cleaning roof on 1998 Duetto

How do you clean your roof?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no easy, simple way. It's a lot of effort, and the more you put it off the harder it is when you finally do.

Certain products make the job easier, and there are some access aids that make it easier to get up there, but even so it's never going to be easy.

It's a subject that has been raised many times before, so the best starting point would be a forum search for "roof cleaning" - the advice may not be Duetto-specific but almost all of the good tips will still apply.

[FWIW I changed back from a hightop van to a pop-top primarily because I hated driving around in a van with a "green with black spots" roof - but I know that doesn't help if you already have a hightop!]

Easier cleaning a Duetto than a Neuvo.
Just had mine cleaned professionally. Worth every penny. I can only do the sides

With my Ducato panel van conversion I just used a platform step ladder and normal car shampoo. I could do most of the roof using a car washing brush but could reach stubborn marks with a cloth.

Our new Bourton is a different proposition. I can still use the same ladder but the extra height and width means that, although I can reach the whole of the roof with a long handled car brush, I am not able to reach with just a cloth.

Just did my Symbol today it was absolutely black and the source of the streaks running down the high top. It may be aggressive but, I sprayed with Aldi caravan cleaner, left for 10 minutes and the attacked with power washer at 90 degrees to the surface. The sealant must be avoided in case you create leaks but the vents are all on plinths so make sure you don't go over them. Even after all of this there is still some ingrained dirt in the gel coat, really need to polish and seal the surface, which might be done once summer arrives.
I'm not saying this is the way to do it every time but it obviously had not been cleaned in years, a gentler approach will be taken in future at least twice a year.

East Europeans is the best option!!

Mojo is right. Not only is it extremely difficult, it can be dangerous too if relying on a pair of step ladders without assistance from someone standing by them. Cleaning a 40ft boat of the same material is a damn sight easier.

Summer 2013 i was touring in Serbia and Albania (very dusty roads) in baking hot temperatures having driven through Poland and Austria in pouring rain. The hot sun quickly 'baked' on the dirt which looked awful, particularly the front of the roof. Not even a jet wash would shift it so i contacted a mobile cleaner. He had all the gear and various polishes etc and did a pretty acceptable job. Not perfection, but at least got rid of the baked on dirt.

After losing my heki dome, I took the opportunity to use the hole to access the roof from the interior.  I did have to utilise a dry floor sweeper (a bit like the Vileda Active Max Flat Mop ... only cheaper!) to reach a few spots.  If you have an mpk roof these are easy to remove to gain access to the roof

Before:
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After:
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Looks like the Heki isn't the only thing you lost! Judging by your photo you are about to lose your Status aerial too!! You did a good job of the cleaning though. Incidentally how did you lose your Heki rooflight and which model was it?

I lost the heki (mini) about two years after it was fitted incorrectly.  It blasted off one evening on the M27, knocking the status over on its way past!  The status seems pretty secure though I may get rid of it altogether (but don't want to risk disturbing a water-tight fitting) - I don't know if it even works as I have never used it in the 4 years I have had Betty and the engineer fitting the new dome said that if the status was corrected, the heki would not be able to open

A Nescafe jar lid is a perfect fit over the Status base if you do lose the aerial bit.

(Ask me how I know....!)

Betty's Mum wrote:I lost the heki (mini) about two years after it was fitted incorrectly.  It blasted off one evening on the M27, knocking the status over on its way past!  The status seems pretty secure though I may get rid of it altogether (but don't want to risk disturbing a water-tight fitting) - I don't know if it even works as I have never used it in the 4 years I have had Betty and the engineer fitting the new dome said that if the status was corrected, the heki would not be able to open

That was my biggest fear (bib). Mine is a Heki 2 so quite a large roof light and got damaged in Lithuania a few weeks ago with two hinge mountings broke. It was a struggle to get the damn thing shut back down but i then faced a 1600 mile drive before i was back in UK. During the trip back i met a Dutch couple on one site who had experienced exactly what happened to you, but they were lucky as their motorhome was rented so the replacement cost them nothing. Considering the cost of them they are not particularly well made at all. Everything except the aluminium handle and screws is made of plastic and nylon.

Regards your Status, i'd get rid of it and do what "Achilles" suggested because the omni-directional is a poor aerial anyway so you won't be missing much!

Did you use any chemical to break up the dirt on your roof first, if so what did you use?

A mini heki, being square, can be fitted in one of 3 opening directions ... mine was fitted the only way it should not have been, perhaps due to the status aerial.

As for cleaning, the roof is gel coated so I used plain warm water leaving it a while to soften then sponging the dirt off with a soft cloth. Afterwards, did the usual Farecla G3 and finally Farecla wax to finish off.

Betty's Mum wrote:A mini heki, being square, can be fitted in one of 3 opening directions ... mine was fitted the only way it should not have been, perhaps due to the status aerial.

As for cleaning, the roof is gel coated so I used plain warm water leaving it a while to soften then sponging the dirt off with a soft cloth.  Afterwards, did the usual Farecla G3 and finally Farecla wax to finish off.  

Well you made an excellent job of it. 

I'd have a go at mine if only i felt more confident with ladders but being arthritic plus having a bad fall last year which resulted in a broken leg dents the self confidence!

Thank you Bg.  I am not good with heights and understand your concerns. I hope you have recovered well from your physical injuries - confidence takes a little more nurturing ...  

I could not have attempted this with ladders from outside, I can just about manage a step-up platform.  My main skylight is almost central on the roof and lines up nicely with the kitchen units below.  From the inside of the van, the step-up got me high enough to stand on the kitchen units giving me a stable perch for the task.

Bulletguy wrote:

Betty's Mum wrote:A mini heki, being square, can be fitted in one of 3 opening directions ... mine was fitted the only way it should not have been, perhaps due to the status aerial.

As for cleaning, the roof is gel coated so I used plain warm water leaving it a while to soften then sponging the dirt off with a soft cloth.  Afterwards, did the usual Farecla G3 and finally Farecla wax to finish off.  

Well you made an excellent job of it. 

I'd have a go at mine if only i felt more confident with ladders but being arthritic plus having a bad fall last year which resulted in a broken leg dents the self confidence!

I bought a scaffold/ ladder from Aldi 15 years ago and me and the neighbours use it frequently  to do the vans, to gives a stable platform up to 5 feet in height.

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You will have to wait till its back in the store, though they must be available elsewhere.