The end of winter means things are warming up and in turn RV owners will soon be hitting the great outdoors in droves. With spring, however, comes mud season which for many RV owners means while the fun is about to escalate, so is the mess.
RV cleaning sucks—there’s really no other way to put it. Cleaning your RV over and over again due to trekked in mud can be a tiring task but there are plenty of precautions you can take to keep the mud on the outside of your vehicle where it belongs. Below I’ve listed some easy common-sense measures that any RV owner can do to help ensure their camping trip is as mud-free as possible.
Outdoor Rugs
Outdoor rugs are a simple and convenient way to keep unwanted mud and filth out of your RV. Once you’ve set up camp, just unroll one and you and your family and guests will be able to easily wipe your feet on it before entering the RV. Outdoor rugs come in a few varieties: there are some that are specially made for outdoor use while plenty of people get by using an unused indoor rug or cheap investment from a department store.
To store your rug when you’re finished, bring a tarp to roll it in, wash the rug in a stream, or hose it down before leaving for home. Since there is little sense in dragging a mud-soaked rug back into the RV you are trying to keep clean, have an action plan once all the fun is over.
Related: Tips for Cleaning and Disinfecting Your RV
Shoes Off or No Entrance
Sometimes it’s easiest to get rid of the problem at the source. Even with an outdoor rug, people can easily track mud and dirt into the pristine interior of your RV. While you can’t get rid of the mud outside, instituting a “shoes off” policy will help keep everyone on the same page and let them know you’re serious about keeping things clean.
So, what are you going to do with the shoes? Obviously, no one wants to leave their boots outside all night. What if it rains or a wild animal visits? If your RV doesn’t have storage space under the step, a boot tray can help with this conundrum—just throw your boots inside and store them in the RV—that’ll keep everyone’s footwear fancy-free and keep your RV’s interior looking fresh.
Doormats
That’s right: one rug isn’t enough. A doormat will give your passengers and guests the ability to wipe their shoes not only once, but twice. A doormat serves as the last layer of protection when it comes to keeping dirt and grime out of your RV and can help jog people’s memory that they’re supposed to wipe their shoes before entering.
A good rule of thumb is to have one rubber doormat outside and one regular doormat for once you enter the RV. Combined with a rug outside, this triple layer of protection should almost guarantee your RV floors stay spic and span.
Keep Cleaning Supplies on Hand
Despite your best efforts, eventually someone will unintentionally tread some mud into your RV. While space is always a factor when packing an RV, there should always be some room to pack essential cleaning supplies. An extendable mop and bucket make a good combo or even just some rags and soap. It’s best to be prepared for the worst and expect the best so that you always have what you need in case things go wrong.
Related: Cleaning Your RV Interior
Park in an Opportune Area
If you’re really camping and not necessarily staying at an RV resort, you can’t really help driving through muddy terrain during the mud season. One thing you can help, however, is where you park. Parking on gravel or a hard dirt surface is a good way to help ensure things stay relatively clean during your hiking or camping excursion.
Parking on grass is best avoided, as multiple people constantly stepping over the same terrain will eventually loosen the ground enough to get mud everywhere. Plus, parking on grass comes with the risk of your RV sinking into the ground. The softer the ground, the more it can sink, which can lead to problems with leaving. If you absolutely must park on grass, put some wooden boards underneath your tires. This will help with traction when you drive off.
Rinse, Rinse, Rinse
If you’re staying in a campground with a city water connection, use a hose to wash down your tools, equipment, boots, and the outside of your RV. If it rains overnight, it’s likely that mud will be most everywhere. The more times you clean your RV exterior and everything that’ll be going inside of it, the less mud you’ll need to deal with later.
Related: Cleaning Your RV Exterior
An outdoor shower head is a good investment if one doesn’t come standard on your coach along with a boot scraper.
As we enter into the mud season, try to incorporate some of these tips if you want things to stay clean during your camping or hiking experience. It can be frustrating to deal with mud, but the better prepared you are the more likely everything will go according to plan. To learn more about maintaining your RV, click here.
Worth Pondering…
An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.
—Gilbert K. Chesterton