Cleaning the blasted thing!

Pollik

Guest
How do people clean their vans?

I am not terribly athletic and find hard to reach the centre of the screen (I have a Ducato with a large overcab berth) and the front of the overcab. I find the unerfloor of the overcab and the crease between it and the screen nigh impossible.

I have millions of dead flies to remove (I use Autoglym Active Insect Remover) and, even I could reach these places, I can't exert any pressure. Even stools and ladders aren't much help to me...not nearly stable enough for this kind of work.
 
Years ago I bought a device that fits on the end of a hose, comprising a water powered rotary brush and various extension pipes plus a soap dispenser.

I tried it a few times but I never found there was sufficient water pressure to make the brush turn and do its job.

When I bought the 'van (which has a Luton overcab) I was confronted with the same cleaning problem.

I unearthed the contraption described above, and I don't use it connected to the hose but the rotary brush head and its two extensions are plenty long enough to reach the overcab area and windscreen.

I just dunk it in a bucket, and apply the shampoo and water mix.

I also have a similar attachment for my pressure washer, but I haven't tried this on the van.
 
5 Step stepladder (Wickes). This is easily stable enough for cleaning. Can be used with the foam brush and pressure washer at Tescos.
 
I have a rotary brush thing for my pressure washer and find it too heavy to hold up for a long time and its at the wrong angle to brush well. My solution is to use the pressure washer(on its lowest setting) to spray the water on the van then use a foam floor mop to rub the overhead cab from below and use a small stepladder to reach the last bit. The mop is also useful for the roof and solar panel using the steps again.
 
Caravan cleaning brush that fits on a hose, use it 'dry' dipped in an old washing up bowl with car shampoo in it, then fit the hose and brush & rinse off, a cap full of Traffic Film Remover put in the bowl mixed with the shampoo helps shift the most stubbon flies!
 
When I had a high top van I used to take it to the bus depot in Bridgend and put it through their bus wash. I think they charged me 50 p for the priviledge. I know some bus companies still do this, anyway it is worth asking asw they can only say "no".
On the subject of washing, Try not to use a presure washer if the van is an older type as it damages the sealant, in the joints.
 
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GALMI

Get a little man in. I have a local chap comes twice a year. Low pressure spray, leather down and hand waxing for just £70 a time. Money well spent and saves all the hard work. A quick spray in between and any black marks and insects, etc just run off.
 
Long handled brush dipped in detergent and hosed off. Muc off spray for the bugs on the front end - spray on , rub in with brush, leave for a while and rinse. Mer on the grp parts every other year or so. I do the windscreen etc by standing on the wheels if I can't be bothered setting up the ladder as a platform.
 
Thanks for the suggestions...I am not great on ladders. By the time I reach the second rung, I get a nosebleed.

I will try some of the ideas. My real bugbear (sorry!) is getting enough pressure on the front of the overcab using a long handled brush (which I have) to remove the flies and other grime.

Paying someone, now there is an idea.




Polly
 
Paying someone, now there is an idea.

Arn't you married then?:lol-053:
 
A tip:

Get some old towels and soak them in a water/detergent mix. Lay them on fly splatted areas for half a hour, this loosens the bugs and makes washing easier. Obviously this cant work on the under-hang, but regular dampening will loosen the bugs.

Towels work great on the bonnet (once the engine's cooled)

Does anyone wax the bodywork? does this help reduce bug splatt?
 
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