RV Washing: How to Wash an RV Safely, Top to Bottom

What do you need to wash an RV?

You need reach and gentle tools, not force.

Skip anything stiff or harsh. RV walls are often gelcoat (the hard, shiny skin on fiberglass), painted panels or aluminum. All of them scratch if you scrub with grit.

• A soft brush on an extension pole. A flow-through brush (water runs through the handle into the bristles) makes rinsing easy.
• A gentle RV wash soap. Look for one labeled safe for rubber roofs, fiberglass and decals.
• Two buckets: one with soapy water and one with plain water to rinse your brush or mitt. This keeps grit out of the soap.
• A microfiber wash mitt for low panels, doors and trim.
• A garden hose with a shutoff nozzle. Normal hose pressure is enough.
• A separate wheel brush and bucket, so brake dust never touches the walls.
• A sturdy ladder on flat, firm ground, with a helper to steady it. Keep three points of contact (two feet and a hand) as you climb. Never lean it on the awning, a slide-out or a window.
• Microfiber drying towels, plus a leaf blower if you have one.

How do you wash an RV step by step?

Pick a cool, cloudy morning or a shady spot. Soap that dries on a warm wall leaves streaks and spots. Always go from the top down, so dirty water never runs over panels you already cleaned.

Roll the awning in and give it its own cleaning day. Our RV awning cleaning guide covers the fabric.

• Step 1: Unplug shore power (the campground or house power cord) before you start. Close every window, roof vent and hatch.
• Step 2: Brush leaves, dirt and pooled water off the slide-out tops. Then pull the slides in if you can. Otherwise that grit rides into the seals.
• Step 3: Rinse the whole rig, top to bottom, with plain water. This floats off loose grit before any brush touches it.
• Step 4: Clean the roof first. Use the steps for your roof type in our RV roof cleaning guide. Only walk on the roof if your owner's manual says it is walkable. If not, clean it from the ladder with a long pole.
• Step 5: Wash the wheels, tires and wheel wells next, with their own brush and bucket. Doing them before the walls keeps brake dust spray off clean paint.
• Step 6: Soften bugs on the front cap with a wet microfiber towel or a bug remover. Let it soak for a few minutes.
• Step 7: Wash the walls in sections about 4 feet wide. Start at the top of each section and work down. Keep the brush flat and press lightly.
• Step 8: Rinse each section before the soap dries. On a warm day, make the sections smaller.
• Step 9: Give the whole rig one last top-down rinse.
• Step 10: Dry the glass, mirrors and dark trim with microfiber. A leaf blower pushes water out of seams, lights and trim.

Can you power wash an RV?

You can, but only with great care, and never on roof seams. A pressure washer shoots water much harder than a hose. It can push water past seals and peel up decals.

Water inside a wall does damage you can't see. It can rot wood framing and cause delamination (when wall layers come apart and bubble).

Watch your cleaners, too. Harsh degreasers, citrus cleaners and petroleum cleaners can soften a rubber (EPDM) roof. Bleach, household cleaners, scouring pads and stiff deck brushes don't belong on walls or seals.

If you do power wash, use the widest fan tip, often a white 40-degree tip. Never use a 0-degree or 15-degree tip. Keep the nozzle at least 2 feet from the surface, and spray at an angle.

Never aim high pressure at these spots:

• Roof seams, sealant beads (the rubbery caulk along seams) and cap joints
• Window, door and storage door edges
• Slide-out seals and their rubber wipers
• Decals and stripe edges, which lift and peel
• Roof vents, the AC cover, and the fridge, furnace and water heater vents
• Outside outlets, lights and the power cord hatch

Where can you wash an RV if it won't fit a car wash?

Most car washes are built for cars, not tall rigs. Know your full height, including the AC unit and antennas. Then check the posted clearance before you pull in.

Here is how the common choices compare.

What makes RV washing harder in the Bay Area?

Many San Francisco and Peninsula rigs live in storage lots, not driveways. Ask the office before you wash. Some lots have a wash rack. Others ban washing on your space, limit ladders, or have runoff rules.

If your lot allows mobile service, Golden Bay Detailing can wash the rig right there. We follow each facility's access and runoff rules. We bring our own water and power.

In the city, street parking makes a home wash tough. A steep street is no place for a ladder. Weather adds its own mess:

• Fog and the marine layer leave a damp film that holds dust. When the sun comes out, it dries into spots. Dry the glass right after you wash.
• Salt air near the water, in places like Pacifica or Sausalito, settles on everything. Give metal trim, the ladder and the hitch a good rinse.
• Beach trips bring sand. Rinse it out of steps, wheel wells and door tracks first. Otherwise the brush drags it across the walls.
• Rain season washes roof chalk down the walls as black streaks. Clean the roof before the rains.
• Lots under trees collect sap and bird droppings. Wash them off soon, before they stain the finish.

How do you wash a travel trailer or camper?

A travel trailer wash or camper wash uses the same top-down steps. A few parts need extra care.

• Ribbed aluminum siding: brush along the ribs, not across them, so dirt comes out of the grooves.
• The trailer front: road grime and rock chips pile up here. Soak it first and go easy on chips.
• Tongue, hitch and jacks: use a separate brush. Grease from here should never reach your wall brush.
• Truck campers: the part over the cab is high and hard to reach. Use a stable ladder, not the bumper.
• Pop-up and hybrid trailers: clean the tent ends with a gentle fabric cleaner. Let them dry fully before you fold them, or mildew can grow.

How often should you wash an RV?

Wash after every trip, and every few months while it sits. Always wash it before you put it away for the season. Dirt, salt and droppings do more harm the longer they sit.

Washing cleans, but it does not protect. The sun slowly turns RV walls dull and chalky. That is called oxidation. Wax, sealant or a ceramic coating helps block it. Our RV oxidation and RV ceramic coating guides go deeper.

If your rig has a ceramic coating from us, hand wash it or use a touchless wash only. A brush tunnel wash voids our coating warranty. A yearly maintenance detail keeps the warranty active, and we confirm RV warranty terms in your quote.

When should you call a pro to wash your RV?

DIY RV washing is fine if you can reach safely and have a place to do it. Call a pro when:

• You would have to stand high on a ladder, or your roof is not rated to walk on.
• The walls leave white chalk on a towel, or black streaks won't come off.
• Your storage lot has no water, no wash rack, or bans DIY washing.
• The rig is big, and a wash would eat your whole weekend.
• You want it polished and protected, not just clean.

Frequently Asked Questions