Touching up the Dicor on the roof without denatured alcohol

[MarkEHansen]

So I watched the Dicor video on cleaning up and applying Dicor lap sealant on the roof of the RV, and one of the cleaning steps was to clean the area with denatured alcohol.

Well, we can't get that in California. What should we use instead?

We purchased some rubber roof cleaner (spray), but if anyone has suggestions on how to clean prior to applying the lap sealant, I'm open to hearing it

[sourdough]

Can you get any kind of alcohol there (non drinking)? There's denatured, rubbing, isopropyl; is all that outlawed as well?

I've used denatured and isopropyl. In the store I think most of it is the isopropyl. I don't use anything less that 70%. You need to watch because I've gone into a dollar store and picked up a bottle and it was just 50%. Might have worked...I don't know but I didn't use it. I just soak a rag in the above and go to town scrubbing.

[chuckster57]

Look for “camping fuel” white gas. I think it’s the same thing under a different label. I use Fantastik since I ran out of denatured alcohol.

[NH_Bulldog]

Fantastik is what I use.

[bobbecky]

I get real alcohol windshield washer fluid as well as anything else not sold in California when we travel out of that state. Really!!, you can’t get below freezing windshield washer fluid, even in areas the regularly freeze? That’s just wrong. And, they only ask about plants, fruit, and firewood when we do enter the state, so alcohol mustn’t be much of a priority.

[QCMan]

Camp fuel is "white gas" which is naphtha. Don't know how well that mixes with roofs.

[Wyldfire]

Just hit the liquor store and get a bottle of Everclear. Same thing just not Denatured so you can drink it when done.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by bobbecky

I get real alcohol windshield washer fluid as well as anything else not sold in California when we travel out of that state. Really!!, you can’t get below freezing windshield washer fluid, even in areas the regularly freeze? That’s just wrong. And, they only ask about plants, fruit, and firewood when we do enter the state, so alcohol mustn’t be much of a priority.

Do you have to show your passport when you enter the state now?

[77cruiser]

Originally Posted by flybouy

Do you have to show your passport when you enter the state now?

It seems to be like a different country.

[Hblick48]

I've read that acetone works well.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by flybouy

Do you have to show your passport when you enter the state now?

Better watch out! Heard Cali is going to annex MD because there are so many like minded subjects living there.

[skids]

Originally Posted by QCMan

Camp fuel is "white gas" which is naphtha. Don't know how well that mixes with roofs.

I was thinking the same thing. White gas is not alcohol.

[JRTJH]

If you have a "Dollar Tree" (everything costs $1) store near you, go to the back shelf and pick up a spray bottle of Totally Awesome spray cleaner. Costs a dollar and you can get a "double sized refill" for another dollar. It's the "cheapest" and surprisingly the "most effective" spray cleaner I've found. It competes with Fantastic, 409, and most "spray cleaners" and IMHO, beats them all. Just spray it on, let it sit a minute, wipe it off, let it dry and apply DICOR where it's needed.... I've been using it for about 5 or 6 years now and I keep it "on the cleaner shelf in the garage". I almost always go for that bottle for nearly everything, including tires, tractor grease/diesel soot and even the metal roof on the pole barn.

https://www.dollartree.com/las-total...er-20oz/152664

[chuckster57]

Yeah, I goofed. I have a tiny bit of denatured alcohol in a can and the label says “clean burning fuel”. I thought it said camping fuel.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

If you have a "Dollar Tree" (everything costs $1) store near you, go to the back shelf and pick up a spray bottle of Totally Awesome spray cleaner. Costs a dollar and you can get a "double sized refill" for another dollar. It's the "cheapest" and surprisingly the "most effective" spray cleaner I've found. It competes with Fantastic, 409, and most "spray cleaners" and IMHO, beats them all. Just spray it on, let it sit a minute, wipe it off, let it dry and apply DICOR where it's needed.... I've been using it for about 5 or 6 years now and I keep it "on the cleaner shelf in the garage". I almost always go for that bottle for nearly everything, including tires, tractor grease/diesel soot and even the metal roof on the pole barn.

https://www.dollartree.com/las-total...er-20oz/152664

I’m going to get some of that. I’ll post my findings.

[skids]

Acetone melts some plastics. Just sayin'. I answered a land line once with acetone on my fingertips and it left deep permanent fingerprints.

[mjeronimo]

Home Depot and Lowe’s stopped carrying denatured alcohol but I found you can order it online at Amazon that’s what I did about a month ago be careful though look at the sizes you’ll find a gallon for 20 bucks and then you’ll find a quart for 20 bucks so pay attention to the description and make sure you’re getting the best value for your money

[MarkEHansen]

Nope, can't deliver to California I've ordered some Isopropyl Alcohol (99%) and will use that instead.

[flybouy]

Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used as a disinfectant and as a surface cleaner. That's what's in the little square packets that they use to clean your skin for an injection. It's also what comes with a lot of packages with 3M adhesives or other automotive products that use self adhesives like the car window deflectors.

Here's a good article on the differences/uses. https://www.chemicals.co.uk/blog/iso...030%25%20water.

[CedarCreekWoody]

I used lacquer thinner. Brush cleaner would also work well. First scrub with soap and water and allow to dry thoroughly.