Your own motorhome or own box-type van is much more than a vehicle for you – it is a mobile home on wheels, a true companion on countless adventures and journeys.
Like every home, a motorhome also requires the right kind of care in order to preserve its functionality and value retention over the years.
This guide contains some valuable tips and tricks on how to clean and care for your vehicle in the best possible way so that you can enjoy unforgettable adventures in it for years to come.
THE CHECKLIST
This is generally a case of cleaning and preparing the body and then sealing it to prevent it from becoming dirty again.
Ideally, the body should be cleaned from top to bottom.
Special intensive cleaners or an active foam are suitable for cleaning. Preparation takes place using special polishes. The exterior care of the vehicle is then rounded off by means of waxing or paint sealing. Detailed product suggestions can be found in our checklist at the end of the report.
Important note: The cleaning agents must not contain alcohol, solvents or corrosive components. These will permanently damage the installed plastic components, such as panes of acrylic glass, the décor and plastic parts.
Particularly the roof of the vehicle is exposed to a wide range of weather conditions. Stubborn dirt can be removed from the surface by means of multiple cleaning processes (using coarse to very fine grinding paste). Leaves or snow must be removed from the roof at regular intervals.
Salts and moisture will damage the body. These must be removed at regular intervals using aluminium polish during underbody washing.
Please be careful not to spray the glass cleaner onto parts made from rubber or plastic when the panes of glass are being cleaned. This can cause discolouration of the material. The solvents in the cleaner remove the plasticiser from the plastic surface and make the material brittle. Special acrylic & plexiglass cleaners, plastic cleaners or special waxes are suitable for looking after these materials. All cleaning agents must be solvent-free!
Rubber profiles or seals are easiest to clean using natural cleaners (e.g. Frosch), special rubber cleaners or deer tallow.
The décor and the GRP require more than sheet metal. Rain streaks on the décor can be removed with an intensive cleaner or a very fine polish (then seal with wax). The GRP must be cleaned once or twice per month with warm water and sealed with wax.
Cleaning and disinfecting of the water system are important measures for protecting your health. Limescale deposits are a breeding ground for bacteria!
When you are not using your vehicle, the water must always be drained and any residue wiped away with a cloth. Products such as MultiMan or Dr. Keddo are suitable for sterilising the fresh water tank.
Limescale and deposits must also be removed from the waste water tank. The waste water tank can always be rinsed with fresh water, and sterilisation products can also be used.
The pipelines and the water pump should not be forgotten. Here, too, rinsing with clean water should be carried out, and deposits or limescale should be removed. The pipes can be blown through with compressed air to remove any residue. You should also think about cleaning the water pump filter and changing it at regular intervals.
Do not clean the toilet with standard household cleaners - it is better to use special cleaners only (Thetford, Dometic, MultiMan). The cassette should always be flushed with clean water. The seals and sliders and also the float gauge should not be forgotten during cleaning. The transfer pumping system and the rubber seals can be maintained using Vaseline.