No one can deny that RV living or vacationing is a wonderful experience with several benefits. However, since most RVs are not the size of typical American homes, maintaining RV cleanliness is unavoidable. Failing to properly maintain your RV’s interior can lead to many issues popping up when you’re least prepared.
According to experts, motorhomes should last 10 to 30 years when their interiors and exteriors are well-maintained and adequately protected against the elements. Since RVs cost an average of $20,000 to $100,000 for towable motorhomes and $50,000 to $600,000 for motorized RVs, it is a good idea to ensure RV maintenance is a top priority.
Although exterior RV maintenance is important, many often forget interior RV maintenance. In this blog, we’ve discussed tips for maintaining RV interiors by detailing the different motorhome areas requiring RV interior care. Let’s take a closer look!
Whether you store your RV in the sun or in an Arizona RV storage unit or Phoenix Storage unit, it’s incredibly important to clean its interior every six months. This will help prevent unnecessary damage and prolong the motorhome’s lifespan.
In addition, routine cleaning and interior maintenance can also help you identify potential problems and address them before they cause serious damage. Interior maintenance also helps with mold prevention.
If you want to maintain your RV’s interior, you should consider following the tips below. Each tip details how to maintain the different interior areas of your motorhome to ensure you avoid damage and enjoy your RV for many more years.
Cleaning and dusting an RV seems easier than maintaining a traditional house, but it can be more challenging. RVs often have more nooks and crannies than normal houses, which are difficult to reach, clean, and dust.
You’ll be surprised to see how much dirt, grime, and mold can accumulate in your RV over time if you don’t keep up with regular cleaning and dusting routines. That’s why it’s important to set aside time every week to clean and dust your RV, or if it’s in storage, clean it every six months.
Looking at an RV’s upholstery and fabric can tell a lot about how well it has been cared for. To maintain your motorhome’s upholstery, you need to regularly remove dust and dirt by vacuuming. If there are ever any spills, it’s important to spot-clean stains quickly using a mild fabric cleaner.
If you don’t often vacuum, your couches and other fabric-covered furniture will get dirty and grimy, and mold could even develop. Also, failing to spot clean spills leads to permanent stains that make your interior look uninhabitable over time.
Besides vacuuming and cleaning stains, you must also rotate your couch cushions regularly to ensure even wear. If you notice any tears, address them as soon as you can. You might also want to protect your upholstery with slipcovers, and window covers to prevent sun damage, as well as fabric protectors that repel spills and stains. Additionally, if you store your RV with a company like I-10 RV Storage, be sure to use breathable cloth covers to prevent mold and dampness during storage.
The best way to maintain your RV’s carpets and flooring is to vacuum them routinely to remove debris and dirt. If your motorhome has carpeting, use a vacuum with a brush attachment, and if you have vinyl or tiles, use a broom and a mop. If your motorhome has been in storage for some time, you might also want to have your carpets deep-cleaned by a professional using a steam cleaner for proper RV flooring maintenance.
Additionally, when spills occur, clean them up immediately to prevent staining. Yet, be careful which cleaner you use, as a chemical cleaner that is too harsh could cause staining. Generally, using a mild soap solution is your best bet.
Another way to maintain your motorhome’s interior flooring is to use entry mats that catch dirt before it reaches the RV. While maintaining your floors, also look for any damages and determine when they should be fixed.
Your motorhome kitchen is where you spend much of your time during RV living or vacationing. So, it’s unsurprising that it needs quite a bit of maintenance and cleaning.
You’ll want to routinely clean the upper cabinetry, wipe out cabinets, and clean the kitchen sink and faucet to get rid of any built-up grime or mold. You’ll also need to clean all appliances, such as your motorhome’s stove, microwave, and fridge, with non-abrasive chemicals.
Surface-level cleaning should suffice while on holiday, but before or after putting your motorhome in storage, be sure to complete a deep clean of all appliances to lessen the likelihood of damage and maintain health and safety. Additionally, do not forget to wipe down counters and note any maintenance issues with the cabinetry, sink, counters, or appliances that must be addressed.
Bathroom care in RVs tends to be a little more tricky. RV bathrooms tend to be smaller and more compact than bathrooms in normal homes, and as such, they get dirtier faster. Motorhome bathrooms also have uniquely designed toilet and drainage systems that experience their fair share of breakages. That’s why maintaining toilet and bathroom systems is crucial.
So when you clean your bathroom shower, toilet, toilet tank, shower walls, floors, cabinetry, and
sink, be sure to check for any breakages or leaks. A leak left unattended can cause havoc and rampant issues like mildew and mold.
You also should be careful to only use non-abrasive cleaning materials and chemicals when cleaning the shower, mirror, or sink, as these areas tend to scuff and dull when incorrectly cleaned.
Unfortunately, window and ventilation cleaning is often overlooked when it comes to maintaining an RV’s interiors. Window cleaning in RVs is much the same as cleaning windows anywhere else. However, an added step is to check if your windows need recaulking.
If you have drapery in your motorhome, you’ll likely need a professional dry cleaner to clean it. Since the drapes are usually made of fire-retardant material, they will know what chemicals can and cannot be used.
However, if you have blinds or shades, you can clean and maintain them yourself by vacuuming them or wiping them down with a cloth every week to get rid of dust and grime. But don’t neglect to wipe your vents down periodically, too.
Although they don’t need to be cleaned often, you need to ensure they are clean, with the filters scrubbed and the screens washed out, to prevent mold from finding a home in your vents. While cleaning, you can also determine if a filter needs replacing or uncover if anything is broken.
Maintaining your RV’s interior is no small task. Although most maintenance can be done routinely, day-to-day cleaning can help you properly maintain your motorhome and address any issues that are found promptly. Hopefully, with the tips we’ve shared, you know how to maintain your motorhome’s interior before and after taking it out of storage.
If you’re looking for reliable and reputable RV storage solutions to ensure the interior of your motorhome is preserved while it’s in storage, you might want to consider the family-owned and operated I-10 RV Storage.
Our concierge-style amenities, covered storage areas, 24-hour surveillance, and convenient location make us the perfect place to home your RV when it isn’t needed. Contact us here to learn more about our modern facilities and competitive storage rates.
