5 Tips on How to Spring Clean Your RV

 

Spring is right around the corner! Just like it’s the best time to begin Spring Cleaning your home, now is the also the time to be thinking about Spring Cleaning you RV inside and out! As I think about that, I now realize that have 2 RV’s to clean, but not to worry! We have the best spring-cleaning tools to make it a breeze and we are going to share those with you here! Here are the 5 Tips on how to Spring Clean Your RV!

 

 

 

5 things we are going to cover:

1. The First Step of De-Winterizing Your RV
2. What to Use to Clean Every Area of Your RV
3. How to Clean Your RV Interior

1. • • Overall RV Interior
     • Kitchen
     • Bathroom(s)
     • Bedroom(s)
     • Living Area
     • Pet Area
     • Office Area

4. How to Clean Your RV Exterior

1. • • Overall RV Exterior

5. How to Clean Your RV Awning

 

 

5 Tips on How to Spring Clean Your RV: The First Step is De-Winterizing

De-Winterizing your RV is a necessity before you begin your Spring-Cleaning adventure! If you run water in your RV while it’s still freezing outside, you take the chance of water freezing up in the lines and bursting. Nobody wants that mess! So, the first thing you must do is check the predicted temperatures for the upcoming weeks and be sure it is not supposed to freeze anymore in your area. If you still want to clean and it is supposed to freeze, make sure you winterize it after you’re finished. Obviously, it really is best to just wait until the last expected freeze.

 

 

5 Tips on How to Spring Clean Your RV: What to use to clean Every Area of Your RV:

It’s very important to use proper cleaning supplies in your RV so it doesn’t get damaged by harsh chemicals. ALWAYS read your manufacturer’s handbook full of information for recommended leaning agents. If you’re ever concerned about how any cleaning product may affect your RV, make sure you test it out in a small, concealed area of your RV first.

Never use normal household oven cleaners, drain cleaners, or bleach in an RV!

Upholstered Furniture: use a water-based vinyl cleaner.

Sink and Shower Fixtures: use a dish soap and water mixture (for more difficult spots use a mild mixture of vinegar and water).

Walls: most RV walls are paneling so the best product to use, again, is dish soap and warm water mixture (you can use an all-purpose cleaner for tough spots but again TEST SMALL AREA FIRST).

Wood Cabinets, doors, and tables: dust with a soft cloth and a small amount of cleaning polish (do not use ammonia or silicone oil-based products).

Counter tops: use dish soap and water mixture or a general-purpose spray cleaner.

Carpet: Always clean carpets with soapy water mixture and paper towels immediately if something is spilled. This will keep the stain from setting in too deep.*Note: if you have any deep carpet stains, please consider having them professionally cleaned as they are very sensitive to chemicals. Never soak RV carpet.

Linoleum: Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean linoleum and hardwood floors. Never use oil-based solvents (this can cause yellowing of linoleum flooring).

 

 

5 Tips on How to Spring Clean Your RV: How to Clean Your RV Interior

 

Cleaning Throughout the Interior of Your RV:

• Remove any unneeded items in all areas of the RV interior
• Dust baseboards and moldings
• Dust ceiling
• Clean air vents
• Clean AC and replace filter
• Wash down the walls and remove any scuff marks
• Deep clean cabinets and drawers
• Disinfect all doorknobs, light switches and outlets
• Wash curtains and/or blinds
• Clean windows
• Vacuum and then wipe down furniture
• Vacuum flooring
• Scrub down any linoleum, hardwoods, tile flooring
• Clean light fixtures throughout
• Check all lighting and replace any bulbs that need replaced
• Replace batteries in smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector
• Laundry all rugs
• Dust all ceiling fans (while you’re up there, be sure to check that the ceiling fan is set to spin clockwise, which is appropriate for Spring/Summer)

 

Cleaning Your RV Kitchen:

• Remove any unneeded items in the kitchen area
• Disinfect kitchen trash can
• Clean microwave inside and out
• Deep clean refrigerator
• Clean freezer
• Oven
• Clean oven hood vent
• Stove top including coils
• Bring in all dishes including silverware, cups, plates, coffee mugs, cutting boards, pots and pans, and storage containers inside for a run through the dishwasher
• Clean and disinfect coffee maker
• Clean and disinfect all appliances
• Wipe down table and chairs
• Laundry table linens

 

Cleaning Your RV Bathroom:

• Remove any unneeded items in the bathroom area
• Clean and disinfect toothbrush holder(s)
• Clean and disinfect soap dispenser and refill
• Scrub and disinfect toilet
• Clean mirror(s)
• Clean and disinfect shower walls, floor, shower head, faucet and handles
• Laundry all towels, wash cloths, and hand towels
• Clean and disinfect sink, faucet and handles
• Clean glass shower door or laundry shower curtain (don’t forget to really scrub down in the cracks of the shower door)
• Check to see if anything needs sealing or caulked
• Clean and disinfect trash can

 

Cleaning Your RV Bedroom(s) and Bunk Room:

• Remove any unneeded items in the bedroom/bunk room areas
• Clean any glass and/or mirrors
• Dust any wall hangings
• Clean lights at the head of the bed
• Clean all light fixtures
• Organize the closet and dresser (if used in the winter season; add appropriate seasonal clothing)
• Organize any kid’s toys and remove anything not needed or outgrown (don’t forget to disinfect those toys)
• Clean any gaming systems the kids may have in bunk room

 

Cleaning Your RV Living Room:

• Remove any unneeded items in the living area
• Dust and disinfect (with appropriate cleaner) all electronics
• Disinfect all remotes (with appropriate cleaner)
• Disinfect all gaming devices (with appropriate cleaner)

 

Cleaning the RV Pet Area:

• Clean food dish
• Clean water dish
• Laundry the mat under dishes

 

Cleaning the RV Office Area (or wherever you store important docs for your RV):

• Go through paperwork and ensure you have the essential documents needed for this RV Camping Season including:
• Insurance Documents
• Camping Passes
• Maps
• Pet Health Documents including rabies vaccine information

 

 

 

5 Tips on How to Spring Clean Your RV: How to Clean Your RV Exterior

 

Cleaning Throughout the Exterior of Your RV:

• Remove any unneeded items in the exterior compartments of the RV
• Clean outdoor light fixtures
• Clean outside door frames
• Wash and Wax the entire outside of your rig – Our suggestion is to use Camco RV Wash and Waxand a great cleaning kit to use is the Doca Cleaning Kit and can be used for many years!
• Clean entry mat
• Clean full ground coverage mat
• Wash outside windows with detail after washing the RV unit
• Clean grill
• Clean outdoor furniture
• After washing exterior, thoroughly inspect your RV
• Don’t forget to clean the wheels and tires
• Mark says to make sure I remind you all to clean the roof! Of course he recommends Dicor Products because they’re simply the best for an RV Roof. He suggests using the Dicor Rubber Roof Cleanerand the Dicor Robber Roof Protectant.

 

Cleaning YOUR RV Awning:

• Clean your awning – This is one of those that everyone asks us about and we recommend using Camco Awning Cleaner