Your RV Survived the Winter. It's Time to Deal with It

Most people don't look at the roof of their RV until something goes wrong. By the time they do, they're standing on a step stool squinting at what looks like a weathered grey membrane with streaks running down the sides, caulking that's cracked at the seams, and debris they can't quite identify. That's when the call comes in.

The good news: almost none of it is as bad as it looks. The not-so-good news: leaving it much longer is where problems start.

What Winter Storage Actually Does to an RV Exterior

An RV that's been sitting since October — whether under a cover, in a storage yard, or on your driveway — accumulates months of oxidation, mould spore activity, and environmental debris. In Windsor-Essex, that means wet fall leaf matter, freeze-thaw cycles, road salt drift if it's near a road, and whatever the cottonwood trees dropped on it before you put it away.

The black streaks you see running down the sides are the most visible sign. They're not just dirt — they're a combination of oxidation from the rubber roof membrane, algae and mould, and airborne particulates that have bonded to the fiberglass or painted aluminum exterior. A regular hose-down doesn't touch them.

Less visible but more important: the seams. Every seam, vent, and window seal on an RV exterior is a potential entry point for water. Caulking that's dried out, cracked, or pulling away from the surface is how moisture gets behind the wall panels — which is how you end up with delamination, mould in the cabinetry, and repairs that cost more than the cleaning ever would.

How We Clean an RV Exterior

We use a soft-wash approach for RV exteriors. That means low pressure with a specific chemical mix designed for the surface — not a pressure washer running at full volume, which can force water into exactly the seams you're trying to protect.

The soft-wash solution lifts organic material, breaks down black streaks, and rinses clean without abrading the surface. For fiberglass, aluminum, and painted panels, it's the right tool.

Black streak removal is its own step. We use a dedicated black streak remover with microfiber — it's not something that comes off with the main wash alone. You'll see it in the before and after photos: the difference is significant.

The Roof Wash Add-On

The roof is where most of the winter damage actually sits — and it's the area most people overlook because it's not visible from the ground.

We offer a roof wash as an add-on to any RV exterior cleaning. This addresses the debris accumulation on the roof surface and cleans the membrane itself. Importantly, when we're up there, we check the condition of the seals around every seam, vent, and skylight. You'll receive photos of what we found.

We're not a caulking contractor — we won't re-seal your roof on the same visit — but we'll document any areas that need attention so you can make an informed decision about whether to address them before your first trip out. Knowing the seals are sound before a long weekend in August is considerably better than finding out they weren't during it.

The Contact Wash Add-On

For RVs that need more than a soft-wash rinse — typically units that have been sitting uncovered for more than one season, or that have significant surface oxidation — we offer a contact wash as an add-on.

This means hand-scrubbing the sides with appropriate product and tools, not just rinsing over the top. It takes more time, it costs more than the base soft-wash, and it makes a noticeable difference on surfaces that need it.

If you're not sure whether your unit needs it, I'll tell you honestly when I see it. I'm not going to upsell you on a contact wash for a unit that comes clean with a standard soft-wash.

What You Get After Every Job

Before and after photos, documented through CompanyCam and tied to your address. If the roof wash revealed anything worth your attention — seals, debris, wear — you'll see it in the photos with notes.

This is how I work on every job: you have a record of what the unit looked like, what was done, and what (if anything) was flagged. That matters the next time you book, and it matters if something comes up down the road.

Timing: Why Spring Is the Right Call

Most RV owners in Windsor-Essex want to be road-ready by the May long weekend at the latest. That's not a lot of runway if you're still waiting to book and there's a queue forming.

A spring exterior cleaning does two things at once: it gets the unit looking the way it should, and it gives you a clear picture of what the winter left behind before you're 400 kilometres from home with a question about a seam that probably should have been checked.

Book early. I'm not going to tell you "spaces are filling up" if they're not — but the truth is that spring is busy, RV cleaning takes more time than a house wash, and scheduling it now is considerably easier than calling in May.

Book RV exterior cleaning →

Richardson Clean provides RV exterior cleaning — soft wash, black streak removal, roof wash and contact wash add-ons — throughout Windsor-Essex. Fully insured. Every job photographically documented.