So the outside of my trailer badly needs to be cleaned and I’m wondering what’s the best way to go about this. Do I just get a ladder and wash like a car? Is there a special soap recommended for trailers? And suggestions are welcomed. Really don’t know what’s the best way to do this. TIA
Truck Washes are great for horse trailers. They can acid wash an aluminum trailer, or regular wash a painted trailer.
Besides that, a sponge on a stick and a pressure washer are your friend. There are several products that are supposed to take streaks off.
We have do it yourself car washes with long wands and higher pressure hoses. You pop coins in the slot to keep things running. If it’s really mossy there may be some better spray on prewash soap.
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Ditto on the pressure washer. I would suspect that any good quality automotive cleaner would work on a painted trailer. As for AL, I just pressure wash it. I’n NOT a fan of acid washing on a regular basis as when you do you remove a few atoms of the AL oxide that normally forms in air (and gives the AL a dull sheen). Unless you wax fairly soon the dull sheen will return. It’s not dirt; it’s protection of the underlying AL from oxidation.*
G.
*With normal iron or steel when oxidation, a/k/a rust, begins it’s like a cancer and will keep going so that it ultimately will destroy the metal. With AL the oxidation is just a very thin layer thick and it stops. It does not continue into uncompromised metal as it does with ferrous metals. Acid washing, literally, is dissolving your trailer. Keep doing it and ultimately you won’t have a trailer (at least one with an AL skin). This is why I’m not a fan. 
If you have mats take them out before washing.
Let the floor dry completely before replacing the mats.
You should also hose down the mats, manure & urine can destroy both wood & aluminum floors.
Mats need to be dry before being put back in.
I have always had aluminium trailers & let mats dry in the sun, flipping over when top side was dry.
I’d use my garden hose (no soap) to get out every trace of manure, bedding, hay from the trailer & let that air-dry too, with all doors open, ramp (if I had one) down.
