Cleaning outer van

We have a Neuvo Mark 1 and are trying to get it cleaned up and ready to go. When I see other vans they always look really clean and yet we seem to have trouble keeping certain areas on the van clean. Areas of particular concern are the seals just above the lower apron base (Neuvo owners will know what I am referring to if that isn't the correct term). We recently had one side replaced at Autosleeper as it had cracked but it is already starting to look a bit greeny again. Don't want to scrub the seal too much to damage it but doesn't look good. Also the white (or grey looking) seal that goes up the walls and across the top below the roof. Cant seem to get that white looking either.
Basically what products can I safely use and how do all you guys keep your vans looking so lovely!

Doesn't help that the van is parked near a tree which drops sticky stuff!

Also the roof. We have been T cutting and waxing the van but the roof is proving hard to access from a ladder at the side as pressure cant be put on the roof to remove the grime. My better half is thinking of putting planks across the roof to go up on the roof but not sure if this is advisable. Please share your experience and advice.

Many thanks

HH

I daren`t go up on the roof of my Clubman, I have opened the Heiki 2 skylight and cleaned quite a bit of the roof through there. have a long handled v shaped pad on the end of a long handle, made for cleaning windows bought from Dunhelm £1.99, very good at getting in awkward places. my roof will take a person going on to it. but not me, cleaned other parts from a ladder.

Just asked my husband, and he said he wouldn`t go on the roof of your van as it looks as though it is like a caravan roof, may be wrong there,  we have a caravan, and it could put a strain on the sealant in the joints, as far as he can make out.

I was hoping to get a professional cleaner in to do the roof and polish it.  

I use Farecla  products and find them excellent, my MH is a GRP body

Perhaps other Nuevo owners can advised you better.

We always struggled to get a shine on our mk1 Nuevo - tried all sorts of polish.
Sorry not much help but would be interested to know a solution.

To remove the greenery from the roof I use a household cleaner called CIF, in a yellow container. Rub in circles with a pot cleaner sponge thingy and rinse off with warm water. The rest of the body is washed and polished with proprietary car cleaners.....

Will be watching this topic with interest. My dealer said just use wax and water. 

To clean the roof I just use water and a microfiber cloth, no cleaner or chemicals.

Peter

There's no problem about walking on the roof of a Clubman. It has a ladder to enable you to do so. You can grip the roof rails when cleaning the rear half, but it's more tricky near the luton. But no problem with load bearing.

A related question: I now have a Nuevo ES, which has the bulbous luton, and no access ladder. How do you get on top - whether to clean or to work on the roof? Too high to reach off a step ladder. So do you wrap some cloth or carpeting on a long ladder and rest that on the van (securing the ladder's base) and step across?  Seems perilous to me!  Any suggestions?

I put a step ladder under the large roof-light. This year I didn't climb out but managed to reach most of it with an extended brush. The bucket containing standard car wash-wax was put up first. It looks nice and white from the bedroom window.
Fred

Ah! Good idea, Fred. Hadn't considered taking a step ladder inside. Thanks.

Crymo
I use a long handled floor mop to clean the roof, standing on step ladders and reaching out via the opened Heki roof vent.
Washing the roof with a warm water solution of Fenwicks motorhome cleaner.
I have a wheeled podium to get to the front and rear of the van, however, ladders can get to the same areas.
You can also purchase ladder mitts for the top of your ladder, available on EBAY amazon etc.
Boaby

Foam pipe insulation on top of ladder.

Peter

One thing for sure you must ensure your roof is clean or it is pointless cleaning the rest of the van as you will constantly get dirty black streaks coming from the dirty roof.I am fortunate I have a 17 year old grandson who is always looking to earn cash and he has no fear of heights and he really makes a great job of the roof.If you struggle with it many of the car detailing companies will do the roof it will only take them a morning and once per season should be adequate.

Hi Shuggie
Wish I had known your cleaning arrangements , I would have called in for a roof clean up on our way up to Killin in June.
Ours was really bad this winter due to local house building work and gulls.
Boaby

Peter - BRILLIANT IDEA to pad the ladder with pipe insulation.  I use a couple of small pieces over the windscreen wiper arms when I take the blades off over winter but had not thought of it to pad a ladder.
THANKS 

burlingtonboaby. We have a static caravan a few miles from Killin remember to bring plenty of midgie cream North with you.

I use the same method as Peter which is fine for the offside but not the nearside due to the awning panel.

Has anyone got a solution for that?

David

cyclo wrote:I use the same method as Peter which is fine for the offside but not the nearside due to the awning panel.

Has anyone got a solution for that?

David

I get on the roof to clean with my bucket and cloth (and elbow grease).

Peter

Shuggiegreen wrote:burlingtonboaby. We have a static caravan a few miles from Killin remember to bring plenty of midgie cream North with you.

Thanks Shuggie, we are expats from Arygll were the midges are the size of scrap tractors, Killin is our annual trip to tend to her mum and dads headstones in the local cemertry.
The midge haven't been to bad over recent years,however we have plenty of Avon skin so soft handy.
Enjoy the Peterborough show if your heading that way.
Boaby

For cleaning  the sealant I have used 'silky' which comes in a small tub, bought ours from Go Outdoors. Does a fantastic job.

We already have stood on a small stepladder and reached up through Heki and also a ladder padded against side. We also use a stand for reaching in stairways to decorate etc to get higher and its ok for the edges but not able to reach into middle to be able to put the sort of pressure on that is needed to remove the grime. Also from one of the comments I tend to feel the Mark 1 Nuevo is probably quite difficult to keep as shiny and clean looking as some of the other models. We too view the result from the bedroom window. Will keep trying.

Will have a go with Silky as suggested.

Thank you.

HH

Hi happyhelen
Sorry, I don't know how your Nuevo roof is structured but incase it helps, here goes...
To polish our roof, we put a step ladder inside under the mid rooflight and 'he' climbs out onto the roof. He says the roof has few not so strong points. If you try, you'll have to suck it and see. He weighs 12n 'alf stone and we haven't any extra roof holes yet!
He uses Autoglym polish and slaps plenty on as it's not a job he enjoys enough to do too often and we have soot from house chimneys settling on ours, hmmm. You can imagine the black streaks we get as Shuggiegreen mentioned, his 17yr old grandson sounds good, we could do with one of those!
I don't fancy your tree sticky stuff much.
If you decide to use our method, a quick tip - polish the furthest points from your escape hatch first and work back to the dis-mount route as, I know this is obvious, but, lots of polish makes lots of slip. Also, we're parked on a slight hill...!
I think Autoglym is pricey but Halfords sometimes have them on 3for2 offer.
I like mousy's report on silky and will be looking for that when we next see a Go Outdoors. Our sealant and rubber bits are looking a little scruffy and it sounds just the ticket.
I haven't seen daisy mae's Farcela products but will keep my eyes peeled for a read.
Under our solar panel remains green as he says there is not enough room to fit a cleaning article.
Also, he's having difficulty cleaning where the hatch covers are hinged to the hatch as also no room to get cleaning things in, under and up
We use an old toothbrush on small groves such as front window seals where the felt bit is to remove any green yuk.
I hope this helps
Regards
V.

If you search the forums there is a lot about cleaning and protecting the van on here. Car wax with silicone can be bad for GRP as it releases acetic acid under certain conditions. Use a GRP specific wax, lots to choose from!

I use ALDI caravan cleaner solution - works well with black streaks - comes in litre bottles for £2.99 - brill 

Hi, ours was also parked under a tree, now thankfully moved, we used a product of ebay which does not need water. Worked great and left vehicle with a smooth silky to the touch finish, not cheap but worth it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bailey-Caravan-l-Ltr-Spray-Waterless-Cleaner-2-Cloths-Safe-on-Alu-Tech-Panels-/150488094398?ssPageName=ADME:Ignored:Ignored:GB:3160

I have used their polish which is very good, they also sell a shampoo but I have found that no better than normal car shampoo. It certainly

didn't remove black streaks. I bought both products at the NEC show last year, I went to their stand this year and told them my opinion of

both items but didn't get much of a response.