RV cleaning takes the dirt off: a hand wash, the roof, bugs, wheels and tires. RV detailing changes the finish itself by putting protection on or polishing oxidation out. On our per-foot menu, cleaning is the $10/ft Maintenance wash. Detailing starts at $15/ft Protection (wash plus sealant and UV barrier), moves to $20/ft Enhancement (machine polish), and tops out at Restoration for chalky gel coat, which starts at $30/ft and is quoted by estimate.
| RV cleaning | RV detailing | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Removes dirt, bugs, road film and roof grime | Cleans, then protects or corrects the gel coat and paint |
| Leaves on the finish | Nothing | Sealant and UV barrier at minimum |
| Fixes oxidation? | No. A wash only exposes it | Yes. Light oxidation with a machine polish, heavy chalk with multi-stage compounding |
| Our package | Maintenance, $10/ft | Protection $15/ft · Enhancement $20/ft · Restoration from $30/ft (by estimate) |
“RV cleaning” can mean three different jobs. Some owners want a wash. Some want the shine back. Some have a coach that’s gone chalky white on the sun side. Each of those jobs takes different hours and costs a different amount. Get the wrong one and you either overpay or end up with a clean RV that still looks tired.
Where does cleaning stop and detailing start?
Our line is simple. If a job only takes things off the RV, it’s cleaning. Once something goes onto the finish, or a polisher takes a layer of oxidation out of it, it’s detailing. Here’s how that maps to the four exterior packages on our mobile RV detailing in Orlando page:
Protection is our most popular package. That’s the wash and wax most people have in mind, and we’ve covered what goes into a mobile RV wash and wax step by step. If you want the full scope first, here is what professional RV detailing actually includes, panel by panel.
What does each one cost on a real rig?
Multiply your RV’s length by the package rate. Here are two common lengths, worked out from the published per-foot rates:
| Package | 30-ft travel trailer | 40-ft Class A |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance ($10/ft) | $300 | $400 |
| Protection ($15/ft) | $450 | $600 |
| Enhancement ($20/ft) | $600 | $800 |
| Restoration (from $30/ft) | By estimate | By estimate |
The gap between the bottom and top rows is the case for regular cleaning. An RV that gets washed and sealed on schedule stays in the $10 to $15 rows. One that sits unprotected in Florida sun for years ends up in the Restoration row. Our cost guide also answers the cost difference between a wash and wax and a full detail for bigger coaches. Interior work isn’t part of these packages. It’s priced separately by the size and condition of the RV.
How can you tell your RV needs detailing, not a cleaning?
Wash a sun-side panel, let it dry, and run these four checks:
- The chalk test. Wipe a clean finger across the panel. If your finger comes away clean, a wash, or a wash and seal, is enough. Light white dust means early oxidation (Enhancement). Chalk that coats your fingertip means Restoration. If you see a yellow tinge or cracking, have it assessed before anyone compounds it. We walk through every stage of the chalk test in how to remove oxidation from a fiberglass RV.
- Water sheets instead of beading. The sealant is gone. That’s a Protection detail, not another wash.
- Black streaks come back after every rain. Bare gel coat holds onto runoff that a sealed finish sheds. Here’s how to remove black streaks from an RV once they set in.
- The front cap and sun side look duller than the shade side. That difference is fading, and fading is oxidation starting. A wash won’t fix it.
When is a cleaning all you need?
If your rig passes the chalk test, still beads water, and gets washed on a regular wash-and-wax schedule, the $10/ft Maintenance wash is our RV cleaning service, and it’s all you need. If someone quotes you a polish for that RV, they’re selling you work it doesn’t need. We’d rather sell you the wash and see you again next season. When a $20/ft polish will fix it, we say so before anyone touches a buffer.
The cleaning also matters more than people give it credit for. Bugs, tree sap and black streak runoff left on the finish make the next detail harder. Washing them off on time is what keeps a coach out of Restoration pricing.
Is the roof part of an RV cleaning?
Yes. Roof cleaning is on the $10/ft Maintenance list, and Protection and Enhancement include everything in Maintenance. Clean it with the right products, though. Dicor, which makes rubber RV roof systems, says not to use cleaners or conditioners with petroleum distillates, harsh abrasives or citrus, and that petroleum distillates will make the membrane swell. For their EPDM roofs, Dicor says cleaning at least four times a year with a medium-bristle brush will greatly help. Our guide to cleaning an RV roof in Florida covers each roof type.
Key takeaways
- Cleaning takes dirt off. Detailing puts protection on or polishes oxidation out.
- Our menu: Maintenance $10/ft is cleaning. Protection $15/ft, Enhancement $20/ft and Restoration (from $30/ft, by estimate) are detailing.
- A 30-ft trailer runs $300 for a wash and $450 with sealant. A 40-ft Class A runs $400 and $600.
- Do the chalk test after a wash. A clean finger means a cleaning is enough. Chalk means detailing.
- Keep petroleum, citrus and harsh abrasive cleaners off a rubber roof.
Frequently asked questions
Is RV cleaning the same thing as RV detailing?
No. Cleaning removes dirt, bugs and grime from the outside and the roof. Detailing goes further by sealing the finish or machine-polishing oxidation out of the gel coat. Our Maintenance package is cleaning, and Protection, Enhancement and Restoration are detailing.
How much does RV cleaning cost in Orlando?
Our Maintenance wash is $10 per foot, so a 30-ft travel trailer is $300 and a 40-ft Class A is $400. Adding sealant and a UV barrier (Protection) is $15 per foot.
Can a wash remove oxidation from my RV?
No. Oxidation is the gel coat itself breaking down, so washing only exposes it. Light oxidation comes out with the $20/ft Enhancement polish. Heavy chalk needs Restoration, which starts at $30 per foot and is quoted by estimate.
Do I need to hook you up to water or power?
No. Our crew arrives self-contained with its own water and power, so we can work at your home, a storage lot or a campsite without hookups.
Will you tell me if I only need a cleaning?
Yes. We walk the roof, finish, trim and front cap before we start. If the $10/ft wash is all the RV needs, that’s what we’ll book.
Does an RV detail include the inside?
Not in the per-foot packages, which are exterior. Interior detailing is quoted separately based on the size and condition of your RV.
Jason runs Polished 2 Perfection, a mobile detailing business for cars, RVs and boats. His crew washes, polishes and restores motorhomes, fifth wheels and travel trailers on-site across Orlando, Ocala, The Villages and Central Florida.
Not sure if it’s a cleaning or a detail?
Tell us the length and what the chalk test showed. We’ll quote the right package.
Get a free RV detailing quote
