Spring Cleaning Your RV: Inside and Out

Spring is coming up fast, and that means it’s almost time for camping! The thing is, most RVs are in desperate need of a good cleaning when they come out of storage, so you’re going to want to plan a day or two to clean the rig before you start loading up for your first trip out. (I know we always need a day to get things in order when we pull our rig out of storage after a trip.)

Not sure where to begin? Here are the steps we take when deep cleaning our RV and getting it ready for spring and summer travels. 

Interior Cleaning

First, let’s talk about the inside of the RV. Get the following things in order, and the interior of your home-on-wheels will be ready to offer you a comfy place to relax after each and every day full of adventure. 

Declutter and Organize

I highly recommend doing a bit of decluttering and organizing. This will help create a more pleasant and functional environment for your spring camping adventures.

Go through every cabinet and drawer and get rid of any items you no longer use. Once you have a good idea of what you want to keep, reorganize things in a way that makes sense and ensures everything is easy to find and get to. In many cases, this might mean using storage bins, Scotch Command Hooks, and other storage tools. 

Deep Clean Surfaces

With everything well organized, it’s time to move on to the actual cleaning part of the project. Using whatever cleaning spray you prefer, wipe down countertops, tabletops, shelves, and appliances, making sure to remove all dust and grime.

Sweep, mop, and vacuum all floors, including those hard-to-reach spots that you might usually gloss over. You might also choose to clean the carpets with a steam cleaner. 

Refresh Upholstery and Bedding

Remove all bedding from the RV and wash it before making up the beds. If your RV has any removable seat covers or rugs, remove and wash those as well. Upholstered furniture without covers should be cleaned with a special upholstery cleaning spray. Be sure to scrub out any stains while you’re at it. 

Sanitize High-Touch Areas

Use disinfectant wipes to wipe down high-touch areas. These include spots like door knobs, light switches, and control panels. This will help reduce bacteria in your RV, helping to ensure you don’t end up sick on your adventures. Make sure to repeat this step often during every trip!

Inspect Plumbing and Appliances

Now that everything is clean and organized, it’s time to ensure it’s all working. This is the time to run water through the lines in order to dewinterize the water system. It’s also a good chance to sanitize the water system and check the water pump. While doing all of this, watch the water lines for leaks.

Once you know the water system is ready to go, check the appliances. Light the stove and oven, turn on the water heater and fridge, and check to see that the furnace and A/C are working. This will allow you to fix anything that isn’t working correctly before you get out on the road. 

Exterior Cleaning

Of course, the outside of the RV will need some attention as well. Make sure to do each of the following tasks so your rig is looking spiffy for her first trip out after a long winter in storage. 

Wash the Exterior

Unless you have a covered storage spot for your RV, there’s a good chance it’ll come out of storage looking pretty dirty. Use a gentle RV-safe soap and a soft brush to wash the exterior. Make sure to pay special attention to windows, awnings, and roof seals. You might also want to finish the job with a good waxing. 

Check Seals and Caulking

Often, extreme temperatures can cause seals to crack and peel. Even if the seals were all in good shape when you put the RV into storage, there’s a chance there might be some problem areas once spring rolls around.

Inspect all of the seals for issues and reseal spots that show signs of wear. If it’s been a year or so since you last resealed everything, going over all of the seals with new sealant may not be a bad idea. 

Clean Tires and Undercarriage

Worn tires are dangerous. Inspect your RV tires, looking for cracks, uneven wear, and other issues. Add air to the tires if needed and spray the wheels down to remove any salt, dirt, or debris that may have gathered there. 

While the water hose is out, take a moment to spray the underside of the RV as well. Salt and dirt can cause rust and other issues, so removing it is in your best interest. 

Inspect Exterior Components

Once everything is cleaned up and resealed, do a slow walk around, looking for issues. Check slide-outs, awnings, and vents for damage or debris. Look in storage bays to check for water damage and signs of pests. Lubricate hinges and other moving parts for smooth operation.

Routine Maintenance

RVs require a lot of maintenance in order to stay in tip-top shape. The spring cleaning session is the perfect time to perform a lot of this routine maintenance, so you can make sure everything is ready to go for your first adventure. 

Test Systems and Alarms

Obviously, you’ll want everything working when you start camping again. Check electrical systems, including lights, batteries, and outlets. If you didn’t do it while cleaning the interior of the RV, test the water system and watch for leaks. It’s also a good idea to check the propane lines for leaks and test the smoke alarm, propane detector, and CO detector. 

Replace Filters

Filters need to be changed regularly. While performing routine maintenance, swap out the A/C filter and any water filters. If your RV is a motorhome, make sure to also change the air filter under the hood, as well as the generator air filter. 

Perform Generator Maintenance

Speaking of your generator, you will want to make sure you do all of the necessary maintenance to ensure your generator is in good shape as well. The air filter is part of that, but you’ll also want to do an oil change and check the spark plug. 

Check Under the Hood

Have a motorhome? You’ll want to change the under-hood air filter as mentioned above, but that’s not all. It’s also important to check and top up all fluids, change the oil, check the spark plugs, and check the brake pads. 

Stock Essentials

Last but not least, you’ll need to restock the RV. Make sure your first aid kit is well stocked, add cleaning supplies to the cabinets as needed, and do a grocery run to fill the pantry with non-perishable items. This is also the time to make sure you have all of the kitchen essentials, bedding for all beds, toiletries, entertainment items, and clothing. 

There you go, that’s pretty much everything that needs to be done in order to ensure you have a clean, comfortable, fully functioning, and safe RV before you hit the road this spring. If I were you, I’d start tackling these tasks as soon as the weather allows. This will mean you can squeeze more traveling in, and more traveling is always better, right?