Jayco Alante 2023 Cleaning The Exterior User Manual
Cleaning The Exterior
To protect your recreation vehicle’s exterior finish, wash it often and thoroughly. You may wash and wax your new recreation vehicle 60 days after purchase. The exterior paint needs time to cure before any wax is applied to the exterior surface. Careful maintenance for the first 60 days will assure a long-lasting durable finish.
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Your RV 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 be brushed off, not scraped, from the painted surface. Avoid gravel roads. 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 RV’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, detergent, or 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 paint finish and one for the wheels and undercarriage. Brushes or wash mitts made of plastic bristles are acceptable for use on tires and wheel wells but are not intended for use on the paint finish. 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 washes 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 RV’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 rinse 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 an ammonia-based glass cleaner, warm soapy water, and a little “elbow grease”. After removing stubborn stains immediately rinse with clean water.
Drying the RV is just as important as washing it. Tap water and well water contain many chemicals that could water stain your RV’s finish.
We suggest using a damp natural or synthetic chamois. There are other drying products such as lint-free micro-fiber towels that work just as well.
During cold weather
Salt and other chemicals that are spread on winter roads in some geographical areas can have a detrimental effect on the recreation vehicle’s underbody. If your recreation vehicle is exposed to these conditions, spray the underbody with a high-pressure hose every time you wash the exterior of your recreation vehicle. Take special care to remove mud or other debris that could trap and hold salt or moisture. After washing your recreation vehicle, wipe off all water drops from the rubber parts around the slideout and doors.
NOTE:
When the slideout or door is frozen, opening it by force may tear off or crack the rubber gasket that is installed around the slideout or door. Pour warm water on the gasket to melt the ice (wipe off the water thoroughly after opening the slideout or door). To prevent the weather stripping from freezing, treat it with a silicone spray.
Waxing
Wax your recreation vehicle once or twice a year, or when painted surfaces do not shed water well. Use a soft cloth to apply a small amount of wax to the painted surfaces. After the wax has dried, polish the recreation vehicle with a dry, soft cloth. Do not wax your recreation vehicle in direct sunlight. Wax it after the surfaces have cooled. Do not apply wax to any area having a flat black finish as it can cause discoloration. If the finish has been stained with wax, wipe off the area with a soft cloth and warm water. When waxing the area around the various openings, do not apply any wax on the weather strip. If it is stained with wax, the weather strip cannot maintain a weatherproof seal around the opening.
Caution
- Do not use waxes containing high-abrasive compounds. Such waxes remove rust and stains effectively from the paintwork, but they are also harmful to the luster of the painted surface since they scrape off the coating. Further, they are detrimental to glossy surfaces, such as grille, garnish, moldings, etc. Do not use gasoline or paint thinners to remove road tar or other contamination to the painted surface.
- Do not use a buffer and a buffing compound as it may damage the exterior surface. Please contact a professional paint body shop for assistance.
Polishing your recreation vehicle
If painted surfaces have been severely damaged and have lost their original luster and color tone, polish the surface lightly with a fine polishing compound. Avoid limiting your polishing to the damaged surface only; polish a somewhat wider area, moving the polishing cloth in one direction. After polishing, flush the compound from the surface and apply a coat of wax to regain a beautiful luster.
Damaged paint
To prevent corrosion, touch up small cracks and scratches in the paint coat as soon as possible with touch-up film or paint. Carefully check the body areas facing the road and the tires for damage to the paint coat caused by flying stones, etc.
Cleaning plastic parts
Use a sponge or chamois to clean plastic parts. Use warm water and a soft cloth or chamois to remove any white residue from dark-colored plastic surfaces. Do not use a scrubbing brush, other hard tools, or wax-containing abrasives as they may damage the plastic surface.
Caution
Do not allow the plastic to come into contact with brake fluid, engine oil, grease, paint thinner, or battery acid. These will damage the plastic. Use a soft cloth and a mild detergent solution to wipe away any such contact.
Chrome parts
To prevent chrome parts from spotting or corroding, wash with water, dry thoroughly, and apply a non-abrasive automotive wax. If the chrome is severely damaged or pitted, use a commercially available chrome polish product.
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Reference Links
View Full User Guide: Jayco Alante 2023 User Manual
Download Manuals: https://www.jayco.com/manuals
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