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quoteIn this video, we go through the steps to take to clean your caravan roof with the help of staff from Peter Roberts Caravans and Motorhomes in Huddersfield.
Cleaning your caravan roof can be a thankless task, but it’s important to keep on top of those black streaks that run down off the roof onto the sides of your caravan. Also, it’s important to keep a regular check of your caravan roof, particularly if you have a solar panel fitted. Keeping your solar panel clean will maximise the charge going into your caravan’s leisure battery.
Caravan roof cleaning equipment
To clean your caravan roof you only need a few pieces of equipment. These include:
- A long-handled brush
- A squeegee for drying
- Some microfibre cloths and a sponge
- A water source such as a hose pipe or a pump sprayer,
- A bucket
- Some caravan shampoo and polish
- An appropriate ladder
Ladder safety
Make sure you don’t stand on the top step of the ladder. In a lot of cases, this isn’t a step, it’s just part of the hinge mechanism.
It’s best to invest in a tall, well-made ladder that is suitable for the job.
Step 1
Lower or raise the jockey wheel
Before starting to clean the roof lower or raise the jockey wheel of the caravan. This will encourage water runoff at the front or back of the caravan.
Step 2
Wet down
Start by rinsing the caravan and removing any debris. If you have a hosepipe don’t get too close to any of the vents or roof lights but use the spray to disperse any debris off the roof.
If you’re using a pump sprayer just moisten the roof as best you can.
Step 3
Shampoo and wash
Dilute some shampoo in a bucket and dip the long-handled brush into the solution.
Divide the roof into six equal parts. For example, the front left, the left side, and the left back. And then focus on each segment.
Roof lights
Start by cleaning on and around the roof lights.
In some cases, the roof lights might be quite dirty on the lip. If so, the easiest way to clean this is to nip inside the caravan and raise each roof light and use a microfibre cloth to wipe down the edges of the roof light. And if you can, clean the roof area that the roof light sits on.
Keep dipping the brush into the shampoo as you continue to clean off the dirt from the roof.
Step 4
Vents and fixings
Brush around any vents and fixings but be gentle. You might not be able to get too close or under those items with the long-handled brush. Use a microfibre cloth or sponge to get in and under items such as a solar panel and TV antenna.
Step 5
Rinse off and dry
Once half the roof is complete use your water source again to wash off any debris and dirt, and repeat this process until the entire roof is clean.
To dry the roof you can use a squeegee to soak up as much water as you can. Wring out and repeat the process.
Step 6
Solar panels
For items such as solar panels, it’s important to keep this as clean as you can, as this will maximise the charge the panel can create to put back into your leisure battery whilst in storage.
Step 7
Overwintering or polish
If you’re cleaning your caravan roof before winter storage you might want to consider an overwintering product or use a good polish to minimise algae or moss buildup.
Step 8
Back and sides
Once the roof is clean you’ll then need to clean the caravan sides, front and back, as debris and muck will have been running off the roof.
Over to you…
Do you have any tips on cleaning a caravan roof that you want to share? As always, please comment in the box below.
Just checked our caravan having cleaned the rood with good old elbow grease and clean water when it had a build up of algea last November. Still clear! Good tip is to clean when it has been raining or a heavy dew as the algea is soft and easy to clean off.
yes not only does this keep the water running back but also stops it puddling around a window andpossible leak through sealant there 🙂
Being of a mature age, I am wary of ladders. I open the Heki roof light, and use a step ladder in the van to get my torso out and clean the main part of the roof using long brushes, the garden hose drawn up with a rope, and cleaning fluid. I can still clean the remaining part of the roof by moving the van against the house and working from an upstairs window. Safe for me.
Great tip Rob
Also to help roof run off, pull the caravan up onto a levelling ramp or onto a block of wood on one side only to ensure water runs off to the side as well as to the front or back.
Unless you wash your caravan or store it on a billiard table it’s likely to be off level side to side. In that case raising or lowering the jockey wheel is irrelevant as it will run off the lower side. Never struggled with ponding or algae build-up as our storage site is on a very (very) slight slope (about an an inch or so across the width of the van)
We spray our caravan with either Wet and Forget or Patio Magic after washing it. Both of these products prevent the buildup of Algae, The van stays remarkably clean, obviously mud etc will stick, but not the algae growth. I also agree with raising the jockey wheel sothe run off goes down the plain back of the van.
What’s with all the brushes? Lambswool mitts clean effectively without all the swirly scratches that brushes cause. Those telescopic brushes do so much damage, they hold grit which just grinds into the paint. Might as well use a yard broom.
I always raise the front of the van when washing and in storage, this way excess water runs down the solid section at the back of the van and not down the front windows and seals (common place for damp to start)
No matter how well built the caravan is you always end up with puddles on the roof. Lowering the jockey wheel is so obvious but I never thought of it. Thank you!
To minimise build up of debris and algae.It also helps if you are able to store the caravan with a slight tilt to the front or back. Rather than being dead level.
I’ve tried many different cleaning products over the years, and ‘Autoglym Caravan & Motorhome Cleaner’ is by far the best.
Good article . A job I dislike , cleaning the roof .I quite enjoy cleaning the rest of the ‘van , but not the roof
I bought a long bottle brush designed to clean behind radiators, ideal to clean under solar panel
Brilliant Article well thought out Thanks
To clean under solar panels I use a bottle brush attached to a short cane. Be careful not to catch any wires.
No answer there to cleaning the gunge that builds up underneath the solar panel, certainly insufficient clearance to get a brush under there. Anyone with any suggestions?
You could try a paintbrush John with some Silky cleaner to agitate the dirt away and then gently rinse away with a hose. Or a long handled soft bristled bottle brush, but you would need to be careful not to damage the underside of the panel.
Previous caravan I used to leave a smear of grease lightning on the roof over the winter period. New van I put diamond coat on myself took 4 hours but worth it. Just use the special shampoo and it all comes off back to showroom condition
Usefull video and tips. Main thing is ensure you use good quality steps or ladder. If using a ladder against the caravan then ensure the ladder is cushioned against the edge so as not to damage the caravan.
Never thought to lower the jockey wheel to allow the run-off for the excess soap/water. Now I know!