Spring Cleaning

But I am a man.

We are out all year round so I clean the caravan, both inside and out, including the roof, as soon as possible, weather permitting, so that it is ready for the next trip. I always use Fenwicks Bobby Dazzler after giving the van a clean which helps when the next cleaning session comes round.

Must get it done in next few days. It is very dirty after winter and I need to move it from storage and find somewhere to do it. I cannot do it at home as on a steep hill and the club no longer let us wash it at the site on the basis we might pollute a nearby stream although frankly I cannot see it.

We're the same as @nelliethehooker and, usually, the day after returning home, the van gets a deep clean inside - shower, loo, sink in the bathroom - fridge/freezer done with antiseptic cleaner - hob, oven, kitchen sink - around the base of the taps with white vinegar and a toothbrush to get rid of any limescale etc. A thorough vacuum of carpets and all surfaces wiped down.

About once a year, all the window and locker rubber seals get a wipe down with silicone spray as eribaMotters says.

I only ever use Stardrops when washing the van because there's no salt in it, unlike other detergents - so it doesn't degrade the polish. I try to polish the van two or three times a year and always use Autoglym Resin polish.

Yes you don't want that to fail and also spray the seals with silicon spray, we also sterilise the water pipes and aqua roll, clean the waste pipes and aqua waste will get pounding from the high pressure washer

It's taken me best part of two days to give the van it's first coat of polish for this year - making the most of the glorious sunshine😀 Even though I say so myself, I don't think it looks bad for a van coming up to 7 years old, this year😎

Our daughter and family are using the van this coming week, so we have been busy cleaning everything inside it this week. She came and helped me to clean the outside last week, so it does not look too bad. It is however 17 years old, so certainly not shiny like yours Richard!

I have sterilised the water system and deep cleaned the toilet cassette, always done before its first use in the year, and cleaned limescale off in the shower compartment. Further cleaning of that has to be done at the first site as our driveway slopes the wrong way for draining water from the shower. Luckily the pitch is serviced, so plenty of water available.

Inside, I have removed and shampooed the carpets, cleaned the windows, all the cupboards inside and out, and vacuumed the floor and under the seats and bed, while OH did the fridge, kitchen area and bathroom.

Everything now loaded back in, having had to be removed for the service, bed made up for the holiday makers, and other stuff they have provided such as towels and some food items put in place.

This afternoon I have been working on the car, clearing it out before loading tomorrow, and putting in Adblue. We have to tow the van to the site as their car is not suitable, then the following week we will take over for our holiday. After filling diesel tomorrow I will load up the awning, outside tables and chairs etc etc, so very glad we are having lovely weather right now.

Hard work this holiday making!!

@richardandros the caravan is looking very smart, well done. You deserve a good rest now after all that work. I don't know when I will find time to polish our van, as we intend getting away again just a couple of weeks after getting back from this trip, and it has to go into the dealers for a job to be done during those two weeks.

I wrote this a couple of years ago on another site:-

"Take the cassette out of the van, part slide back the flap and rotate the disc mechanism you should be able to remove it. If stubborn an old car number plate acts as a good lever plate instead of the sliding flap. It is a bit stubborn and you need to be careful of the float that points towards the spout end of the cassette.

The first time you do this it would be a good idea to take a few phots to remind you how pieces go together in case you do need to take the innards apart.

You will be "surprised", more like shocked at the innards. Carefully unclip the float and place the disc mechanism in the bottom of a bucket. Rinse out the cassette and pour in about 5L of cold water. Next add 200ml of Kilrock. It is about £10L on ebay, or if a Range is near you the cheapest way to buy it is here. https://www.therange.co.uk/household/cle...r-400ml/#470511 In subsequent years you may only need 100ml. Add a kettle of boiling water, top up with cold water, drop the float in and leave to soak for an hour. When you return, possibly with a scotchbrite type scourer, lightly wipe the inside and you should feel most of the limescale has gone. If not leave another hour and check. When you are happy pour some of the used liquid into the bucket to cover the disc mechanism and leave for 1/2 hour. Check and use an old nailbrush or toothbrush to remove anything that has not fallen off. If need to leave another 1/2hr.

Rinse everything, admire how clean and shiny all is, re-assemble and smile at a job well done."

Some will advise careful use of the Killrock as it can be aggressive, which I would agree with. Don't set the process up and go out for the day. Keep an eye on it.

I also know of one owner who descales his cassette on the move. He fills the cassette with a dilute Killrock mixture so he does not have a dead weight sloshing around and leaves it in there on his journey between sites when away for a couple of months.

Colin