Tiffin Motorhomes 2011 Phaeton, Owner'S Manual

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R O U T I N E M A I N T E N A N C E
14-11
Washing Your Motor Home
Make sure the motor home’s surface temperature is not hot, under 90ºF, and not in direct sunlight. A
shaded area is ideal for washing your vehicle as direct sunlight causes water and soap to evaporate too fast
resulting in water spotting.
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Use a mild soap. Most auto care stores will carry a car wash shampoo
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Do not use combination wash-n-wax products as these waxes can case build-up
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You should have a minimum of two sponges or wash mitts; one for the wheels and undercarriage
and one for the painted finish
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Brushes or wash mitts that are made of plastic bristles are acceptable for use on tires and wheel
wells only. Use of these on your motor home’s paint will cause damage to the finish
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Wash the wheels and wheel wells first as this removes heavy dirt and debris and prevents it from
splattering on already cleaned panels
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Wet the entire area to be washed 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, frequently rinsing to minimize grit abrasion. Follow with a final rinse of water.
For stubborn stains such as road tar, use an ammonia-based glass cleaner or a small amount of rubbing
alcohol on a damp cloth, followed by warm soapy water and rinsed 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 and will eventually
dissolve using an ammonia based glass cleaner, warm soapy water and a little “elbow grease” followed by
a rinsing with clean water.
Drying your motor home is just as important as washing it as today’s tap-water and well-water contains
many chemicals that could water stain your motor home’s finish. Use either a damp natural or synthetic
chamois, or lint-free micro-fiber towels. Both work very well.
Waxes and Polishes
Over 90% of all passenger vehicles are clearcoated. The finish on your motor home is a state of the art
Acrylic Urethane Basecoat/Clearcoat. This means that what you wash and polish is a clear urethane
coating designed to protect the basecoat: the pigmented coating that provides color. As its main function
of protecting the basecoat, clearcoats need to be maintained, especially in harsh environments. Clearcoats
do not fade themselves, but appear to fade or lose gloss as the surface becomes contaminated by the
environment. If this contamination is not removed frequently, results will be a dull or low-gloss finish.
Occasional washing alone will not adequately remove some forms of contamination and will require
polishing.