Cleaning tips – Dethleffs Knowledgebase

Cleaning the exterior

Cleaning with a pressure washer

Do not clean tyres with a pressure washer, as it could damage them.
Do not directly spray exterior applications (decorative decals) with the pressure washer, as it may remove them.

Consult the pressure washer’s manual before washing the vehicle with a pressure washer. Keep a minimum distance of around 700 mm between the vehicle and the jet nozzle when washing using the round jet nozzle. Be aware that the water jet will be pressurised as it exits the cleaning nozzle. If the pressure washer is handled incorrectly, it could lead to the vehicle being damaged. The water temperature must not exceed 60°C. Move the water jet at all times when washing. Do not direct the water jet straight at the crack of the door, electrical fixtures, connectors, seals, ventilation grilles or skylights, as this could damage the vehicle or water could penetrate the interior.

Washing the vehicle

Never have the vehicle cleaned in car washes, as water could penetrate the fridge vents, flue-gas stacks, extractor fan vents or the forced ventilation mechanism. It could damage the vehicle.
Only clean the vehicle at a car wash designed to wash your vehicle type.
Avoid direct sunlight. Please be aware of eco-friendly measures.
Clean exterior applications and fixtures made of plastic with plenty of hot water, washing-up liquid and a soft cloth.
Wash the vehicle with plenty of water, a clean sponge or a soft brush. Add washing-up liquid to the water for stubborn stains.
Painted exterior panels can also be cleaned using a caravan cleaner.

Care

Only treat glass reinforced plastic (GRP) surfaces using mild cleaning products. Cleaning products and polishes for GRP surfaces are available from dealerships.
After cleaning, you should regularly treat fixtures made of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) using a polish. This prevents the GRP fixtures from yellowing and maintains the seal on the surface.
Rub talcum powder into the rubber seals on doors and access locker doors.
Treat locking cylinders on doors and access locker doors with graphite powder.

Acrylic-glass window panes

Acrylic-glass window panes require extra-careful care as they are sensitive.
Never wipe your acrylic-glass window panes with a dry cloth, as dust particles could damage the surface.
Only clean acrylic-glass window panes with plenty of hot water, some washing-up liquid and a soft cloth.
Never use glass cleaners that contain chemicals, abrasive ingredients or alcohol, as this could make the panes brittle and then cause cracks to form.
Do not allow cleaners designed for the body shell (e.g. tar or silicone remover) to come into contact with acrylic glass.
Do not take your vehicle to a car wash.
Do not attach stickers to the acrylic-glass window panes.
After cleaning the vehicle, rinse the acrylic-glass window panes once again with plenty of clean water.
Treat rubber seals with glycerol.
An acrylic-glass cleaner with anti-static effect is suitable for after care. Small scratches can be treated with an acrylic-glass polish. Accessory suppliers will stock this product.

Underslung

Some of the vehicle’s underslung is coated with age-resistant underslung protection. The underslung protection should be immediately restored in the event of damage. Surfaces coated with underslung protection must not be treated with spray oil.
Only use products approved by the manufacturer. Our authorised dealers and service centres would be happy to offer advice.
For models featuring GRP-clad underslungs, you must only use cleaning products suitable for this material.

Water system

Water tank

Clean the water tank using a cleaning product suitable for plastics stocked by your dealership. Please note the manufacturer’s instructions.
Only use suitable cleaning products stocked by your dealership.
Collect the mixture of water and cleaning agent that comes out of the tank and correctly dispose of it.
Empty the water system.
Close all drainage openings and drain cocks.
Fill the water tank with a mixture of water and cleaning product. Please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the mix ratio.
Open each drain cock individually.
Leave each of the drain cocks open until the mixture of water and cleaning product has reached each outlet.
Close the drain cocks again.
Set all water taps to ‘hot’ and open them.
Leave each of the water taps open until the mixture of water and cleaning product has reached the spout.
Set all water taps to ‘cold’ and open them.
Leave each of the water taps open until the mixture of water and cleaning product has reached the spout.
Close all water taps.
Flush the toilet several times.
Leave the cleaner to work in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Empty the water system. Collect the mixture of water and cleaning agent here and correctly dispose of it.
To rinse out the entire water system, flush the system with drinking water several times.

Waste water tank

Clean the waste water tank every time you use the vehicle.
Empty the waste water tank.
Thoroughly rinse the waste water tank with fresh water.
If possible, manually clean the waste water sensors through the cleaning opening.
Disinfect the water system
Only use suitable disinfectants stocked by your dealership.
Collect the mixture of water and disinfectant that comes out of the tank and correctly dispose of it.
Empty the water system.
Close all drainage openings and drain cocks.
Fill the water tank with a mixture of water and disinfectant. Please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the mix ratio.
Open each drain cock individually.
Leave each of the drain cocks open until the mixture of water and disinfectant has reached each outlet.
Close the drain cocks again.
Set all water taps to ‘hot’ and open them.
Leave each of the water taps open until the mixture of water and disinfectant has reached the spout.
Set all water taps to ‘cold’ and open them.
Leave each of the water taps open until the mixture of water and disinfectant has reached the spout.
Close all water taps.
Flush the toilet several times.
Leave the disinfectant to work in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Empty the water system. Collect the mixture of water and disinfectant here and correctly dispose of it.
To rinse out the entire water system, flush the system with drinking water several times.

Cleaning the interior

Always treat stains immediately wherever possible.
Acrylic-glass window panes require extra-careful care as they are sensitive.
Plastic parts in the toilet and lounge require extra-careful care as they are sensitive. Do not use solvents, cleaning products that contain alcohol or abrasive cleaners that contain sand, as this will prevent brittleness and cracks from forming.
Do not put any corrosive substances in the outlets. Do not pour boiling water into the outlets. Corrosive substances and boiling water can damage the drain pipes and syphons.
Do not use vinegar essence to clean the toilet and the water system or to descale the water system. Vinegar essence can damage seals or parts in the system. Use off-the-shelf limescale remover to descale the system.
Please be economical with water. Wipe up all residual water.
Regularly vacuum carpets and upholstery using a suitable brush attachment.
Our representatives and service centres are available for information on how to use cleaning products.
If the dye in the fabric runs, this is excluded from all manufacturer’s warranty claims. This is in no way a defect in the upholstery fabric, but a problem with the textile. Complaints must be made to the company that supplied this material.
Clean the surfaces and handles on furniture, lights and all plastic parts in the toilet and lounge using water and a woollen cloth. A gentle cleaning agent can be added to the water. Care for varnished surfaces using a furniture polish as required.
Clean upholstery fabrics with a dry foam designed for upholstery or with a mild, foamy detergent. Do not wash upholstery, have them cleaned. Protect upholstery from sunlight so that it does not bleach.
Clean artificial-leather covers at least once a week using an absorbent cloth or sponge and a mixture of water and natural soapsuds. Then wipe sparingly with clean water. Clean stubborn stains with a mixture of alcohol and water (30% alcohol, 70% water) or with ethanol diluted to 10% (10% ethanol and 90% water) and then wipe down with clean water. Please note that traces may remain. Do not use products containing solvents or abrasive ingredients or undiluted alcohol and/or acetone.
Clean Teflon-coated items with an absorbent cloth or sponge and with a mild, off-the-shelf water-based cleaning product. Alternatively, mix 2 tbsp ammonia in 1 litre of water. Never scrub wet or oily stains – dab at them with an absorbent cloth. Go from outside to inside so as to not spread the stain further. For solid or dried-on stains, first remove the rough parts of the impurity with a blunt knife or a spatula and gently brush off using a soft brush. Then dab the rest with a damp cloth.
Have curtains and net curtains dry-cleaned.
Clean and vacuum carpets using carpet cleaner foam shampoo as required.
Wipe PVC flooring with a mild, soapy cleaning product for PVC floors. Do not lay carpets on wet PVC flooring, as they may stick to one another.
Never clean the sink or gas stove using an abrasive cleaner containing sand. Avoid anything that could cause scratches and grooves.
Only clean the gas stove using a damp cloth. Water must not penetrate the openings on the gas stove, as this could damage the stove.
Brush flyscreens on doors, windows and skylights using a soft brush or vacuum with the vacuum cleaner’s brush attachment.
Brush blackout blinds using a soft brush or vacuum them using the brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner. Remove grease or stubborn dirt using 30 °C soapsuds (hard soap).
Brush Venetian blinds using a soft brush or vacuum them using the brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner. Remove grease or stubborn dirt using 30 °C soapsuds (hard soap).
Seat belts can be pulled out and cleaned with warm soapsuds. The seat belt must be completely dry before it is rolled back up.

On-board technology

Close the gas taps and gas hoses and disconnect the pressure regulator from the bottles.
Clean and disinfect the water system before putting the vehicle into winter hibernation.
After cleaning, empty the fresh water tank, waste water tank, toilet pipe system and boiler in the heating system and leave the water taps and valves open.
Disconnect or remove the on-board battery and store it in a dry place.

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