Escapees C.A.R.E

RV roofs are often out of sight, out of mind, so it's easy to forget about cleaning them. But if you're on this page, you've no doubt realized your RV roof needs some TLC, too. The #1 most important tip when it comes to RV roof maintenance is to keep it clean. Regularly cleaning your roof will extend its lifespan, which is good, but if your roof looks like the one in our picture it may be at the end of its lifespan. If you decide you want to take the worry out of your RV roof, replacing RV roofs is exactly what we do. We have a professionally installed maintenance-FREE RV roofing system with technicians that come to you - but you still need to wash it from time to time. Take precautions to avoid tearing the material, which could lead to leaks and potential water damage to your rig. Knowing how to clean your RV roof properly includes being aware that the surface of your roof isn't impervious to damage. Here are a few of our tips to get the job done right. All RV roofs can be slippery, especially when wet. When you work up there, wear soft-soled shoes and use caution. In many areas, there are mobile RV wash teams if you'd rather pay someone to do this. If you decide to tackle this job, start by gently sweeping away any loose dirt and debris using a broom with soft or medium bristles. If you've never been up on your roof before, you should first determine whether or not you can safely climb up there. A general rule of thumb is that if your rig came with a factory ladder or built-in ladder-mounting location, it's walkable. If you don't have this, it's probably not walkable. Some RVs come with a weight capacity sticker with this information, and you can also check with your manufacturer or dealer to be sure. If you can't walk on your RV roof, we recommend using a ladder placed adjacent to your rig. To clean your roof, climb up on your ladder and remove any branches or other large objects. Then, sweep the roof with a broom to clear most of the debris. Finally, spray it down with a hose. Use a cleaner that’s specifically designed to be safe for use on your roof’s material. Avoid abrasive cleaners or those with petroleum distillates or citrus, as they can damage the membrane. For this step, you'll need a medium-bristled brush and the right type of cleaner for your roof type. Then, it's time to soap it up, rinse it off, and let it dry. Just keep in mind that what works for one roof material may end up destroying another. Always check the roof cleaner for an indication of what RV roof material it's meant to be used on. You may need some elbow grease to remove sap, leaf stains, mold, or other stubborn stains. Make sure you have determined if its rubber, PVC, fiberglass, or aluminum. If you're not sure what type of roof you have, check out out this handy guide h ere for help identifying your roof material. Pro tip: It's often easiest to work on smaller sections of the roof at a time. Rinse the roof once you’ve finished cleaning. This is a good time to rinse the rig’s sides, front, and back, which will likely be a mess after cleaning the roof. We see a lot of RVers turn to bleach to clean their RV roof (any material), particularly when it comes to scrubbing away mold spots. Most of the time, if you mix a 50/50 bleach/water solution, you won't have any trouble. However, some RVers have reported streaking when the bleach has run down the sides of the RV. In our opinion, there's no real reason to risk damaging your RV with bleach when there are so many other go-to products to turn to. If you prefer to stick with household products, we'd recommend a soapy Dawn solution over bleach. After thoroughly cleaning the roof you can use a rubber roof UV protectant that repels dirt and protects it from damaging UV rays. A squeaky clean roof means it's time to check all the sealants ... but that's a post for another day!