Black streaks

[paccool]

OK guys, I need some info from the experts. I parked my new aluminum sided trailer close to a live oak tree, The leaves clogged up the rain gutter(not very big anyway) and the water ran over the side. the leaves added some color to the water and now I have black streaks on the sides of the trailer. Tried Simple Green in about a 4:1 ratio, that removed most streaks but there are still some evident.



Is there something better to use? Am I OK to use Simple Green full strength?



Don't want to screw up the finish and will wax it when I get it clean. Trailer is about 9 months old.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by paccool

OK guys, I need some info from the experts. I parked my new aluminum sided trailer close to a live oak tree, The leaves clogged up the rain gutter(not very big anyway) and the water ran over the side. the leaves added some color to the water and now I have black streaks on the sides of the trailer. Tried Simple Green in about a 4:1 ratio, that removed most streaks but there are still some evident.



Is there something better to use? Am I OK to use Simple Green full strength?



Don't want to screw up the finish and will wax it when I get it clean. Trailer is about 9 months old.

I use mineral spiret from Waly World (paint thiner) less than two a gal. Ron Bissett in metro Louisville . P. S also removes road tar.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Wax it. The mineral spirits in the wax will remove the streaks.

 

[B.G. Smith]

You can buy a product called "Black Streak Remover" at most camping/RV places and others but I have found the any good detergent will do the job, like "Greased Lightening. " bg

 

[klenger]

I found that the orange hand clearner works great for removing tree sap and black streaks from my trailer. I wash it as best as I can with a car wash solutionn, and then go over the stuborn spots with some orange hand cleaner on a sponge. Then wax (I use Protect All).

 

[boonsur]

My magic formula:

I did much experimenting on this. If it's in really deep, the best I found was:



Spray the streaks with black-streak remover (available in RV/hardware stores), to pre-soak.



Use Soft Scrub (regular, with bleach) on a sponge to clean.



The black-streak remover wasn't real good by itself. Somehow, the soft scrub (bleach?) reacts with the (acid?) from the black-streak remover & pulls the grime out. (BTW, I tried Soft Scrub "gel" with bleach, but it didn't work as well - I think the regular S. S. is important, not sure why).



Didn't harm the finish on my aluminum trailer (nor the vinyl graphics), but you can be assured, there isn't much wax/protectant left. Be sure to put a new coat on to protect & keep clean in the future. (Also, wear an old shirt, the bleach will do it's thing when it drips on you).

 

[paccool]

First of all, thanks to all for the tips. Lots of stuff to try!



I picked up some"Black Streak Remover" at Wally world today and it looks like it is going to work good. Will need to spray it on, let it set for a minute or so, wash it with a sponge and then rinse.



Now, need to clean it good and then wax it.



Stan

 

[Casey Balvert]

Just wax it and save yourself the time and money of using black streak remover. Also the coat of wax will help to keep the next rainstorm from sticking to the side. FWIW.



Casey