Spots in Your RV That You Need to Clean More Often

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I like to keep a clean home. That said, keeping an RV clean is, in some ways, pretty different from keeping a house clean. The RV sees a lot more dirt and dust for one thing, and some of the nooks and crannies are both difficult to get to and easy to forget.

In this article, I’m going to talk about those easy-to-forget spots that often go uncleaned for far too long. Stay on top of cleaning these things and you can rest easy knowing your home-on-wheels is as clean as it can be.

Air Vents and Air Conditioning Filters

I don’t know about you, but we use our RV air conditioner a lot. We travel to avoid the cold, which means it gets used pretty much all year long, and this means dust, pollen, and dirt will often build up in the vents and filters pretty regularly.

This is gross because it means dust is being blown out of the vents. It also makes the unit work harder and could even cause mold growth. For this reason, I try to clean our A/C filters and vents once a month or so.

To clean, remove all filters, wash them with mild soap and water (or replace if disposable), and vacuum vents with a brush attachment.

Refrigerator Seals and Drip Tray

The refrigerator is often one of the hardest-working appliances in an RV. Food crumbs and spills hide in door seals, while excess moisture accumulates in the drip tray. Left unchecked, these spots become prime real estate for mold and bacteria.

Some of the ickiest messes I’ve found in our RV have been in the fridge door seals. Food crumbs and spills have a tendency to hide there, and the buildup gets disgusting. Add in the moisture accumulation that collects in your refrigerator drip tray and you have a prime breeding spot for mold and bacteria.

I make sure to clean the seals every couple of weeks and check on the drip tray at least once a month. Simply wipe seals with a damp cloth and some mild detergent. For the drip tray, remove it, wash thoroughly, and dry before reinstalling.

Showerhead and Bathroom Vent Fan

Head into the bathroom and you’ll find even more things that likely need to be cleaned. Mineral deposits clog showerheads quickly when you’re using different water sources at various campgrounds—something we’ve had to deal with on multiple occasions. Bathroom vent fans also collect dust and moisture, reducing their ability to keep humidity under control. That combination can lead to mold.

You can clean the showerhead by soaking it in vinegar to dissolve mineral buildup. For the vent, vacuum away the dust and wipe down the fan blades with a damp cloth. Clean these items about once a month or whenever you notice buildup.

The Underside of Cabinets and Tables

Something I’ve noticed in pretty much every place I’ve ever lived? Crumbs or spills often end up in hidden places,like the underside of cabinets or dinette tables. Over time, this can cause weird smells, sticky spots, and even attract pests.

I like to use a damp cloth with mild soap to wipe underneath tables and cabinets, and along the edges where food residue sticks. Personally, I have to do this at least a couple of times a week because we travel with kids. You may or may not have to wipe things down this often.

Freshwater Tank and Water Lines

One of the coolest things about an RV is the fact that you can use the restroom, take showers, and even wash dishes and cook wherever you roam. Of course, this means using your RV water system, and doing that means you’re going to want to do what you can to ensure the system is clean. After all, stagnant water left sitting too long breeds bacteria and algae. Even if your water looks clear, buildup inside the tank and lines can contaminate it.

I recommend that you sanitize your fresh tank and water lines at least every six months. Use an RV-safe bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution to sanitize, then flush thoroughly before refilling with clean water.

Stove Hood Filter and Microwave Vents

Grease, steam, and food odors can be a problem even in a house. That said, these things linger even longer in a small space. Over time, grease builds up in our stove hood filter and microwave vent, creating a bad smell. It also creates a fire hazard, something I definitely don’t want.

I like to clean both the stove hood vent filter and the microwave vents monthly. I remove the filter, soak it in hot, soapy water, and scrub gently, then wipe down vents with a degreasing cleaner.

Window Screens and Tracks

Another thing that has a tendency to collect things? Window screens and tracks. These things have a tendency to trap dust, dirt, pollen, and bugs—all things you probably don’t want hanging around your home. Besides, this kind of buildup prevents air from flowing through the window screens properly and can make it difficult to open and close the windows.

We clean our window screens and tracks every couple of weeks, or after camping in dusty or windy areas. Just vacuum screens gently, then wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. Clean tracks with a small brush and a mix of vinegar and water.

Awning Fabric

We love our RV awning and use it regularly to keep sun off the rig. Unfortunately, this means it is constantly exposed to the elements and that things like dirt, pollen, and bird droppings build up on it. Meanwhile moisture on the awning fabric encourages mildew. A neglected awning wears out faster and can smell awful, meaning cleaning our awning is a priority.

I like to give our awning a quick clean every time we open it up. I deep clean it a couple of times a year while cleaning the rest of the exterior of the rig. To do this, I extend the awning, scrub with an RV awning cleaner or mild soap solution, rinse thoroughly, and let it dry completely before rolling it up.

Under the Bed and Storage Compartments

Out-of-sight areas don’t get thought about a lot. This means they tend to collect dust, moisture, and even pests. Long-term storage spaces are especially vulnerable to mold or mildew if not cleaned regularly, and the dirt that can build up in exterior storage bays is always shocking to me.

I like to empty, purge, and clean our storage bays at least a couple of times a year.

To do this, I remove items, vacuum thoroughly, and wipe with a mild cleaner. I also use moisture absorbers to help keep moisture buildup at bay.

Toilet Seals and Black Tank

RV toilets can be such a pain. Neglecting them leads to unpleasant smells and even leaks, both things I certainly don’t want in my home-on-wheels. This means I have to stay on top of cleaning both the toilet stalls and the black tank. Toilet seals stop working properly if not cleaned regularly, while black tanks need regular cleaning to prevent buildup.

I clean our toilet seals once a week while cleaning the rest of the toilet. The tanks get a good backflush every time we dump them. Seals can be cleaned with mild soap and water, to be followed by an application of silicone-based lubricant. Use a backspray tool and RV-safe chemicals or enzyme treatments for the black tank.

Light Fixtures

Okay, this is a funny one, but I’ve noticed that our RV light fixtures can get really dirty over time. Dead bugs and dust gather inside of the light covers, something that is kinda gross and can actually affect the quality of light in your RV. Unless you have LED lighting, your light fixtures might also trap heat, so keeping them clean helps prevent overheating.

I simply remove the light covers, wash with warm soapy water, and dry them before reinstalling. I do this every couple of months and it seems to do the trick.

Water Heater

Did you know your RV water heater can get dirty? I didn’t know this when we got our first rig, and I ended up learning the hard way. Sediment builds up in the water heater tank and can cause odors and other plumbing problems. Left unchecked, it can even damage the tank.

We drain the tank, flush it with fresh water, and use a cleaning wand to remove sediment once a year. Make sure you also inspect the anode rod and replace it if it is corroded.

Curtains and Blinds

Window treatments get forgotten all too often during cleaning sessions. This is unfortunate because fabric curtains trap dust and odors, while blinds collect dirt in hard-to-reach spots. In a small space, this can lead to excessive dust in the air, along with stinky smells that nobody wants to live with.

By cleaning both the curtains and blinds every couple of months, you can avoid these problems. Vacuum curtains with a soft brush attachment, or wash them if the fabric allows. Wipe blinds with a damp cloth and mild cleaner.

Carpets and Rugs

I’ve found that the floors in our RV get dirtier much faster than in a house. RVs see more foot traffic in a small space, so this does make sense, but it means I really have to stay on top of keeping them clean. This is especially true when it comes to carpets and rugs, which like to hold onto dirt and odors.

I vacuum a couple of times a week and deep-clean carpets every few months. Rugs get shaken out daily, and washed in the washing machine once a week.

Obviously, there are plenty of other things in your RV that need to be cleaned regularly. That said, these are the areas that I think get forgotten most often. Make sure to add them to your cleaning checklist so they get cleaned next time you’re out to make your RV spotless.

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