So you wanna know how fiberglass cleaning companies really work? Buckle up, because I just went through this mess last week and boy, is it a story. Here’s exactly how my adventure played out:

The "Oh Crap" Moment

Noticed my boat trailer looking like a moldy science experiment. Touched the fiberglass siding – felt sticky and gross. Realized I ain’t messing with weird chemicals myself. Nope. Started googling like crazy.

The Search Game

Searched "fiberglass cleaner near me." Got swamped with ads and confusing websites. Most sounded like robot salespeople. How do you even pick? Called three places. Here’s what happened:

• Company A: Guy talked super fast about "proprietary solutions." Couldn’t tell me the price over the phone. Sketchy.
• Company B: Nice lady, actually asked me what the gunk LOOKED like (algae + dirt). Gave me a rough price range – not cheap, but clear.
• Company C: Straight to voicemail. Twice. Moving on.

Went with Company B mainly 'cause she didn’t sound like a used-car salesman.

The Dudes Show Up

Two guys rolled up in a van plastered with boat and RV pics. Looked legit. First thing they did? Poked the gunk with gloves on.

One guy explains: "Alright, so for this bio-gunk mix you got? We gotta hit it twice." He laid it out simple:

1. First Wash: Spray this green, plant-smelling cleaner (said it was 'eco' but who knows). Let it sit 10 minutes. Don’t let it dry! Pressure wash it off gentle-like.
2. Second Wash: Hit it with a slicker, sudsy soap. Felt almost like car wash stuff. Scrubbed tricky spots with soft brushes. Pressure rinsed again, but lighter. Water beading was kinda neat.

They kept saying "low pressure" over and over. Guess fiberglass scratches easy.

The Reveal... And Reality

Trailer looked way better. Shiny? Mostly. BUT – saw a few dark streaks in corners they missed. Showed 'em – they were cool about it. Dude grabbed a rag and some different spray, wiped it down right there. "Hidden spot," he shrugged.

Biggest surprise? The base of the trailer legs. Still felt slightly rough. Guy said: "Yeah, that deep stuff might need another pass later. You let algae sit too long, it kinda... etches." Ugh. My bad.

What I Actually Learned

• You gotta TALK to them. Ask "What’s IN the bottle?" and "Ever work on stuff like MINE?"
• Paying for time and gear mostly. Those pressure washers ain’t cheap.
• It’s not magic. If your fiberglass is wrecked underneath, cleaning just reveals the pain.
• Watch them work! Point out misses immediately. Good ones fix it.

Feels cleaner? Yeah. Worth the cash? Only if you hate scrubbing like I do. Lesson learned: clean the dang thing sooner next time!