Quick Pro Tips on How To Remove Oxidation From Rv Decals

Wondering how to remove oxidation from RV decals?

If your RV exterior is starting to look a little dull and worn out, it can impact the overall appearance of your vehicle.

This also gives off the impression that your motorhome is a bit rusty – not at all like how it used to be.

But fret not – in just simple steps, you can turn your junky-looking RV into something shiny, lustrous, and close to how it was when you first bought it.

These are all you need to know to get rid of oxidation from your RV decals, so stick around and keep reading!

The Basics on How to Remove Oxidation from RV Decals

First, let us talk about the reason why oxidation on your RV decals even happens.

Keep in mind that fiberglass is usually the material used for many RV exteriors. It can also be plastic with a gel coat for the finish. As these are light and durable materials, your RV is able to handle long-distance travels.

It is also the gel coat that keeps your RV shiny. But at the same time, the RV tends to look a little old when it no longer remains shiny.

There are many reasons why the gel coat does not retain its shine for a long period.

It can appear yellowish and chalky. Oxidation is the primary reason why this happens, which is also why rust exists.

This is a very natural thing that cannot be prevented, yet you can improve the quality of your RV in simple and easy ways.

How to Remove Oxidation from RV Decals

Every RV owner knows that it is never a good idea to neglect their vehicle’s finish.

You need to wash your vehicle and wax it to keep it looking nice.

After all, if you want to resell your RV in the future, you really need to make an effort to maintain the shine. And the best way to do this is by eliminating oxidation on the vehicle’s exterior.

The next step involves following it up with coats of the right wax – the one designed for fiberglass material and gel coats.

It is important to note that waxing your vehicle is essential to maintaining its quality. This wax forms a shield or protection between the exterior of your vehicle and various external elements. It may eventually wear off, yet you can simply remove oxidation and apply a fresh coat of this special wax.

These steps will guide you on how to remove oxidation from RV decals in the fast and easy way.

1. Determine the RV exterior material.

This is an essential step before you even attempt to remove oxidation.

There are different types of exterior materials used such as fiberglass gel coats. If your vehicle is cream-colored or white, then it is most likely to be a fiberglass gel coat. If this is the case, you can find paint or strips on the bottom or some decals and striping.

Over time, the material will appear hazy and blotchy.

If the material is aluminum or corrugated fiberglass, the color used is usually white with some paint job. This is also the least expensive type of material with corrugation for the texture or something rather smooth.

Then, we have a fully painted finish. The base is a paint coat and the top is a clear coat. This is the common material for expensive and class A types of motorhomes. When it comes to washing and waxing these motorhomes, you will find it quite easy to do.

2. Hand-buff as a way to remove oxidation

If your RV exterior is fiberglass, you can simply do hand-buffing as a way to get rid of the oxidation.

Some elbow grease combined with a tub of a polishing compound can do the job perfectly well. First, apply the formula on a sponge – be sure it is smooth and not scratchy.

Slowly work the wax or polish by hand. Keep polishing until resistance is gone. Leave the polish on and then haze over.

Afterward, use a dry cloth to wipe the haze off. This will eventually reveal the smooth and shiny portion of your vehicle.

3. Power buffer for removing oxidation.

If you don’t want to use up too much of your energy in removing oxidation, a smart thing to use is an power buffer.

This is electric-powered, which makes it so easy to use.

You can easily apply the wax on your vehicle and get the oxidation out as fast as possible.

This tool is perfect for applying the polish while removing oxidation. Additionally, you can apply wax with this tool. Just be sure the wax you use is ideal for the fiberglass material of your RV.

4. Try wet sanding.

Next, you can do wet sanding as a way to remove oxidation. This is the case with some damages to the exterior that no wax or polish can remove.

Keep sanding your fiberglass exterior in a smooth motion. This will eventually remove the imperfections and oxidation while improving the overall quality of your vehicle.

Read More: RV Water Pump Runs Intermittently – Easy Steps to Solve This Issue

Check out this video to learn more about how to remove oxidation from your RV decals. This can help you perform these tips while making sure that you get the results you want.

Final Word on Removing Oxidation from Your RV

Keeping your RV great-looking is perfect not only for the aesthetic piece but also for a practical reason.

By knowing how to remove oxidation from RV decals, you can be sure that your vehicle will not only look great. It will also help to improve its value in case you want to resell it in the future.

I hope these tips have been helpful in giving you a clearer idea on how to perform these steps while making sure it will produce the result you are looking for.