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by brad1

The only guy on this entire thread who is spending the proper amount of time and money on washing his Airstream is mike Inca. The tell is the ionizing water filter, ~$150 at Griots. And he washes his AS about once a month. I admire that. I’ve read a bunch of the washing threads, here and at specialist detailing sites. mike exemplifies best practices. If only I weren’t so lazy or parsimonious.

Mikeinca, I lift a beer to you!

I guess we could all stop washing/waxing with Meguiers and take over to Mikeinca then, since we aren't doing it proper, in your eyes?

[ROBERT CROSS]

^
😂
OK...as long as I can supply the <STUFF>👍


Bob
🇺🇸

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by brad1

The only guy on this entire thread who is spending the proper amount of time and money on washing his Airstream is mike Inca. The tell is the ionizing water filter, ~$150 at Griots. And he washes his AS about once a month. I admire that. I’ve read a bunch of the washing threads, here and at specialist detailing sites. mike exemplifies best practices. If only I weren’t so lazy or parsimonious.

Mikeinca, I lift a beer to you!

Originally Posted by gypsydad

I guess we could all stop washing/waxing with Meguiers and take over to Mikeinca then, since we aren't doing it proper, in your eyes?

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

^
��
OK...as long as I can supply the <STUFF>��


Bob
����

Hey come on by! We can lift a few cold ones, wash us some Airstreams, and compare notes on best practices.

[ROBERT CROSS]

No problem, on our next trip to Simi we can have a Clean-Up Rally in Death Valley.

Bob
🇺🇸

[stonesteve9]

I am a new AS owner and I have a 91 Excella. It has a lot of oxidation on the top half. I was wanting to know, without polishing the entire trailer, if there is a way to just remove the oxidation from the upper half?

[Acheron2010]

A confession...while washing my Airstream, it is a pain to get the ladder out every time and do the roof, so i let it go for a month or three. I got in the same habit with my tow vehicle, and recently found some pinhole rust spots on the truck roof. Can't skip the hard to reach places because they are hard to reach....
I use Meguiars car wash, Warberize on the trailer, and Zaino on the truck.