Cleaning out your RV will help to make it last longer by reducing the risk of damage caused by mold, mildew, pests and corrosion, and it has the added benefit of making your RV a nicer and safer place to stay. You may wish to perform a deep cleaning of your RV after every trip if you’re especially fastidious, or you may do it once or twice a season. It’s important to try to clean your RV thoroughly upon removing it from storage in the spring and before you put it back into storage in the winter.
Meridian RV, with locations in Port Coquitlam and 100 Mile House, is your British Columbia RV dealer. Here’s a handy deep-cleaning checklist to help you get your RV cleaned and disinfected so that it’s ready for your next trip.
1. Gather Your Supplies
Before you begin, it’s helpful to gather up the supplies you’ll need. Some of the most useful tools include vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, dish soap, Magic Erasers, sponges, paper towels, rags, rubber gloves, bleach wipes, a broom and dustpan, a vacuum cleaner and a mop. You may want to set up a box fan or two after mopping floors to ensure that they dry thoroughly, especially in your bathroom.
2. Cleaning the Bathroom
Your RV bathroom is a place where mold and mildew and bacteria can accrue. Use the gentlest cleaners you can to wipe down your shower, sink and countertops. Sweep and mop the floor. Your RV toilet can’t be cleaned with chemicals like you’d use in your house, so you’ll want to don a pair of rubber gloves and wipe out the bowl interior by hand. Wipe the mirror with a paper towel and glass cleaner. Put away or remove all toiletries and take out towels to launder them in hot water.
3. Tidying the Kitchen
Your RV kitchen is the most likely target for pest infestation, due to food and food residue in the form of spills and crumbs, as well as trash, recycling and compost. That’s why it’s important to remove all perishable items from your kitchen upon returning from a trip. You should also empty trash containers and recycling or compost bins and rinse these thoroughly before putting them back on your RV.
You’ll want to clean out and defrost the fridge (use towels to sop up water). You can wipe down the shelves with a spray made of vinegar and then place an open container of baking soda inside to deodorize it.
In the pantry and cabinets, make sure you sweep up all crumbs and clean up any spills from honey or syrups. Scrub countertops and the stove, taking care to remove all traces of food. Sweep and mop your floor when everything else has been cleaned. Take out rugs, towels and potholders to wash these before returning them to the RV. Make sure that all dishes have been cleaned, dried and replaced.
4. Straightening the Bedroom
The bedroom should have its linens removed and laundered in hot water. Stow duvets or blankets in plastic lidded bins to keep them dust-free. Vacuum the carpet and use a spot-cleaner on stubborn stains. Your mattress may develop odors with time: a spritz of lavender essential oil spray or another scent that you like can help reduce this. You could also sprinkle the surface of the mattress with baking soda and let it sit for half an hour before vacuuming it up. Wipe down all surfaces and doorknobs with a bleach wipe.
5. Neatening the Living Room
Finally, your living room needs to be thoroughly swept or vacuumed. You may want to launder blankets and pillows and curtains if they haven’t been washed in a while. Wipe down all surfaces with an appropriate cleaner. Use a bleach wipe on high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, cabinet handles, remote controls and light switches. Remove personal items and take these into your house. Empty wastebaskets and make sure they are clean inside.
We hope these tips help you to get your RV clean and ready for storage or fall travel. Still trying to find the perfect RV? Browse our website to check out our full inventory of new and used RVs for sale. Meridian RV proudly serves greater Vancouver as well as the city of Kamloops, BC.
