Washing; Cleaning The Exterior - Jayco 2016 White Hawk Owner's Manual

JAYCO TOWABLE
C T E
LEANING HE
To protect your recreation vehicle's exterior finish, wash it often and thoroughly.
For recreation vehicles with painted exterior graphics: If desired you may wash and wax
your vehicle 60 days after purchase. The exterior paint does need time to cure before any
wax is applied to the exterior surface.
assure a long lasting durable finish.
Your recreation vehicle is exposed to many environmental conditions that have an adverse
effect on the paint finish:

Road Salt and Sodium Chloride

Road Tar / Bugs

Bird Droppings / Tree Sap

Industrial Fallout / Acid Rain /Pollution

UV Exposure and Moisture
The most common problems resulting from these conditions are corrosion, staining, and
chemical spotting. Generally, the longer the foreign material remains in contact with the
exterior finish, the more extensive the damage. These problems can be minimized by
regularly scheduled washing and polishing. Wash your recreation vehicle as soon as
possible if it becomes contaminated with foreign material.
Avoid parking under trees or near ocean sea salt. Ice or snow should not be scraped from
the painted surface: Brush off!
Gravel roads should be avoided. Anti-freeze, gasoline or washer solvents if spilled on the
painted surface should be rinsed off with water immediately. Bugs and bird droppings
should be rinsed off daily.

Washing

Commercial washing should be avoided. Wash with cold water using a mild liquid soap.
Dry wiping with a dry cloth is not recommended.
Make sure the recreation vehicle's surface temperature is cool, under 90 F, and out of
direct sunlight. A shaded area is ideal for washing your vehicle as direct sunlight causes
water spotting. Use a mild soap or detergent. Most auto care stores will carry a car wash
shampoo. Try to avoid combination wash-n-wax products as these waxes can cause build
up and are designed for smaller surfaces. Have two dedicated sponges or wash mitts: one
for the exterior walls and one for the wheels and under- carriage. Brushes or wash mitts
that are made of plastic bristles are acceptable for use on tires and wheel wells, but are not
intended for use on the exterior walls. Avoid using such items on painted surfaces as they
will damage the finish. Wash the wheels and wheel wells first as this removes heavy dirt
and debris and prevents it from splattering on panels. Wet the entire area down to remove
loose dirt and grime, then hand wash one area at a time using your dedicated paint finish
sponge or wash mitt.
Wash from the top and work your way down, rinsing frequently to minimize grit abrasion.
Follow with a final rinse of water. This process will remove most contamination from the
recreation vehicle's surface. For stubborn stains such as road tar or bug stains, use an
ammonia based glass cleaner or a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a damp cloth
followed immediately by warm soapy water, and rinsing with clean water.
This may not dissolve the road tar, but it will loosen tar and bug stains and remove them
from the surface. Do not use solvent based cleaners on bird droppings or tree sap as these
are water based stains. They can be dissolved using ammonia based glass cleaner, warm
soapy water and a little "elbow grease". Once again, after removing stubborn stains
immediately rinse with clean water.
XTERIOR
SECTION 13 - EXTERIOR
Careful maintenance for the first 60 days will
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