Staying Clean

[Taylynn]

We're just getting into RV life in a Class A with plans to be full-time in 5-7 years (depends on how long the teens take to be on their own once they graduate HS!). I am looking for some good suggestions in keeping the RV clean. First & foremost, I am interested to know what kind of vacuum would be best for the RV. I know to watch for extra weight and space, but the tiny vacuum I bought for this past summer did not keep up with the dirt that came in (no matter how many times I remind everyone to take their shoes off, they don't remember).
Also, how often do you find it necessary to actually clean windows, fridge, and the like?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
BTW: We camped in a pop up for a few years and then moved to a TT & got the Class A last summer, so adjusting to space isn't an issue for me (I've already started downsizing in preparation for full-timing!).

[Sinio]

We have this Hoover Linx BH50010 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner. By far, this is the best vacuum cleaner that we've owned. It cleans well - on/off brushroll for bare floors or area rugs/carpeting. Also excellent cleaning on pet hair. Very easy to use because of control on handle. The dust cup is very easy to empty & clean (including baffle tube when necessary). Highly recommended!

[RVER]

SHARK Navigator Freestyle It is light, it is cordless with a small recharging piece that does require 120v electric but this until is thin and weighs little!! ITs suction is amazing, I use mine in my house as the main vacuum cleaner if you can believe that. It does a GREAT job!! HIGHLY recommend. I do not work for them or know anyone who does but they are a great unit.

[dcmac214]

We got a DeWalt corded/cordless from their 20Vmax series plus an accessory kit thru Amazon. Vacuum itself is about the size of a big shoe box and has plenty of power for what we want. It all easily fits in one tote sack the size of the paper sacks grocery stores used to use.
In the bathroom, kitchen and at the doors we lay older towels like throw rugs. Easy to shake out, easy to wash, much better for our purposes than "real" rugs.

[Shearwater]

We have a Dyson - it works fine.

[Taylynn]

Thanks, everyone, for the tips! I am certainly going to implement more than 1 of them once we get set up to start heading out this Spring again!

[rockhillmanor]

When I went full time I bought a bunch of different vacuums. All where junk and didn't pick up anything.

What I found out is the most important feature on a vacuum is how many AMPS it has.

AND half of the more popular ones do NOT put the amps on the outside of the packaging for you to see. Because they do NOT want you to know that a smaller less expensive vac will actually have more amps i.e. 'more power'. The only way you find out is 'after' you buy it and open the box.

I got so ticked off I went to Walmart. Got the store manager and told him I was going to open the box of a vac right on the floor in the store to see home many amps a vacuum had. Seeing as I would be returning it anyway if the amps were too low.

You would be shocked just how low of amps these big popular vacuum cleaners have. There is one that has the exact same low amps as one of those cheapo stick vacs!

Out of all the vacuums in two aisles of Walmart. The Eureka canister model had the highest amp rating. Sucks up dirt, dog hair and Florida sugar sand like crazy.:

Soo check the amps before you buy! :W

[ctpres]

Yup! NO SHOES inside - period.

[jwolf55]

Our coach has a Dirt Devil RV2000 central vacuum mounted in the basement,
It is OK, but it is easy to stop the brush on the thick carpet. I think the hose and head takes up about as much space as small stand alone vacuum.

[dewey02]

Veebyes wrote:
Half the battle is keeping the dirt on the outside.

X3.

It may sound anal-retentive to some, but we are adamant about not letting the dirt get inside. We don't like the feel of going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and coming back to bed with grit on your feet and it getting onto the sheets or having to brush it off before climbing back into bed. We do not camp with pets, so no hair or dirty paws to worry about.

We have a 9x12 RV mat that goes outside the RV.
On top of that, right before the steps, we have a rough, bristly welcome mat that the shoes get rubbed on. Then we have good strong ribbed carpet mats that cover each of the two stairs. Immediately inside the trailer, we have another mat. This is where all shoes get taken off and put on a tray near the door. We both have Merrills so they are easy to slip on and off.

We sweep the dirt off the steps with a broom every couple of days and I take the welcome mat and give it a good shake or slap it against a tree every few days too. This goes a long way toward keeping most of the dirt out of the camper.

[SoundGuy]

RPreeb wrote:
No carpet for us, and I'm a big fan of a broom and dustpan, or just sweep it back out the door where it came from. Our TT is a camping trailer, so a certain amount of dirt is just part of the deal.

I agree, no carpet, but DOG HAIR just doesn't sweep well, clings to everything! :M Forcefully sucking it up with a vacuum does get rid of it. :B

[RPreeb]

No carpet for us, and I'm a big fan of a broom and dustpan, or just sweep it back out the door where it came from. Our TT is a camping trailer, so a certain amount of dirt is just part of the deal. As long as I can promptly send it back to nature, I don't worry about it that much. We vacuum the seat cushions when the TT is parked at home.

[Ductape]

+1 Happy Shark owner.

[SoundGuy]

I stuck a $30 ShopVac Hang On shop vacuum in the lower galley cabinet and extended the hose so it would reach every corner of the trailer ... cheap and powerful, but a necessity for cleaning up dog hair. :B

[DutchmenSport]

Considering you are a previous Pop-up and Travel Trailer owner, maintaining the cleanliness of a CLASS-A should be no different. Whatever you did in your previous camper, just do it with your new one. There's nothing special or specific about vacuum cleaners. Just get something that works and doesn't take up a lot of space since space is limited in any RV. We have 2 Neato robotic vacuum cleaners we use in our house. One for our upper level, the other for the lower level. We take one of these with us when camping and just turn it loose in the camper every couple days. It takes very little space to stow away, and works really well. Click here. They aren't cheap, but good products usually aren't either.

Here's a couple photos from last Summer when I turned both of them loose on our front porch at the same time. They know not to fall of the edge, just like they know not to fall off the top of a stairwell.

There is a warning that comes with them that says something like, As tempting as it may be, your new Neato is not a family pet. It is a robotic machine. Caution, electrical parts. (or something like that).

But that did not stop us. We named the white one Fido. We got him first. The black one is named Scarlet. We got her second. And yes, they ARE our electronic pets!