Washing and polishing a motorhome: how to do it yourself

Washing and polishing a motorhome works best in the shade and from top to bottom: a pre-wash first, then a gentle contact wash with plenty of water, tackle black streaks and green algae straight away, and only then add wax or sealant. That keeps scratches off the gelcoat, the polyester and the plastic windows. Polishing a caravan follows exactly the same routine.

A motorhome is big, tall and usually lives outdoors. Rain runs from the roof down the sides and leaves black streaks under the windows and along the roof edges. Green algae settles under the hatches and on the shaded side. Unprotected gelcoat and paint go dull in sun and UV. A fixed routine keeps that under control: a full wash with wax or sealant about twice a year, and after short trips just a spray wax or quick detailer.

What to use where

This table shows what you use on each part and what to watch for. If you want to wash without marring the finish, read our guide to washing a car without scratches.

How to do it

1. Preparation. Park the motorhome in the shade and let the panels cool down. Close the windows and hatches and get two buckets, a clean mitt and microfibre cloths. Pitfall: soap that dries in the sun leaves streaks, so work in sections.

2. Rinse and pre-wash. Rinse the roof and sides from top to bottom, then apply a pre-wash. A pH-neutral foam such as Shiny Garage Blue Snow Foam goes into the foam lance as 100 ml of foam to 900 ml of water. It loosens coarse dirt so you rub less. More on the method in our guide to using snow foam.

3. Contact wash. For Koch Chemie AS Car Shampoo the hand-wash dilution is 1:150, about 65 ml per 10 litres of water. If you have a large surface or wash often, the large pack of BrandX X-Tra Suds Car Shampoo & Gloss 18.9 L is also suitable for motorhomes. Wash panel by panel, rinse the mitt often and finish at the bottom. Tip: rinse each section before the soap can dry.

4. Black streaks and green algae. Deal with streaks early, because fresh streaks come off more easily than old ones. Work with shampoo and a soft brush, and use a dedicated caravan and motorhome streak remover for stubborn marks. Rinse well. Do this before waxing, since wax over streaks makes them harder to remove. Pitfall: scouring pads and abrasive powder take the gloss off gelcoat.

5. Windows and seals. Plastic windows scratch more easily than glass. Rinse generously first so grit runs off, then use a clean microfibre cloth or your bare hand with water: you feel any grit before it scratches. Brush window seals and seams with the Black Brush Ultra Soft S in size S. For glass, see our guide to cleaning car glass without streaks.

6. Dry and protect. Dry with clean microfibre cloths. On a clean, cool panel apply a thin coat of Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax: leave it for 5 to 10 minutes, then buff to a shine. A quicker route is Menzerna Ceramic Spray Sealant: spray onto a microfibre cloth, spread and dry off with the dry side. Pitfall: wax is not a polish, so polish a dull, oxidised area first.

Rather not do it yourself? We also clean motorhomes in our workshop, see camper cleaning.

Wax or sealant on a motorhome

A wax gives depth and suits anyone who likes to polish by hand. A sealant is faster and often lasts longer. Which one fits your use is covered in On gelcoat, start on a small, discreet patch and expand from there.choosing wax, sealant or ceramic coating and the wax steps are in how to wax your car. You will find more options in the wax category and among the sealants and quick detailers, and shampoos are in shampoo and car wash.

Common mistakes

• Using washing-up liquid. It strips the wax from the panels.

• Washing in full sun, so the soap dries and leaves streaks.

• Waxing over black streaks.

• Wiping plastic windows dry with grit on the cloth.

• Trying to do everything in one go. Work side by side and section by section.