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Subject Topic: Arrghh - Black Streaks ! Post Reply Post New Topic
11/7/2012 at 10:10pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
View clever's Profile View Profile   Reply to clever Reply   Quote clever Quote  
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We are new to caravanning this year and when we got our van a couple of months ago I spent a whole weekend polishing it from top to bottom, and made sure the roof was spotless.

I thought this would stop any black streaks from appearing and for a few weeks it seemed fine. However, after these few weeks of very heavy rain the van is now suffering from black streaks again.

I have just had a look at the roof and I am dismayed to find it really grubby again and in need of a good polish.

Is it really this difficult to keep a caravan clean and polished ? Is it just because of the exceptional heavy rain we have been having ?

I really want to keep our van clean, but if it means polishing it all the time I think the novelty will soon wear off.

Is there anything I can do to keep it clean or I am just fighting a losing battle in this extreme weather.


11/7/2012 at 10:19pm
 Location: Keswick
 Outfit: Bailey
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That's life. Fenwicks Black streak remover helps but in these inclement times its a fight. Try one of these - it defelcts rain water away from the van and helps to avoid the cause of black streaking.

Phil



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If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe    


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11/7/2012 at 10:25pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent
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Try and keep the caravan low at one end so that the only place the water runs down is there. I keep the front of mine low and use a long handled car cleaning brush with a little Autoglym shampoo to keep it clean. I would rather do one small section frequently than the whole lot a few times a year.

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'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


11/7/2012 at 10:33pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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lots of info

Caravan Cleaning



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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


11/7/2012 at 10:36pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
View clever's Profile View Profile   Reply to clever Reply   Quote clever Quote  
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Does the Caravan Awning Rail Protector really make much difference ? Any do they come in white!

birder99 - I have noticed a couple of vans in storage that are low at one end. I thought the owners just couldn't be bothered to level it


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11/7/2012 at 10:48pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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imho the caravan should be level in storage because the rain will run off evenly.if down front or back you are concentrating all the rain fall from the roof onto the front or rear windows.gives the water more time to seep into the seals.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


12/7/2012 at 1:54am
 Location: Lanarkshire
 Outfit: Compass Lynx 340 2
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Hi clever, (also posted this a few posts down), I have used Fenwicks and warm water to clean the van, it works well, after good clean, I use Grease lightning showroom shine (cleaner and wax in one), have found this very good for roof, sides, rear and windows( terrific shine), polished six months ago, shine sill there, I have faded front panel and use silky to clean black streaks and give it a shine, then apply AutoGlym Extra Gloss Protection, that works better on the front faded panel than showroom shine, and any wax on van can be removed with white spirits, just be careful near all rail seals, as it will dissolve the seals, I also wash round the window rubber seals with washing up liquid and warm water, that helps reduce the  black streaks,( surprising how much dirt they hold). Have just given van a wash with washing up liquid and no polishing, although shine still there, will need to give it a polish soon as it is six months since last polish.

Hope that gives you some hope.



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If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.



John


12/7/2012 at 7:21am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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I have the awning rail protector fitted and its made no dirrerance at all, the problem is most of them are only about, just over an inch wide and when you fit them they tilt downwards a little making the lip were the water drips off less than an inch from the caravan bodywork.
with it fitted i still get black streaks from anythig that protrudes from the side of the caravan.
i do not get any streaks from the awning rail but then i did not get any without it.
if your streaks are from the awning rail then it could help in that area
for rubber window surrounds try silicone rubber cleaner from a car acssesorie shop. this takes the rubber residue off and leaves a smooth shiny rubber that the water runs off without the residue.

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alpiner


12/7/2012 at 9:32am
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
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I think I will try polishing using another product. I was thinking of trying 'Silky' as it seems to get quite good reviews. Any views on Silky ?

I will also try the recommedation above of cleaning the window rubbers


12/7/2012 at 8:34pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Swift Conqueror 645
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IMHO...............Fenwicks is rubbish. I've tried it and it's not all its supposed to be. I speak from experience. I know for a FACT that members of this site get freebies for promoting Fenwicks.

Happy to provide names if asked.


Use show room shine. You will not be disappointed


http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=show%20room%20shine&clk_rvr_id=363686402465&adpos=1s1&MT_ID=11&crlp=12538909142_2113181&tt_encode=raw&keyword=show+room+shine&geo_id=32141




Best thing ever xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Live every day as if it's your last but not at risk to others :-)


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12/7/2012 at 8:39pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
View clever's Profile View Profile   Reply to clever Reply   Quote clever Quote  
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Rallye550 - I already use showroom shine on my car and this is what I have been using on my van. It is without doubt a very good product, but I'm not convinced the shine lasts very long.

This is why I was considering trying something line 'Silky'



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