Cleaning Your RV

Owning an RV can bring you a lot of great memories over the years, whether you camp with your family, your friends, or travel solo. But such a big investment also requires a lot of upkeep and the one of the most basic tasks you can tackle to keep your RV functional and livable is basic cleaning. This won’t be much different from the chores you perform at home, but there are a few tips we can give you to make this process easier.

Read through some of our thoughts, then stop by Campers RV Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, near Bossier City, Ruston, and Monroe, and we’ll help you with all your RV-related needs, including showing you some of our available travel trailer and fifth wheel models. We proudly serve our neighbors in Marshall, Longview, and Tyler, Texas.

Supplies

Before we get started with the rooms, let’s talk about supplies. You’ll be in a smaller working space, so you’ll want to reduce the amount of supplies you need significantly or buy smaller versions of it. If you can find an all-in-one product, use this for your RV instead of multiple products.

Also remember that the harsh chemicals in some of these products can be damaging to your RV. Double check with your owner’s manual before using something that might wear down your trailer unnecessarily.

Bathroom

In such a small space, your bathroom can get really dirty, really quickly. The toilet in particular is going to be rife with germs, so you’ll want to clean it at least once a week. Remember to fill the bowl with water a bit first and then make sure to flush a few times so there’s no remaining product to dry on and force you to start over. The rest of the bathroom will also need to be cleaned regularly, although every other week should do. Don’t forget the shower, the mirror, and the floor.

Bedroom

One of the biggest concerns in your bedroom will be the mattress. Like any mattress, it requires special care. If you notice it’s becoming odorous or dirty, you can try sprinkling baking soda on the surface (let it sit and then vacuum it up). Or you might need to flip it or toss it altogether. Also make sure to wash your linens regularly. If you’re worried about being motivated to put your sheets back on your bed, then bring along another set of sheets to put on right away.

Floor

With all the in and out traffic your RV will experience, you’ll probably find your floors can easily get dirty and gross. How you tackle cleaning them depends on the kind of floor you have. If you have hard floors, then look for a smaller broom and dustpan as well as a collapsible mop. You can also just use disinfectant wipes if you have some on hand. 

If you have carpet, then you’ll want to use a hand vacuum. Yes, this will be more work than a bigger vacuum would require, but it won’t take up as much space. When it comes to RVing, you’re priority is always going to be consolidation. 

Washing the Exterior

Cleaning doesn’t just apply to the interior. You’ll want to keep the exterior clean as well. Wash your RV once before putting it in storage and once after taking it out, and also once after every major trip. Use gentle detergents and gentle brushes so there’s no risk of damaging the skin. You can use a power washer to get the really tough grime off, just remember to keep your distance and don’t aim the nozzle in one spot for too long. You’ll also want to wash and rinse in small patches so the soap scum doesn’t dry on.

The best piece of advice we can give though is to just clean as you go. If something is dirty or cluttered, clean it up. These small messes can seem to take up a lot of space in such a small area, but cleaning up is a small task if you stay on top of it!

If you’re still looking for the perfect fifth wheel or travel trailer, stop by Campers RV Center in Shreveport and ask one of our friendly staff to give you the full tour. We welcome all current and future RV owners from Bossier City, Ruston, and Monroe, LA, as well as Marshall, Longview, and Tyler, TX.