Keeping Motorhome clean while touring abroad

[Chuns]

It is nearly two thousand miles since the last wash and wax, and the Motorhome is looking pretty road-stained, and the front is plastered with dead flies. We are currently on the outskirts of Berlin, thence to Koblenz, and then Alsace before crossing France to Cherbourg.

By accident I discovered a car-wash chain in France called Oki, that had an area for van cleaning, complete with walkway for the higher bits. Do they exist elsewhere, or does anyone have any hints or tips about getting a quick clean while here in Germany, or when we get into France?

I just want it to look presentable, a proper clean will wait till we get back. And low effort!

 

[PaddyM]

I just keep the windows and mirrors clean and wait till I get home for the full blitz on the bodywork.

 

[kimndon]

On our 7 week trip through Spain etc. Kim, my wife, complains that we have the dirtiest motorhome. I am not worried but it does amaze me - how do they keep theirs so clean?

 

[TONCAZ]

It is nearly two thousand miles since the last wash and wax, and the Motorhome is looking pretty road-stained, and the front is plastered with dead flies. We are currently on the outskirts of Berlin, thence to Koblenz, and then Alsace before crossing France to Cherbourg.

By accident I discovered a car-wash chain in France called Oki, that had an area for van cleaning, complete with walkway for the higher bits. Do they exist elsewhere, or does anyone have any hints or tips about getting a quick clean while here in Germany, or when we get into France?

I just want it to look presentable, a proper clean will wait till we get back. And low effort!

Might be an idea to drop into a MH seller and ask, due to the amount of MH in Germany you should find one,

 

[Sapper520]

It is nearly two thousand miles since the last wash and wax, and the Motorhome is looking pretty road-stained, and the front is plastered with dead flies. We are currently on the outskirts of Berlin, thence to Koblenz, and then Alsace before crossing France to Cherbourg.

By accident I discovered a car-wash chain in France called Oki, that had an area for van cleaning, complete with walkway for the higher bits. Do they exist elsewhere, or does anyone have any hints or tips about getting a quick clean while here in Germany, or when we get into France?

I just want it to look presentable, a proper clean will wait till we get back. And low effort!

Kercher have loads of cleaning places In Germany, and there are various other companies. Most towns with commercial / industrial centres will have them. Some have gantries to do the roof.

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[Manic]

In the past I have swilled van off when on an Aire that had a stream run behind it, just use bucket to collect water but when you throw bucket make sure you hold the string or watch the bucket disappear down the river

 

[grumps147]

Overcab, windscreen and rest of front including front of mirrors are the place for bugs on ours. Extremely hard to get off but I use a bug remover solution we got in France years ago for the windscreen. The majority of it has to wait until we get home. never done a really long trip but once it got really filthy quite early on a three week one. We always carry a very small amount of shampoo, a sponge,and a multi use bucket. We also carry an empty old medium sized washing up liquid bottle that we can squeeze a small spray of water from. We stopped at a quiet motorway aire and use a small amount of shampoo in a small amount of water in the bucket, it’s surprising how little water you need, and washed it down from the side windows downwards (didn’t even attempt anything over stretched arm height). Used cold water in the washing up liquid bottle like a mini hosepipe. Again, it’s surprising how little water was needed to rinse it down. It has never got that muddy dirty ever again, but I would use the same technique again if it did happen. Some birds can be quite messy if they hit you, and it’s not good looking at road kill streaks for a length of time, and makes it harder to remove.

 

[Jo662]

On our 7 week trip through Spain etc. Kim, my wife, complains that we have the dirtiest motorhome. I am not worried but it does amaze me - how do they keep theirs so clean?

Exactly my thoughts today when I left an aire in Angeles sur mer and my Motorhome looking filthy and every one else's like they have just left the showroom

 

[Two of usI]

Spain is by far the best place to keep clean, we probably do ours twice a week and its usually 2 / 3 € a time...... not seen them anywhere else....... there is a station and gantry in one of the campsites in Benidorm

 

[62272]

I give my MOHO a damp cloth wipe down regularly when on a pitch with a micro fibre cloth, it keeps it really shiny while we are away on tours.

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[TONCAZ]

Treated myself to one of these, great for washing down, 8litres of water @ 40psi and doesn't take up much room.

 

[Chuns]

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone.

 

[berni109]

Why bother?
Clean the windows and lights if they need it other wise lifes too short.

 

[Lenny HB]

Wash the screen and front down after each day's driving.
Ours got really filthy coming down through France so when parked up and it was raining I wiped it down with a microfiber cloth.

 

[Phill D]

I us bug wipes and a bucket of soapy water on the front. Screen and mirrors as soon as I can after each drive.
That way the bugs are easier to remove and stain the paintwork less.
The rest of the van can wait until it rains or we get back.

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[Sheddy]

I carry an old beach towel to soak and place over the bugs, after about 30 mins they just wipe away. Also carry a long telescopic squeegee for above the screen, the rest of the van gets cleaned when we get home.
Edit: Did see a French van arrive on site in Spain, he just removed the wide cling film with the flies from the bonnet on his A class. Simple.

 

[PhilandMena]

Get a wife/partner. Job done.

 

[Ridgeway]

Truck wash centres will probably be OK:

Suche direkt auf der Karte - TRAVIS Road Services

www.yourtravis.com

 

[Nanniemate]

I dont wash it when its home let alone away , but if you use lemongel floor cleaner on the front the bugs will glide off , My father did not believe me until he tried it, then for ten minutes of my life I was a hero until he forgot it was me who suggested it , and was telling me about the great way to get get rid of the bugs other brands are available

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[pelican]

On our 7 week trip through Spain etc. Kim, my wife, complains that we have the dirtiest motorhome. I am not worried but it does amaze me - how do they keep theirs so clean?

Or why?

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[The general]

I dont wash it when its home let alone away

Same here , my van not going into a beauty contest , if bad after off road /track travelling ,fair enough Cornish / Stonehenge mud comes off easy .also remove bird crap but that’s about it .

 

[Chod Jacqui]

Years ago whilst on an aire near Samur we watched a French couple with a "spinning mop" and it's special bucket ( now available in the uk) I found that using on bucket of suds and two buckets of clean water I could easily wash our motorhome, as long as it was not too dirty. I've done this several times whilst abroad when on a nice quiet a aire.

 

[Nanniemate]

Years ago whilst on an aire near Samur we watched a French couple with a "spinning mop" and it's special bucket ( now available in the uk) I found that using on bucket of suds and two buckets of clean water I could easily wash our motorhome, as long as it was not too dirty. I've done this several times whilst abroad when on a nice quiet a aire.

if caught in Germany /Austria mega fines can be enforced using chemicals (even soap suds)

 

[Chod Jacqui]

Perhaps rinse off more often with clean water!