getting algae spots off the roof? - Fiberglass RV
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Old 05-02-2019, 02:06 PM   #1
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getting algae spots off the roof?

so my escape spent the winter kinda too close to a bunch of tall oaks, and they naturally covered the roof in pollen, which proceeded to turn into a sort of black mud.

I've washed off the bulk of it, but its left behind an even spatter of black dots of something thats not easily washing off. in fact they don't even easily scrape off with a fingernail and running water. I've used car wash in a bucket of warm water, and a stiff bristle brush, and a car wash sponge which has a plastic mesh on one side and terrycloth on the other, nada. scrub and scrub and scrub over a few inches and barely reduce the dots



thats an area that got extra attention...

so... what should I use? rubbing compound? cleaner-wax?
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Old 05-02-2019, 02:21 PM   #2
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and.... meguiars marine/rv cleaner wax did nothing but make it shinier.
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Old 05-02-2019, 03:27 PM   #3
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Top of our Scamp looked like that. Washed it with undiluted bleach. Came clean!
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Old 05-02-2019, 03:35 PM   #4
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Bar keepers friend plus a green scrub pad. Cleaned a lot of old crud off my 42 year old Trillium that way.
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Old 05-02-2019, 03:55 PM   #5
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Carwash soap in a strong solution with water.
Then use purple Scotchbrite as a sponge.
Keep it wet and scrub with medium pressure. The soap will prevent damage to the fiberglass while the Scotchbrite will clean the surface.
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Old 05-02-2019, 04:03 PM   #6
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I also use Barkeepers friend just wiping with shop towel dose a really good job. Try it first rather than anything harsher spray on wipe off.
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Old 05-02-2019, 07:13 PM   #7
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Turtle Wax “Bug & Tar Remover”
Mr Clean “Magic Eraser”
even WD 40 will work
Dave & Paula
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Old 05-02-2019, 08:17 PM   #8
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WD40, which I've used to remove some nasty tar spots from the fender wells of my Casita, as well as cleaning the alloy wheels on my former BMW motorcycle, doesn't even touch these hard crusty black spots on the roof.

sigh, its looking like I -am- going to need to use something abrasive
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Old 05-03-2019, 12:45 AM   #9
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[QUOTE= sigh, its looking like I -am- going to need to use something abrasive [/QUOTE]

John, would that include a chain saw for pollen elimination also .
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Old 05-03-2019, 03:37 AM   #10
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Road tar, tree sap, bug guts, adhesive, bubble gum, and bird poop are all tough to remove. Especially if they have been there a while. Sometimes heat from a hair dryer works along with a plastic scraper. Goo gone works well for adhesives. I've used the Turtle wax bug and tar remover with some success. Acetone seems to work the best. Good luck.
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Old 05-03-2019, 03:44 AM   #11
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Try this!

https://smile.amazon.com/30-SECONDS-...ateway&sr=8-34
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Old 05-03-2019, 11:07 AM   #12
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Removing spots from roof

ZEP floor wax remover works really good.
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Old 05-03-2019, 11:33 AM   #13
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Beware of using any sort of abrasive, including scotchbrite pads, or Barkeepers, etc. Doing so will damange the smooth gelcoat. So don't do it unless you have tried other means.

Also, chlorine bleach can make some plastics turn yellowish.

If your spots are really algae, or other organic material like mold and fungus (and that is what I have had on my Casita), I have a good solution for you.

After cleaning the area as well as possible with detergent and rubbing with a cloth, apply a saturated solution of oxygen bleach (i.e. Oxyclean or generic substitute). Allow that to dry in strong sunlight (sun catylizes the reaction). For stubborn spots, make a past of oxygen bleach, apply to the spot in strong sunlight, and keep from totally drying out by occasionally misting over the area with a hose nozzle that is adjusted to a fine mist.

Oxygen bleach will whiten other plastic parts as well. If you propane tank cover gets gray or spotted, oxygen bleach and sunlight can make it look like new again.

Oh, if your spots on your roof are sap or pine tar, you probably will need to use a solvant, but don't use anything too strong that will dissolve fiberglass. Alchohol is a good thing to try first or any of the commercial products.


Hope this helps
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Old 05-03-2019, 02:11 PM   #14
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Cleaner for fiberglass

We have always used "Totally Awesome" cleaner from Dollarama store. It takes the black off with a wipe. Then rinse.
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Old 05-03-2019, 02:20 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mszabo View Post
I agree with the 30 second cleaner.
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Old 05-03-2019, 03:06 PM   #16
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well, light rubbing with carwash and a scotchbrite pad takes them off pretty easily. gonna take awhile to do the whole roof of this E21, tho, eeek...

my first test patch, I did about 1 sq ft, hosed down, dried with synth chamois, let air/sun dry, and it just looks like lightly oxidized gelcoat, same as before but without the freckles... no sign of hairline scratches in the direction I used. I've since done about 8' of the curb side of the roof, a few feet at a time.

when I'm done, I'll go over it all with marine cleaner/wax... I suppose I could break out the orbital and hit with with some polishing compound first, but the cleaner/wax probably will do just fine.
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Old 05-03-2019, 03:12 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mszabo View Post
MSDS says thats dilute chlorine bleach (Sodium Hydrochlorite) and TSP.
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Old 05-03-2019, 03:29 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
MSDS says thats dilute chlorine bleach (Sodium Hydrochlorite) and TSP.

With a tremendous profit margin.
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Old 05-03-2019, 05:48 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GatorCasita View Post
Beware of using any sort of abrasive, including scotchbrite pads, or Barkeepers, etc. Doing so will damange the smooth gelcoat. So don't do it unless you have tried other means.
Hope this helps
That's what the carwash soap is for, when used with the Scotchbrite.... Try it!
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Old 05-04-2019, 01:30 AM   #20
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Scotchbrite pads are basically plastic sandpaper with the green color being a heavy grit so bear that in mind when using it. I have used the L A Awsome cleaner that is available at any dollar type store in combination with a magic eraser with excellent results on black streaks. Not sure about those black spots but a spray bottle of awesome is only 1 dollar so it is worth a try. I just recommended some of that 30 second cleaner to some friends that were getting algae on their house siding and they couldn't believe how well it works. It is also available at Home Depot and Lowe's. Again not sure how it would work on those spots. I'm sure everybody has noticed the black spots that get on some of the silicone sealant on our RV's. Even bleach doesn't seem to touch that 100 %.
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