How to Clean Your Camper

It’s just a part of life: campers get dirty. Whether sitting out over the winter or getting splashed with mud on the way to camp, your recreational vehicle is going to need to be cleaned at some point. Cleaning an RV is a similar process to washing your car, but it’s somewhat more involved. Obviously, campers are much bigger than cars, and they also have a few things that you need to give a little extra attention to. 

Gather the Cleaning Supplies

You only need a few tools to wash your camper, but choosing the right ones will make the process easier. A brush with a telescoping handle will help you cover much larger portions of your RV at once. For getting to all the nooks, crannies, and hard-to-reach places, pick up a smaller hand-held brush. You’ll also want to have a squeegee for quick, easy drying, and if you plan to apply wax, you’ll need a large flat sponge. An assortment of rags and terry cloths always come in handy for a job like this.

Washing

When cleaning a camper, always start at the top. It’s important to do this because otherwise soap and dirt will run down the sides, making anything below more dirty. If you’re starting on the roof, work in a grid pattern so that you can scrub and rinse one panel at a time. Once you’ve washed the entire roof, give it another rinse. The reason for this approach is that it will prevent dirty, soapy water from drying before you get a chance to rinse it off.

When it’s time to wash the rest of the camper, start on one corner and use the same grid cleaning method to wash one column of the side of the RV at a time. Wash each column from top to bottom, and then slide over and do another section. Once you’ve gone around the entire camper, rinse it all down and use a squeegee and towels to dry it off.

Wax Your Camper

Finally, you can apply a little bit of liquid wax for a professional look. Using a damp sponge, start applying wax to your camper in large circles. It should only need a few minutes of drying before you can come back with a folded up cloth and buff away the wax until you have a glossy sheen.

When you’re all done, your rig should look like it’s been detailed by a professional! You’ll have that fresh off the lot look, just like how it looked when you took it home from the camper dealership. If you’re planning to upgrade to a newer model, visit River City RV in Grants Pass, OR, to see our selection of campers for sale. We welcome all those coming from Medford.