jwhitton Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 What is the best way to clean a white roof? Mine is not overly dirty / a bad one, but wanted to ask, in case there is a best way to clean it, being made of aluminium. I would have normally just jumped in with some T-Cut or similar, but guess there may be some better advice out there? Thanks in advance, Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 I clean my 110's white roof with hot soapy water & rinse off, a good carwash brush will help get rid of any green gunge & bird droppings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Ralph's comment about using warm water is key - it works wonders over cold water. Don't use washing up liquid - it has lots of salt that degrades the paint and can accelerate corrosion where it pools in cavities. Use a car shampoo. I don't use hot water, but I spray the car with the hose first and let it soak before hosing again to rinse away loose dirt before using the soft brush or sponge with soapy water. Very dirty areas get a second soapy scrub after rinsing. Before fitting the roof rack, I used to use a soft broom for the roof, which made the job far easier. Being white, the roof didn't show the drying marks like the coloured panels, so I never bothered with the chamois up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Engine degreaser works a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve King Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 After it is clean a bit of polish helps prevent the next load of crud sticking too badly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 White T-Cut works if it's particularly grimy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madcowz Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 I use a pressure washer on mine. Cuts through the green slime and looks fab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studmuffin Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 I hose off first and then I use warm water and general all purpose cleaner applied with a wash mitt. If its a serious clean I follow with traffic film remover and t cut type wax. I only ever use a pressure washer on the underneath and on the rad if muddy, never on the body panels. Somehow I feel, rightly or wrongly, that the bond between paint and ali, even if etch primed is a fragile thing to batter with a high pressure jet. I have asked before but does anyone know the paint shade/code for white roofs on TD5 defenders? Some have said Chawton white but I am still not sure. Cheers Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 I never bother, I like the green on white look and I'm lazy ? Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 I wasn't aware that you are supposed to clean them Les 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve King Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 On 1 November 2016 at 8:58 PM, Les Henson said: I wasn't aware that you are supposed to clean them Les I take it you go for the "Eco Look" then Les! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 Never use a pressure washer on the rad or any heat exchanger! You'll bend the fins and block the airflow through the unit. They're safe to use on paint, as long as you keep a distance of 12" or so from the nozzle to the panel, but they don't get everything off anyway, so are of little more benefit than a standard hose with decent mains pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornish Rattler Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 When we get round to cleaning our new roof ready for painting ( black ) then fit we will probably jet wash it, got the 2a's roof to jet wash aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 16 hours ago, Steve King said: I take it you go for the "Eco Look" then Les! Nothing wrong with a bit of dirt here and there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerfred Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 The best thing to use to clean a white roof if not overly dirty is a damp cloth and CIF crème cleaner, it will remove the dirt and film but not any of the paint as T-Cut does, clean it in quarters and clean out the cloth your using each time and wipe over the area your cleaning with a clean damp cloth to remove any CIF residue and when you've done the whole roof go over it with a good clear car wax polish. Try it, you'll see that it works. It works on a very dirty roof as well but you have to use more CIF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 Pretty certain CIF is way more abrasive than tcut, you can feel it between your fingertips, it will certainly cut the paint.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerfred Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Well, I've used CIF crème on my roof for the last 6 years, do it twice a year and I haven't got down to bare metal yet! It's not at all abrasive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vander74 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Hi there. I'm new here. What is best for a green Defender -the Original or green one - T CUT? Do I need dark green or light green? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 CIF cream is not recommended for plastic baths, as it takes off the glaze... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 Cif cream is a scourer - it is far more abrasive than T-cut. It must leave very flat paint, either satin or outright matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerfred Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 CIF crème will not take off any paint neither is it a 'scourer', it does not leave a matte or dull surface, go over the area with a damp clean cloth to remove any residue and then use a wax polish of some sort to buff up, try it and you'll see. What's the point of anyone suggesting a product that they find works very well when others just dismiss it out of hand? Vander74, T-Cut 'colour match' is a load of rubbish and a waste of money, it will do no more than ordinary T-Cut and certainly will not 'restore' any of the colour of the paint, the only way you can do that is to use a polish such as T-Cut to remove the top dull layer of paint and then use a good wax polish to buff up but to do it properly and get a good even result you need to use a proper 'mop' on a drill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vander74 Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 1 hour ago, Farmerfred said: Vander74, T-Cut 'colour match' is a load of rubbish and a waste of money, it will do no more than ordinary T-Cut and certainly will not 'restore' any of the colour of the paint, the only way you can do that is to use a polish such as T-Cut to remove the top dull layer of paint and then use a good wax polish to buff up but to do it properly and get a good even result you need to use a proper 'mop' on a drill. Farmerfred - Thanks for your answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 T Cut makes the job of cutting back and restoring the finish harder than it needs to be. Try one of the Farecla range of compounds. Their G3 is good and being water soluble, makes the job a lot easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerfred Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 I would totally agree that a water based or water soluble restorative polish is the best, do a bit of research and see what the second hand car trade and body shops use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studmuffin Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 4 hours ago, Vander74 said: Farmerfred - Thanks for your answer Vander74 ----I forgot to say -- Welcome to the forum. It is always good to see a new face. Cheers Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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