Filth

[tony_g]

We've been in Greece for nearly eight weeks now. Arrived in iffy weather, wind rain and Saharan sand. Since then hot, hot, hot. Flies, brake dust, diesel grot...the van is just filthy. We have been to the odd campsite but feel strongly that drinking water should not be used for van washing. Equally, don't want to use a Karcher ( there was one at the last site.) We are now on a beach with copious Aegean 10ft away. Would anyone use seawater to at least get the worst off? Can't see any downside on GRP or waxed paintwork and underneath is galvanised. Any thoughts?

 

[ianthebuilder]

Drive it straight in, up to the wheel arches, give her a wash down, and then let her lay on the beach for an hour to dry off,,, Lovely!! X

 

[Macca1954]

We've been in Greece for nearly eight weeks now. Arrived in iffy weather, wind rain and Saharan sand. Since then hot, hot, hot. Flies, brake dust, diesel grot...the van is just filthy. We have been to the odd campsite but feel strongly that drinking water should not be used for van washing. Equally, don't want to use a Karcher ( there was one at the last site.) We are now on a beach with copious Aegean 10ft away. Would anyone use seawater to at least get the worst off? Can't see any downside on GRP or waxed paintwork and underneath is galvanised. Any thoughts?

If it was me no, no, no ex Sailor salt is bad

 

[robnchris]

Definitely do NOT use sea water, the salt will cause you more troubles than a dirty motorhome.
One for certain if you are in Greece the tap water isn't classed as drinking water so wash your van without any worries.
Nip down to a marina for evidence and watch them washing the boats, we used to keep our yacht over there and there was two water supplies one free the other you paid for, the free tap water was very chalky and no one would use that for washing their boats down with.

 

[pappajohn]

Doesn't seem to do fibreglass boat hulls much lasting harm and they are in it all year.
Just wash in fresh water before you try buffing or polishing.
The sun will dry it but leave an abrasive salt residue.

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[Nirvanauk]

We've been in Greece for nearly eight weeks now. Arrived in iffy weather, wind rain and Saharan sand. Since then hot, hot, hot. Flies, brake dust, diesel grot...the van is just filthy. We have been to the odd campsite but feel strongly that drinking water should not be used for van washing. Equally, don't want to use a Karcher ( there was one at the last site.) We are now on a beach with copious Aegean 10ft away. Would anyone use seawater to at least get the worst off? Can't see any downside on GRP or waxed paintwork and underneath is galvanised. Any thoughts?

Are you enjoying your selves??

 

[tony_g]

Are you enjoying your selves??

Yes...and then some! Still cannot see the harm but I'll let it stay filthy. If in doubt do nothing, crack another beer! I'll class the dirt as a protective coating. Can't understand how the Dutch/German vans seem so clean.

 

[Ingwe]

Crack another Mythos, get out a jar of olives and let the van chill. There's plenty of time to clean the van when you get home.

 

[M-J]

Buy some waterless wash and wax

 

[Chris]

Crack another Mythos, get out a jar of olives and let the van chill. There's plenty of time to clean the van when you get home.

Sound advice.

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[Barclaybasher]

Just wait until it rains.............sponge in hand, ladder at the ready

 

[berni109]

They get up at silly o'clock and wash then with tap water.
By the time normal people get up it's all dried.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Doesn't seem to do fibreglass boat hulls much lasting harm and they are in it all year.
Just wash in fresh water before you try buffing or polishing.
The sun will dry it but leave an abrasive salt residue.

Most boat hulls don’t have external components vulnerable to corrosion.

By all means wash some fibre glass with salt but you’ll need to rinse with fresh water to avoid all sorts of stains and to keep corrosion of the key stuff at bay.

 

[tonyidle]

Most boat hulls don’t have external components vulnerable to corrosion.

By all means wash some fibre glass with salt but you’ll need to rinse with fresh water to avoid all sorts of stains and to keep corrosion of the key stuff at bay.

.................. and don't drive any vehicle into water that reaches the axles if you can avoid it. The hubs cool rapidly and draw water into the bearings. Deeper still and the gearbox and diff (if rear drive) breathers will be under water with the same result.

 

[tony_g]

Buy some waterless wash and wax

Tried some once on a car. Seems to work by removing the paint!

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[tony_g]

General consensus seems to be to do nothing. Have spent my life perfecting that! Wouldn't dream of driving into the sea. Drove through a flood drainage stretch of road in Western Australia once. Never been so scared!

 

[M-J]

Tried some once on a car. Seems to work by removing the paint!

Branded stuff? Seems odd unless it was on a poor previous repair?

 

[tony_g]

Branded stuff? Seems odd unless it was on a poor previous repair?

Aldi or Lidl, I forget which. Odd, their other motoring stuff has been good. I don't really trust methods which don't copiously wash away abrasive dirt build up.

 

[funflair]

Tried some once on a car. Seems to work by removing the paint!

You are not supposed to rub in though, spray on and it lifts and lubricates the dirt then just wipe away carefully with a microfibre cloth, when the cloth is full change it for a clean one, I use Auto-glym rapid detailer or in commercial size at a fraction of the price it's called "fast shine and lube" https://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product/autoglym-no-54-fast-shine-and-lube/

Martin

 

[nicholsong]

Definitely do NOT use sea water, the salt will cause you more troubles than a dirty motorhome.
One for certain if you are in Greece the tap water isn't classed as drinking water so wash your van without any worries.
Nip down to a marina for evidence and watch them washing the boats, we used to keep our yacht over there and there was two water supplies one free the other you paid for, the free tap water was very chalky and no one would use that for washing their boats down with.

That is too much of a generalisation.

I used to keep my boat in Galatas opposite Poros and the water in that area was vey pure - straight off the Peloponese mountains, and not recycled.

My experience over 30 years was that most of the water on the mainland was fine. Some of the island had some problems with water from wells/cisterns/off tankers, but one soon learned where and when to trust supplies.

Geoff

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[yodeli]

Can't understand how the Dutch/German vans seem so clean.

Just like they do for shoes... A bit long but hey , you want it shiny? Spit on it and and wipe strongly making small circles! You might need a couple of days and a few beers to recover from the effort And .....it's all free!

 

[nicholsong]

Just like they do for shoes... A bit long but hey , you want it shiny? Spit on it and and wipe strongly making small circles! You might need a couple of days and a few beers to recover from the effort And .....it's all free!

Recover and start again.

Did anyone con you that you are on holiday?

 

[robnchris]

That is too much of a generalisation.

I used to keep my boat in Galatas opposite Poros and the water in that area was vey pure - straight off the Peloponese mountains, and not recycled.

My experience over 30 years was that most of the water on the mainland was fine. Some of the island had some problems with water from wells/cisterns/off tankers, but one soon learned where and when to trust supplies.

Geoff

Certainly the water in Athens and Thessalonika is safe to drink as it comes from a big reservoir at Marathon, however when the local water comes from Bore holes and or desalination plants that is definitely not the best quality for drinking, so yes perhaps I did make a generalisation of the situation.
Having said that most of the water drank in Greece (especially) the islands is bottle water.

 

[busby]

Yes...and then some! Still cannot see the harm but I'll let it stay filthy. If in doubt do nothing, crack another beer! I'll class the dirt as a protective coating. Can't understand how the Dutch/German vans seem so clean.

I usually manage to wash my van using less than half a bucket of water. Not very big though.BUSBY.

 

[Clarky]

I usually manage to wash my van using less than half a bucket of water. Not very big though.BUSBY.

What the bucket or the van?

Richard

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[Lanerboy]

I wouldnt put salt water any where near my MH i saw what it did to my motocross bike after doing western beach race, dont risk it its terrible stuff near a vehicle

 

[carolyn]

Haven't you seen any of the threads where people moan and groan because their vans were on the outside decks on Brittany ferries and got a bit of salt water on them? I think salt water is bad and would get into all sorts of nooks and crannies and the dust would all be back by the next day anyway. Consider the dust to be a protective shell plus burglar deterrant and hope that thieves would steal from the shiny van nearby! Works for me but I am lazy on holiday and have low standards.

 

[Emmit]

That is too much of a generalisation.

I used to keep my boat in Galatas opposite Poros and the water in that area was vey pure - straight off the Peloponese mountains, and not recycled.

My experience over 30 years was that most of the water on the mainland was fine. Some of the island had some problems with water from wells/cisterns/off tankers, but one soon learned where and when to trust supplies.

Geoff

Is that Galatas on Syros? Lovely island, Syros.

 

[movan]

Tried some once on a car. Seems to work by removing the paint!

Ditto