Cleaning caravan on site

cabbiemick
cabbiemick Forum Participant Posts: 297
edited April 2023 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

who else like me likes to keep there caravan clean it came as a big surprise to us after ariving at littlehampton caravan club we were informed they do not allow you to clean your caravan does anyone know if this is a new rule of the caravan club thanks mick

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #2

    It's been in existence for some time. Only cleaning of lights, mirrors, windows for safety is permitted. There have been threads about it before but I doubt if the search will throw them up. 

    Anyway, you're on holiday so relax.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2016 #3

    You can use waterless cleaners

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
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    edited August 2016 #4

    I'm not sure how rigidly it's enforced I saw a bloke cleaning his car on a site recently 

  • commeyras
    commeyras Forum Participant Posts: 1,853
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    edited August 2016 #5

    Have recently started using a waterless cleaner on my car.  Excellent result but really would only use it to clean front of caravan when on holiday, if necessary, because it is not cheap.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #6

    As I understand it the problem is cleaning products getting into the ground. We use a bowl of soapy water and one of clean, with a wrung out micro fibre cloth, so no water actually reaches the ground. The wardens seem OK with this, at least the ones I have talked to whilst doing it anyway. As the van is coated, it is quite easy to keep clean in this manner. Yes I know we are on holiday, but we only clean it occasionally and it is not possible to get the van home and no cleaning facilities at storage.

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
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    edited August 2016 #7

    If I ever wash the van down its just a bucket of cold water and a sponge job and then throw some fresh cold water over area just to rinse it off. It is very rare but sometimes it does look filthy after towing in the rain. Never use any cleaning products. 

  • Briang
    Briang Club Member Posts: 670 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #8

    I wash the front and back every time we arrive at a site plus all the windows. Bucket of cold water. Easy

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited August 2016 #9

    Over the years I always washed and occasionally polished our caravans at home then used them to go on holiday!

    Now I do the same with the Motorhome although I do have to clean the windscreen sometimes, when actually on holiday!Surprised

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited August 2016 #10

    i didnt know cc had stopped cleaning of vans on site only a few weeks ago washed front of mine at wharfdale, coated in mud from country lanes,wardens never said anything,can anyone tell me how to find out about these rule changes is there a section where
    they are updated?

  • johndailey
    johndailey Forum Participant Posts: 520
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    edited August 2016 #11

    I know that it is frowned upon to wash your caravan on site but after a journey in the rain and as somebody stated that the van may be coated in mud but it hurts to look at your pride and joy when you are amongst other clean vans. I go along with Briang
    and wash off the worst. I know that I am on holliday but I for one cannot walk past my van when it is an eyesore.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #12

    Here are the site rules but, strangely, no mention is made of washing vehicles/caravans as far as I can see. Only an instruction not to discharge waste water onto the pitch is listed and I suppose that covers it but it's hardly specific. I know we've been
    told on here by staff that washing of vans is not allowed.

    http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/club-sites/club-site-rules#Entering the site

  • mjh2014
    mjh2014 Forum Participant Posts: 130
    edited August 2016 #13

    Apparently the refurb at Whitewater includes a dedicated caravan washing station. Which will be great if it's free on arrival, but I can't see us queuing to use it or moving our van after setting up. Havent been there to see it 'in the flesh' as yet.

  • johndailey
    johndailey Forum Participant Posts: 520
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    edited August 2016 #14

    TW. Looked at the link that you posted. As you say, there is no mention with regards to washing the van. I was on a site earlier this year and the site owner let me wash off the splattered off mud but made it quite clear that I must not do more than that
    i.e a full hose down.

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
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    edited August 2016 #15

    Is it breaking the rules if I go outside in the rain and clean the 'van down using only the water that is falling from the sky? We have plenty of opportunities to do this !!Smile

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2016 #16
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  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #17

    I couldn't care less if people wash their vans, cars or MHs on site as long as they don't expect me to follow suit or leave the pitch swimming in water. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2016 #18

    Washing a c/van or any vehicles chemicals is not normally permitted ,but I have never been stopped from rinsing any of our vehicles useing just water

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited August 2016 #19

    I use a waterless spray to clean mine, but as I haven't anywhere at home to clean the 'van and no facilities at my storage.

    I do not like seeing the caravan dirty and I think it as part of my holiday, my way of relaxing!

  • oldebiker
    oldebiker Forum Participant Posts: 22
    edited August 2016 #20

    Well i certainly feel better and can relex more if the van and car are clean and looking good ithink iwould risk rinsing off mud etc with water only

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #21

    I sometimes wash our van off using a third of a bucket of plain water if needed. When away, usually betweem 4 and 7 weeks. Never had a problem

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #22

    Apparently the refurb at Whitewater includes a dedicated caravan washing station. Which will be great if it's free on arrival, but I can't see us queuing to use it or moving our van after setting up. Havent been there to see it 'in the flesh' as yet.

    Won't that be for those who keep their vans in the storage compound. Not for those on site.

  • mjh2014
    mjh2014 Forum Participant Posts: 130
    edited August 2016 #23

    Apparently the refurb at Whitewater includes a dedicated caravan washing station. Which will be great if it's free on arrival, but I can't see us queuing to use it or moving our van after setting up. Havent been there to see it 'in the flesh' as yet.

    Won't that be for those who keep their vans in the storage compound. Not for those on site.

    Oooh, didn't think of that. That wasn't the impression we got from conversation with the warden before the temporary closure of the site, but maybe someone who's been can clarify... Shucks.

  • magal
    magal Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited March 2023 #24

    It is now 2023 and there still no real information about cleaning. We store our caravan

    and wardens have always allowed us to give it a clean with bucket of water

    but now even that seem a problem. We are elderly and have stored for years

    now what do we do - leave the van dirty?

  • Arch
    Arch Forum Participant Posts: 347
    edited March 2023 #25

    After some journeys in foul weather the van gets filthy, especially front and back, I have always given front, back and windows a quick wash with a bucket of water and rinsed with a watering can, I've never been questioned about this and think it would be churlish to do so.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • wh1nbrew
    wh1nbrew Club Member Posts: 86 ✭
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    edited March 2023 #26

    magal - have you tried one of the many (round here at least) car wash places.  With so many high SUVs, I have seen steps in use at some of them so assuming they have high enough steps, should be able to clean the top as well.  

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2023 #27

    ……with a pressure washer I expect😖

  • Burgundy
    Burgundy Forum Participant Posts: 313
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    edited March 2023 #28

    See rule 8 b

     

    8. Waste water

    a. Please collect waste water in a suitable container and empty it at the disposal point provided. Please don’t allow it to overflow.

    b. Guests are not permitted to carry out a full scale washdown of their outfit on site, unless there is a specific wash down area. However, we do permit day to day mirror/screen/lights/windows cleaning with a bucket, sponge and very light detergent i.e. to make the outfit road safe, providing the water from the bucket does not get thrown over the outfit onto the pitch.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,589 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2023 #29

    You can buy dry wash. Works effectively but obviously cleaning the roof is a bit of a problem.

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
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    edited March 2023 #30

    Just a slight digression from actually cleaning the caravan to polishing it. When we bought the caravan new in 2015 the paintwork looked perfect, certainly nothing obviously wrong. However, a few years down the line and  we have noticed a patch appearing about 300mm square to the right of the door. This is showing as a brighter white colour. When I polish the caravan using either Mer of Autoglym polish the patch disappears almost completely. It does, however, become evident again after a few weeks. It has now also started to show very small blisters in the painted patch.

    The question is why was the patch painted in the first place and why does the paint weather differently to the rest of the 'van. I can't take it up with Lunar as they have gone now. Also, I don't know who to approach about the blistered paint. It's not bad, but I know it is there and 'wrong'. I may end up buying a pair of suitably sized vinyl decals to cover the area.

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