How to Wash Your Trailer

Ok so it’s time to clean that trailer!  You’d assume washing a trailer would be something very simple that most people would intuitively understand from birth, however if a person has never had to repair or wash a big vehicle or trailer, he/she won’t necessarily know the most appropriate way to do so.  Cleaning a trailer is sometimes a difficult task but it can also be a fast and easy job if you do it right.  Now let’s have  a look at this entire process to really grasp what gives some trailers a shine while others appear old, worn, and filthy. To begin, pull your trailer up to a shaded spot where there is ample drainage.  When doing this at your own residence, you don’t need the run-off water spilling into your yard or flower bed.  Not to mention, many communities have erected ordinances against run-off water draining into the street or sidewalks.  Be sure the natural flow is taking the run-off to the nearest storm drain or some other safe area. It may seem like pressure washers remove a lot of time from the process of washing your trailer by exerting the force of a scrub brush onto the jets, however you should be careful of this you have a trailer with an automotive finish or other sealant.  The constant heavy force a pressure washer exerts on the finish often causes wear and damage, causing it to lose the gleam and luster you admire about your lovely trailer. It’s always good to pre-soak the trailer with the hose before you actually wash with soap.  Keep a soap-water bucket nearby and return to it frequently.  Use a towel or cloth specifically intended for cleaning a vehicle.  These are made to be soft and gentle so as to defend the coat or finish!  Many such items are available as mitts or gloves while others are simple towels.  Use what you like best. Try to do each surface several times and take care not to miss the more difficult to reach areas.  If you have a trailer that’s too tall for you to get to the top, grab a step-ladder or buy an extendable brush so you can reach those tough-to-get spots.  If there are windows on your trailer, use Windex or something similar to give them a no-streak clarity. Avoid leaving soap on one side for too much time, since it can dry and turn into a filmy mess on the surface.  Stay simple and slow, one side at a time, cleaning with the towel or glove and then immediately hosing it down with fresh, clean water.  Also, try to dry as soon as the whole trailer is washed because water left to dry in the sun can streak and leave spots. You can dry with a chamois or a regular towel, but keep in mind the average cloth can sometimes leave annoying bits of cloth or fuzz on the surface so its usually best avoided. Keeping your trailer clean helps you to appreciate it more in the long run and feel better about the amount you spent for it to be in your arsenal.

Ok so it’s time to clean that trailer!  You’d assume washing a trailer would be something very simple that most people would intuitively understand from birth, however if a person has never had to repair or wash a big vehicle or trailer, he/she won’t necessarily know the most appropriate way to do so.  Cleaning a trailer is sometimes a difficult task but it can also be a fast and easy job if you do it right.  Now let’s have  a look at this entire process to really grasp what gives some trailers a shine while others appear old, worn, and filthy.

To begin, pull your trailer up to a shaded spot where there is ample drainage.  When doing this at your own residence, you don’t need the run-off water spilling into your yard or flower bed.  Not to mention, many communities have erected ordinances against run-off water draining into the street or sidewalks.  Be sure the natural flow is taking the run-off to the nearest storm drain or some other safe area.

It may seem like pressure washers remove a lot of time from the process of washing your trailer by exerting the force of a scrub brush onto the jets, however you should be careful of this you have a trailer with an automotive finish or other sealant.  The constant heavy force a pressure washer exerts on the finish often causes wear and damage, causing it to lose the gleam and luster you admire about your lovely trailer.

It’s always good to pre-soak the trailer with the hose before you actually wash with soap.  Keep a soap-water bucket nearby and return to it frequently.  Use a towel or cloth specifically intended for cleaning a vehicle.  These are made to be soft and gentle so as to defend the coat or finish!  Many such items are available as mitts or gloves while others are simple towels.  Use what you like best.

Try to do each surface several times and take care not to miss the more difficult to reach areas.  If you have a trailer that’s too tall for you to get to the top, grab a step-ladder or buy an extendable brush so you can reach those tough-to-get spots.  If there are windows on your trailer, use Windex or something similar to give them a no-streak clarity.

Avoid leaving soap on one side for too much time, since it can dry and turn into a filmy mess on the surface.  Stay simple and slow, one side at a time, cleaning with the towel or glove and then immediately hosing it down with fresh, clean water.  Also, try to dry as soon as the whole trailer is washed because water left to dry in the sun can streak and leave spots.

You can dry with a chamois or a regular towel, but keep in mind the average cloth can sometimes leave annoying bits of cloth or fuzz on the surface so its usually best avoided.

Keeping your trailer clean helps you to appreciate it more in the long run and feel better about the amount you spent for it to be in your arsenal.