|
01-24-2012, 09:18 AM
|
#1
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Winthrop Harbor
Posts: 1,859
M.O.C. #8160
|
Cleaning ouside trim
I'm not sure if this is an appropriate title but "oh well". I have spent two days washing my 3400 with a good deal of time spent cleaning the mildew off the white strips.
At first I tried Awsome with a wash cloth. I than moved up to a bleach water solution which was a little better. Instead of the wash cloth I used 00 steel wool. Today I used the 00 with Awsome and that worked the best. It even worked on the sections that were yellowed which I thought would never get white again w/o having to be replaced.
|
|
|
01-24-2012, 11:28 AM
|
#2
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Anchorage
Posts: 355
M.O.C. #794
|
We tried cleaning that stuff off too, but were suprised to find that after spending 4 months in Arizona our white strips looked like new. We think it was the dry weather.
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by c214dick
I'm not sure if this is an appropriate title but "oh well". I have spent two days washing my 3400 with a good deal of time spent cleaning the mildew off the white strips.
At first I tried Awsome with a wash cloth. I than moved up to a bleach water solution which was a little better. Instead of the wash cloth I used 00 steel wool. Today I used the 00 with Awsome and that worked the best. It even worked on the sections that were yellowed which I thought would never get white again w/o having to be replaced.
|
|
|
|
01-24-2012, 03:01 PM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Winthrop Harbor
Posts: 1,859
M.O.C. #8160
|
Monte has been residing in Florida since January 2011. The humidity really seems to add to the problem. I was pleasantly surprised when it cleaned off using the Awsome and steel wool.
|
|
|
01-25-2012, 07:53 AM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 2,783
M.O.C. #10246
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by c214dick
Monte has been residing in Florida since January 2011. The humidity really seems to add to the problem. I was pleasantly surprised when it cleaned off using the Awsome and steel wool.
|
Dick, did the steel wool cause any abrasion to the gelcoat?Michael
|
|
|
01-25-2012, 08:19 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Harford
Posts: 948
M.O.C. #7122
|
I tried the steel wool. Seemed like it was taking a lot of time so I purchased new trim and is less time that it would take to clean it, I replaced it. It was not expensive.
__________________
|
|
|
01-25-2012, 08:41 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Campbellsville
Posts: 123
M.O.C. #5075
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by bullroc3
I tried the steel wool. Seemed like it was taking a lot of time so I purchased new trim and is less time that it would take to clean it, I replaced it. It was not expensive.
|
Has anyone purchased the trim from Amazon? They have a lot of different widths and colors. Their price was reasonable, especially on the larger rolls.
|
|
|
01-25-2012, 01:46 PM
|
#7
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Victor
Posts: 940
M.O.C. #1709
|
Dick, I had a guy and his wife clean my fiver 2 years ago. They used a product called Streak-X. It clean everything reall well, even turned the rub rails white. He then used the Poli-Glo over the top of it and it still the same as it was. Saves the fingers. Didn't you have problems with the wool and the paint on the moulding? I used awesome and the Mr clean erasers the last time I done it myself. Still takes lots of work.
|
|
|
01-25-2012, 05:41 PM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Winthrop Harbor
Posts: 1,859
M.O.C. #8160
|
I was careful not to allow the steel wool to scratch the gel coat. One side, which was shady, was heavily mildewed and that's where I use a bleach/water solution. The other side, that was more in the sun, is where I used the Awsome. Both sides came out equally white. The mildewed side did take longer. I probably spent a total of 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. Total cost $1 for the Awsome, 1/2 cup of bleach, 2 steel wool pads = $2.
|
|
|
01-26-2012, 12:29 AM
|
#9
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
|
I found the easiest way to clean it was with lacquer thinner. However, I also found that it keeps getting dirty so I just leave it alone. When I get tired of looking at it I can either clean it again or replace it. You can never get away from the trim getting dark and mildewed. At least I can't.
Orv
|
|
|
01-26-2012, 11:54 AM
|
#10
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Winthrop Harbor
Posts: 1,859
M.O.C. #8160
|
I suppose that it is ordained that the trim will eventually get dark or mildewed. Like anything else it does require periodic cleaning. This is the first time that I tried getting the trim "clean" and I was very happy with the results. I normaly hand wash the trailer 3 times a year and wax it once a year. Im very proud of the way my 3400 looks with the exception of the lugs and the decals.
|
|
|
01-27-2012, 12:57 PM
|
#11
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Crossville
Posts: 85
M.O.C. #2082
|
My rub trim was black and I used everything I've read about attempting to clean but nothing worked. Some fine soul told me about outdoor bleach at Lowes. I wiped it on the plastic, left it on overnight and wa-la, the next day it was white again. Great stuff...
|
|
|
01-28-2012, 02:00 AM
|
#12
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Winthrop Harbor
Posts: 1,859
M.O.C. #8160
|
We have seen the outdoor bleach and was wondering what the difference was between it and regular "indoor" bleach.
|
|
|
01-30-2012, 10:29 AM
|
#13
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Crossville
Posts: 85
M.O.C. #2082
|
Outdoor bleach is much stronger than laundry bleach and is almost a gel, quite thick. It works great on mildew......
|
|
|
01-31-2012, 03:47 AM
|
#14
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Montgomery
Posts: 506
M.O.C. #7196
|
An RVer I met suggested putting Liquid floor wax on the molding vinyl after cleaning to fill the "pores" and slow mold development.
I think it may be working, or else the drought and lack of rain is responsible...
|
|
|
05-16-2012, 06:50 AM
|
#15
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: New Market
Posts: 831
M.O.C. #375
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by c214dick
Monte has been residing in Florida since January 2011. The humidity really seems to add to the problem. I was pleasantly surprised when it cleaned off using the Awsome and steel wool.
|
Awesome is a great product for the money. I use to keep the Monty and my bass boat clean. I do make sure I rinse with lots of clean rinse water as it has a high level of phosphates. Of course, that is why it cleans so well.
|
|
|
05-28-2012, 03:10 AM
|
#16
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Tonawanda
Posts: 551
M.O.C. #3662
|
I take all mine off and soak them in a bucket of water and bleach overnight and they come out brand new again,been doing it for years
|
|
|
05-29-2012, 11:45 AM
|
#17
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Corning
Posts: 133
M.O.C. #7451
|
We were washing our 5th wheel today and while removing bugs, my wife discovered spraying a used dryer sheet with Awesome Cleaner and wiping them, the rub strips cleaned up quickly with their original color restored. Warren
|
|
|
05-29-2012, 04:44 PM
|
#18
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Winthrop Harbor
Posts: 1,859
M.O.C. #8160
|
Weather permitting we will wash Monte, after it gets back from the service dept., and clean the rub rails again but will try bleach this time as I left my Awsome in Fl. One thing we did notice, was streaking under the rub rails where I did not rinse enough after cleaning with the Awsome.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|