RV living is fantastic in innumerable ways – just too many to count. But one of the things most people who’ve spent any time at all living in an RV will tell you is that keeping the rig clean as you go along is important. Otherwise, a small space can quickly be overrun by annoying little things like dirt, pet hair, dishes, and clothes & gear tossed around, etc. So, in today’s post, we thought we’d offer 7 quick tips for RV interior cleaning to make your life in your RV more relaxing and enjoyable.
This post is more about cleaning than it is about organizing. So, right off the bat let’s just say that in an RV, everything needs to have a place. Putting things right back where they belong after using them is an essential part of keeping your rig the serene environment you want and need it to be… whether you’re on vacation or living & working full-time as we are.
Now on to our 7 Tips for RV Interior Cleaning!
- 1) 1. Cover Your RV Steps to Keep Dirt Out of Your RV
- 2) 2. Use Environmentally Friendly All-Purpose Products for RV Interior Cleaning.
- 3) 3. Keep Your Corian Looking New!
- 4) 4. Clean Your Toilet Bowl Without Harming RV Toilet Components
- 5) 5. Use Microfiber Cleaning Cloths for all Sorts of RV Interior Cleaning
- 6) 6. Use a Microfiber Mop
- 7) 7. Invest in a Small Vacuum
- 8) What’s Your Favorite RV Interior Cleaning Tip?
1. Cover Your RV Steps to Keep Dirt Out of Your RV
The first step to keeping your RV clean is not bringing in a lot of dirt and debris. We don’t wear our street shoes inside our RV and it’s a pretty important policy for any living space, really.
So, tip #1 has two components – one suggestion is to have a policy of no street shoes in the RV. Have a pair of slippers or comfortable shoes right at the entrance (unless you’re a bare-footer and that’s okay, too), and a designated place to leave street shoes.
Also, cover your RV steps with a material that has a surface to clean your shoes well before they get put in their designated spot in the rig. You’ll take a step or two into the RV, and you’d be surprised how much dirt can be tracked from there. Having a really good set of RV step covers not only improves the safety of going in and out of your RV, but also serves as a way to remove street dirt from your shoes.
These don’t need to be expensive either. After nearly 20 years of living in an RV, our favorite step covers are Prest-O-Fit Ruggids, and they’re our favorites for a great number of reasons. For more information on why we choose Ruggids as our go-to RV step covers, have a look at our post on RV step covers. It’s a quick read and gives you all the details as well as step-by-step instructions on how to install them, with photos.
Prest-O-Fit Ruggids
- Deep treads trap dirt at the door.
- Designed for straight steps.
2. Use Environmentally Friendly All-Purpose Products for RV Interior Cleaning.
In an RV, with not a lot of room to spare, choosing one or two effective, all-purpose cleaners is important. You’ve only got so much room (and weight carrying capacity) to store cleaning supplies, after all.
We like using environmentally-friendly cleaning products as much as possible. First of all, we care about the environment (especially the immediate environment we live and breathe in all day long). But environmentally-friendly products are also often friendlier to the RV environment, including countertops, floors, walls, and windows and their seals.
You may have a favorite all-purpose cleaner that you use in your RV, and if so, you’re welcome to drop a comment in the section below this post to tell us about it. But, if not, here are a couple with think you might want to check out.
Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner Spray
Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner is a very popular cleaner for a reason. It works, and it works well. We’ve used it for years as our go-to cleaner onboard our RV. It’s also safe, environmentally friendly, and is never tested on animals, so it’s just an all-around good product to use.
With over 8,000 Amazon reviews, it’s clear that many people love Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner – so you may want to check it out if you’re in the market for a good all-purpose cleaner.
It’s available on Amazon (and can also be found in many grocery stores), and comes in two different fragrances (we love the Clary-Sage) as well as unscented.
- POWERFUL CLEAN - This powerful surface and glass cleaner spray works to remove scuff marks, spills, streaks, grease and more, leaving your home...
- WORKS ON - Use this multipurpose cleaner anywhere in your home! Cuts grease and grime off the wall, floor, countertop, bathroom sink, shower and more.
3. Keep Your Corian Looking New!
Sinks in RVs are often made of white Corian, and Corian surfaces can stain and yellow significantly over time. We’ve got a great tip that works to whiten Corian, even if you’ve got an older RV with Corian sinks that have taken on a very yellow and stained appearance.
We use OxiClean, and we can tell you (and show you) that it works. Have a look at our post, “How Do You Clean a Badly Stained Corian Sink?” for details, instructions, AND video proof! Our 17-year-old Corian sinks still look like new.
OxiClean is great for lots of uses, and we like to keep a tub of it on hand in the RV.
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
- Includes: One 3 lb box of OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Free, Laundry Stain Remover for Clothes so you can harness the power of oxygen to get tough...
- Free From: This clothing stain remover for laundry is free from irritating dyes and perfumes, making it perfect for those with sensitivities
If you’re pressed for time and need to brighten your RV’s sinks or other stained/yellow surfaces such as countertops, a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is up to the task.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original scrubber is 2X Stronger with DURAFOAM Cleaning performance vs. the leading all-purpose bleach spray
- This cleaning scrubber is tough on dirt, all around the house! Surface cleaner, wall cleaner, bathtub cleaner, oven door cleaner, erases marks on...
IMPORTANT NOTE: many RV sinks are actually made of plastic, not Corian, and aren’t quite as durable. Be careful that the above techniques don’t etch/scratch the plastic material of your sink by testing a small area first.
4. Clean Your Toilet Bowl Without Harming RV Toilet Components
Cleaning the toilet bowl is something we all do regularly, and an RV toilet is no different. However, you want to be sure not to cause damage to your RV toilet components by using harsh chemicals. This is very important in order to keep the toilet seals in good condition (so they don’t need to be replaced), to keep the surface of the toilet itself in good condition, and to keep the black tank and the black tank’s dump valve & seals in good working condition.
There are many reasons why using regular household toilet bowl cleaner in your RV toilet is NOT a good idea. If you’d like more details in this regard, feel free to have a look at our post, “Can I Use Household Toilet Bowl Cleaner In My RV Toilet?”
Meanwhile, we suggest this product which will not only clean your RV toilet bowl but also uses a combination of enzymes, beneficial bacteria, and tank-enhancing microbes to remove stains, lubricate toilet seals, boost holding tank waste decomposition, and reduce tank odor. All without harsh chemicals.
Unique RV Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Black Holding Tank Enhancer Liquid 24
- Cleans RV toilet bowls. Specifically designed for RV and marine toilets. Cleans your toilet bowl without compromising the break-down process in your...
- Removed tough stains, toilet bowl rings and urine smells from plastic, ceramic, and porcelain toilet bowls. Won't damage seals or valves. Helps...
If you prefer a drop-in bowl cleaner, we suggest this one from Dometic, a trusted RV toilet manufacturer:
5. Use Microfiber Cleaning Cloths for all Sorts of RV Interior Cleaning
Next on our list of 7 tips for RV interior cleaning is a bunch of microfiber cleaning cloths.
We like these because they’re absorbent and dry quickly, and they come in a large package of 36 for a reasonable amount of money. One of our favorite ways to use them is for cleaning windows & mirrors: use one that’s been wet and wrung out to clean, and a second dry one to dry the glass off. You’ll have sparkling windows/mirrors WITHOUT using any harsh/smelly chemicals.
Zwipes Microfiber Towel Cleaning Cloths, 36 Pack, Assorted
These cloths are useful for too many tasks to list, among them the quick daily clean-up of your rig’s counters and other surfaces. We can assure you that if you have a pack of 36 microfiber cloths like these, (which are a great size and store away easily), you’ll find a multitude of uses for them.
- 100% machine washable, super-soft microfiber cloths are ideal for cleaning, drying, dusting, and polishing within the home, garage, auto, office, and...
- With just water, Zwipes microfiber cleaning towels can attract dust, dirt, and grime and trap these particles within 110,000 fibers per square inch,...
6. Use a Microfiber Mop
In keeping with the microfiber theme, a microfiber mop is nothing short of amazing as a cleaning tool, especially if you have hard-surfaced floors (as opposed to carpeting).
A high-quality dry/wet mop can be used on wood, laminate, tile, and vinyl floors, and can even be used on your RV walls and ceilings (obviously NOT after being used on the floors – that should go without saying, but you never know!)
18″ Professional Microfiber Mop – Hardwood Floor Mop – Dry & Wet Mop for Wood, Laminate, Tile, Vinyl Floors
Two wet/dry pads and a dust pad come with this highly regarded mop system. If you use the pads wet, they dry quickly, and all of the pads can be tossed into the washing machine to be cleaned for the next use.
These are fabulous for collecting dust and pet hair as well as deep cleaning your floors when used as a wet mop.
- CLEAN LIKE A PRO - Truly designed for professional cleaners, home owners have found this to be the perfect floor cleaning solution for daily and...
- EASE TO USE AND MANEUVER - Simply secure the wet mop pads to the bottom of the frame, adjust and lock the handle in place to match your height, and...
7. Invest in a Small Vacuum
A little dustbuster goes a long way in an RV.
Depending on the size of your RV, you may want a full-sized vacuum (we use a Shark Navigator Lift-Away that we absolutely LOVE), but many RVers swear by the small hand-held vacuums like this one with a lithium-ion battery:
BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Cordless Handheld Vacuum
- Dustbowl capacity 15 ounces; Lithium technology for strong suction and fade free power
- Exclusive pivoting nozzle means huge power in a compact size
If you’d prefer to go a simpler, less expensive route, you can grab a little broom and dustpan set to keep in your RV. Just remember to try to vacuum or sweep at least daily, otherwise, things can get overwhelming pretty quickly, particularly if you have sandy-pawed pets or goldfish-cracker-eating children!
Guay Clean Brush and Dustpan Set
- ALL PURPOSE CLEANING: This small cleaning set can handle small and large messes anywhere in your home. It is suitable for table, desk, keyboard, cars,...
- QUICK AND EASY: The long-lasting brush bristles can capture and move dirt effectively; it can get into small cracks and cervices. It has a wide lip...
What’s Your Favorite RV Interior Cleaning Tip?
Those are our 7 quick tips for RV interior cleaning. They’re simple, and they work!
But hey – we’re two adult (meticulous) guys who travel without kids or pets and who’ve been living in an RV for nearly 20 years. We also don’t smoke, or wear shoes in the house, and are pretty neat by nature. So keeping our RV interior clean is possibly a little less complicated than it might be for some other travelers.
We’d love to know what works best for those of you who travel with super-shedders like long-haired cats or Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Labs, Corgis, Siberian Huskies, and Great Pyrenees!
We’d also love to hear from those of you who travel with sweet little curtain climbers or drool droppers of everything (also known as babies), or with teenagers who cook for themselves and …yikes.
We’d love to hear what works best for you. Drop us a comment below to share your cleaning secrets!
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Sandi O
Saturday 5th of March 2022
We have a truck camper, so not as much space to keep clean. Usually just use a broom and dust pan, and soap and warm water. But, I do have a Bissel Featherweight vacuum, which can be used as a push vacuum or a handheld vaccum. Need power to use, of course, so when boondocking I just use the broom method. We also do not wear our shoes in the camper once we are set up. I will sweep and mop the floor from our packing up process, then lay out my nice rugs (helps to keep feet warm by not walking on a bare floor) onto the floor. My husband built in a nice shoe box under the seat by the door so we can put our shoes in there and I keep a mat out by the door so we can use it when we put our shoes on before going outside.
TheRVgeeks
Saturday 5th of March 2022
Sounds like you've got it all worked out, Sandi! We love how many different ways there are to tackle the same problem... and the size of RV and type of camping style (hooked up vs off-the-grid) are two important factors! Safe (and clean!) travels!
Marv Himmelein
Tuesday 1st of March 2022
Folding broom & dustpan!