elddis 2010 avante, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 64 / 104

11-1
CARE OF YOUR CARAVAN
CARE OF YOUR CARAVAN
This section of the guide is devoted to the care,
cleaning and general preservation of your caravan
in order to retain its showroom condition.
EXTERIOR CLEANING
Under no circumstances should an abrasive or
harsh cleaner be used. Do not use a pressure
wash as this can disturb mastic seals. Exterior
painted body parts of the caravan (usually the
side walls) are acrylic finished aluminium, which is
extremely durable and easy to clean. It is
recommended you first wash off any heavy dirt
and mud with cold water then use a proprietary
brand wash and wax shampoo and rinse with
plenty of cold water.
Caution: The use of a pressure wash on
your caravan is not recommended as it can
lead to water entering the caravan via any
of the external vents and could disturb the
seals.
GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTIC (GRP)
GRP components need to be washed, waxed and
taken care of like a car. Chemicals and dirt can
collect during storage, and the gel coat can be
stained or marked when chemicals combine with
rain or dew. Most stains or marks can be
removed with mild dishwashing detergent, but
more stubborn marks may require a (fine grit)
rubbing compound such as T-cut.
To help keep your GRP components looking
almost like new, it is wise to wash the parts
monthly (or more frequently) using mild
dishwashing detergent, but avoid using strong
alkaline (e.g. trisodium phosphate) or acidic
cleaners or abrasives. Waxing the components
once or twice a year with a good grade paste
wax will help to maintain the colour and finish.
ACRYLIC WINDOWS
Your caravan is fitted with shatter resistant
acrylic windows. To preserve their clarity and
unblemished transparency it is essential that the
following cleaning instructions are strictly
adhered to: Road grit, dust, sand, flies, lime tree
secretions, bird droppings etc., should be washed
off using plenty of cold water do not use a
sponge to clean off heavy dirt deposits. Any
remaining dirt should be washed off using a soft
cloth and warm water.
Please Note: Under NO circumstances should
any abrasive cleaning agents, household
detergents or proprietary cleaning fluids be used.
Wash the window again using only cold water
and dry off with chamois leather.
Please Note: Should scratches appear on the
acrylic windows these can often be removed with
an acrylic polish, i.e. ICI Perspex polish. Gentle
polishing with a liquid metal polish, i.e. Brasso may
also have the desired effect - consult your retailer
BEFORE attempting to remove any but the
slightest scratch.
WINDOW BLINDS & FLYSCREENS
To clean the blinds and flyscreens, moisten a soft
cloth or sponge with a small amount of water
and mild soap suds and gently wipe dirt off. Allow
to dry before retracting, failure to due this could
result in mildew forming.
Winterisation/Storage
Please Note: The blind/flyscreen should not be
left in the down position when the caravan is not
in use or throughout the winter as the memory
of the mechanism may be lost.
ABS - A FRAME COVER, WHEEL SPATS &
PANELS
To preserve the appearance of all ABS panels and
fittings road grit, dust, sand, flies, lime tree
secretions, bird droppings etc., should be washed
off using plenty of cold water. Any remaining dirt
should be washed off using a soft cloth and warm
water. Under NO circumstances should any
abrasive cleaning agents, household detergents or
proprietary cleaning fluids be used. Wash the ABS
material again using only cold water and dry off
INTERIOR WALLS
Your caravan interior walls will only require a
wipe over with a damp cloth, using a mild
detergent, to keep them in a ‘showroom’
condition.
FURNITURE
Treat your caravan furniture as you would the
furniture in your home. Polish wood surfaces
sparingly with a good quality wax or spray polish.
Use a damp cloth to clean melanate laminated
surfaces.