Removing Watermarks from Caravans and RV’s.
What causes watermarks on vehicle surfaces?
Watermarks, or water stains, often form on a vehicle’s surface when washed with hard water or water containing certain mineral deposits. These minerals dry on the paint, leaving visible marks. This is common when travelling in northern and western Australia.
The other main contaminant affecting painted surfaces is Acid Rain.
Known as a form of environmental pollution, it is prevalent in industrial and surrounding areas. Acid Rain can leave a sandpaper-like texture on the paint. For the best method of removing acid rain, click this link: E-Valence Clay Mitt Lubricant.
Tree sap deposits may also be an issue when travelling through heavily wooded areas.
Finally, acidic bird or bat droppings, which, if left untreated, can penetrate the paint or metal surface and become more difficult to remove.
Click here to read more about HARD WATER.
Prevention is better than cure. Use E-Valence APD
Applying APD to the surface of your Caravan or RV will significantly reduce the risk of watermarks and environmental contamination penetrating your paint. If the surface is protected with APD, most insect contamination will wash off with water.
Click here to read the many benefits of APD and how to apply the coating.
Takes roughly 20 minutes to apply to a traditional RV.
Click here to read our post on the car wash process.
Removing Watermarks off Caravans and RVs
The longer these deposits are left on the surface, the greater the likelihood of them penetrating the paint. Once they have penetrated the paint, the surface must be polished. Avoid penetrating watermarks by cleaning them off with E-Valence Tar Rubber & Bug Remover as soon as you notice them. This can be achieved by carrying a bottle of the remover whenever you travel. The directions are on the bottle and on our website. However, we have included a short description at the end of this post for quick reference. You can also click on the links in this post to go straight to the product descriptions.
Remember, always test any new product on a nonexposed area before applying to the effected area.
The Correct Process for Washing a Van or Motor Home when Travelling.
Inevitably, the process you choose to remover watermarks will depend on the available facilities.
Caravan Park with all the facilities.
- Rinse the caravan or RV with clean water to remove all loose dirt and surface dust. This will give you a better idea of what needs to be done.
– If you have watermarks, spray them with E-Valence Tar Rubber and Bug Remover and let the cleaner penetrate for 15-45 seconds. - Wipe off with a microfibre cloth and check the result.
- Repeat the process until you’re satisfied the watermarks are gone.
- Once done, rinse the area you cleaned before starting the wash. Then, thoroughly wash the vehicle with E-Valence Wash and Seal with Carnauba Wax.
Additional Notes
- If necessary, adjust the wash mix to suit the vehicle’s condition.
- Make sure the wash water, especially the rinse water, is soft water (normal tap water in a non-hard water area).
- Wash from the top of the vehicle using a clean microfibre wash mitt.
- Use a separate microfibre wash mitt and bucket of water for the wheels and areas with oil or grease.
- Dry with a microfibre drying towel after the final rinse to achieve a showroom shine.
E-Valence recommends the Two-Bucket System: one bucket with wash mix and another with clean, warm rinse water. Always rinse the wash mitt in clean water before re-dipping it into the wash mix. Always wash the wheels and greasy areas last to avoid re-contaminating the rest of the vehicle.
Understandably wash facilities will vary as you travel across Australia. Here are some suggestions on how you might deal with varying situations.
Caravan Park with Limited Facilities.
- Work with what you have available at the time.
- Use the process above to remove watermarks, remembering that the sooner they are removed, the easier the job.
- If rinse water is unavailable, you can still use the Tar Rubber & Bug Remover to eliminate the watermark. However, you must rinse the area afterwards, which can and should be done with bottled water if necessary, correcting older penetrating watermarks.
- If a watermark has been left for a long period, the best way to fix the area is with polish. E-Valence Intermediate Polish is ideal as a one-step cutting polish for this correction.
Click here to read our post on the correct polishing process.
Click here for information on the best accessories for the cleaning, polishing and protection processes.
E-Valence Technology
Much like the surfaces we set out to protect, we’ve ensured that E-Valence places equal emphasis on the short—and long-term health and safety of our customers while adhering to strict moral, ethical, and environmental standards—something we pledge to uphold unconditionally.
The E-Valence products clean and protect any surface they are applied to without penetrating and thus harming that surface, its substrate, or any surrounding seals, whether rubber or silicone—truly amazing technology. I do hope you enjoy the products. Please call me on my mobile if you require further explanation on any application process.
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