Cleaning Trailer's EDPM Roof

[boonsur]

I have not given the trailer a good scrubbing all season, and the roof is now really dirty.



What is a good cleaner to use? Soft Scrub works great on boats (gelcoat), but I'm wondering if it would somehow damage (chalk) the rubber. Any thoughts?



Does anybody have other majic potions?

 

[Roger Ledbetter]

Cleaner / Preserver

Camping World sells 2 different products for the roof membrane. One is a cleaner that is uspposed to be safe for the roof.

The other is a Preserver that helps keep the roof clean and protects it from UV.



Thanks for reminding me... I have to go out and do my 5'er

 

[JohnB]

Alpha, the manufacturers of the rubber roofing said to use a household cleaner like Comet in the care card that came in the packet with my trailer. I followed up with two coatings of Protect-all roof coating. It is much easier to put on the Protect-all before the rubber gets oxidized and then do often enough to keep a gloss on the rubber.

 

[Driftwood Ram]

Dicor

Look here http://www.dicor.com/ for information on rubber roofs and their care. It is my understanding that Dicor makes most of the rubber roofing for r. v. 's. Be carful what you put on them. There was a article in Trailer Life a while ago, but I do not have it so can not referance the issue.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I borrowed my sister's power washer and washed the roof with plain water. I was a little worried about the pressure doing damage, so I started out real slow and used the wide pattern nozzle. It worked way better than I expected.



Doc

 

[dmurdock]

don't forget

hey roger, don't forget you're supposed to do mine, too

 

[Gene-C]

Its real easy. Wash with soap and water to get the normal dirt and grime off. Now use a fifty percent mix of bleach and water in a spray tank. wet the roof but don't let it run down the side of the RV because it will streek it. Let it dry on its own and you will see a beautiful new looking roof. The tuff spots can be rubbed with 100% bleach. It is safe on your roof and will not harm it. What ever you do don't use any petrolem products of any kind. They will do harm.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Won't the bleach hurt it if you let it dry?



Doc

 

[boonsur]

Like Doc, I am a little worried that bleach would break-up/draw-out the oils from the rubber, leaving it "chalky". Maybe the treatments would replenish this.

 

[Gene-C]

I checked with the manufacture about the bleach and was told that it is safe. The roof is supose to chalk off as a normal process. I would recomend calling your RV manfacture and get the name of your roof material and do your own research.

I have used this process on my RV for about four years with no noticable effects except a great looking roof. Good luck and happy camping

 

[Ramboy]

I have to agree with Gene-C. I have washed my roof from the beginning with a mixture of liquid Tide, bleach and water. I use full-strength bleach on tough leaf stains. No problems and no chalking.

Phil

 

[Doc Tinker]

Who cares if it looks good? You can't see it!



Doc

 

[Gene-C]

The reason we like a clean roof is to reduce the black streeks on the side of the RV. The streeks are caused from moisture running off the dirty roof. If you don't mind that then leave it dirty. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[HGeier]

EDPM Roof

I use a stiff bristle brush, soft scrub, rinse with a garden hose then use Protect All rubber roof treatment with uv protection. This was recommended by my RV dealer and has worked fine. Scrub every 6 months. ____________________________________________________

89 D250 w/ banks intercooler, power pack, all gauges, 720 auto trans w/ shift kit, air bags, Trl: 26ft Komfort w/slide solar panels, inverters and golf cart batteries.

 

[SteveH]

I am having some roof problems and talked to Alpha Systems this week. Learned a lot about rubber roofs and whether or not Alpha will stand behind a defective roof. They don't! If I'm not mistaken, Firestone is the actual manufacturer of the rubber roof they handle. Bleach (chloride) plus water = hydrochloric acid!! It may be a weak acid but nevertheless is acid. Clean the entire roof with no gloves on and use pure chlorine and see what it does to your hands. This will also promote rust in anything that the vapors can reach. But, as was said earlier, different strokes for different folks.

 

[Gene-C]

Steve H: My wife washes our clothes every week with bleach and they have'nt fallen apart yet. The inside and outside of the washer isn't all rusty either. Lets get real. A little bleach and water a couple times a year isn't going to kill your roof or your hands.

PS:I think all our drinking water also has chlorine in it along with every swimming pool in the world.

 

[SteveH]

Originally posted by Gene-C

Steve H: My wife washes our clothes every week with bleach and they have'nt fallen apart yet. The inside and outside of the washer isn't all rusty either. Lets get real. A little bleach and water a couple times a year isn't going to kill your roof or your hands.

PS:I think all our drinking water also has chlorine in it along with every swimming pool in the world.

Gene,

Re-read the post. It was stated to use PURE bleach and to leave it on without washing it off. I have personally taken all the skin off my hands (this is how I KNOW that bleach will do it) by using straight bleach to clean grout in a bathroom. Chlorine in our water system has at MOST a . 3 ppm residual. That means that there are only 3 tenths of one part of chlorine per million parts of water. See the difference here? If you do not believe me that the bleach will take the skin off your hands, please soak your hands in pure bleach until the bleach has had time to completely dry. Spill bleach on your clothes and the dye is even removed, spill tap water on your clothes and nothing happens. Better yet, wash your clothes in this suggested pure bleach through one cycle and then post for us what was left to wear.

Sorry Gene, please do not give out unsafe and potentially damaging information that could lead others astray and cause them bodily harm. This bleach would also ruin their awning if it got on it and was not washed off.