How to remove Black Tarp marks ?

[AirKeg]

Can someone please tell me how do I remove black tarp marks from the outside Aluminum of my Airstream. Is there a specific cleaner or degreaser that will cut the black mark or something else that people have used that will work ?



Thank you
AirKeg

[ROBERT CROSS]

What year AS...later models, try WD40 reg., mineral spirits or Brakleen.

I also covered once...never again.

Bob
🇺🇸

[pjshier]

West Marine stocks a very effective boat hull cleaner we used to remove dock bumper black marks from aluminum floats - BUT THE FLOATS DID NOT HAVE CLEAR COAT. If other tried and true approaches don't work, read the container carefully to see if it is compatible, try in an inconspicuous spot.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by AirKeg

Can someone please tell me how do I remove black tarp marks from the outside Aluminum of my Airstream. Is there a specific cleaner or degreaser that will cut the black mark or something else that people have used that will work ?

Like mentioned earlier, it depends on if your trailer has clearcoat or not.

But usually the 'black tarp marks' are not 'dirt' or 'grease', they are actually oxidation remnants from the tarp rubbing/abrading on bare aluminum. If it is a newer trailer, the tarp may have abraded through the clearcoat and hit the bare aluminum causing the same effect - but with the complication of wearing through the protective clearcoat. This can also happen with branches swaying in the breeze against your trailer...

The only way we found to remove the black 'tarp marks' on our '55 Safari (w/o clearcoat) was to polish it. Actually, some of the panels we replaced because they had other damage as well, but unfortunately, the abrasion marks don't just wash away.



BTW, one of the ways to determine if you have clearcoat or not is to take a tiny dab of toothpaste & rub it on your aluminum - if it turns black, bare aluminum. If not it has a coating. Most Airstreams post 1963-ish have or had some sort of clearcoat unless they have been stripped &/or polished.

Shari