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!).

[jplante4]

One of the lessons from our 6 months on the road last winter - pull up all the carpet.

Another (if you don,t do the above), get a Bissel "Little Green Machine" carpet shampooer.

[MrWizard]

the fridge doesn't get used any more OR any less than in a stick house
Home is Home

windows, that depends on where you camp

dusting and vacuuming do seem occur more often,
but that just comes from being out an about in nature
unless you spend all your time in manicured membership rv resorts

[NYCgrrl]

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

Depending on the site there is a multi step process before feet hit indoor carpet. First there is the bristle mat to get the chunks out of shoes & sides of shoes. Step sideways onto a regular doormat. Up the carpet covered steps onto a small section of sacrificial old thick carpet for a wipe there. Inside there are some cheap & nasty runner rugs over the good stuff.

Almost 10 seasons & 1500 nights on the road, mostly at SPs & no outdoor mat, can't say the carpet looks like new but it is holding up pretty good considering.

x2.
You'll still need a vacuum if you've much carpeting and as much as I despise the cost(and lack of longevity)of modern vacuums I'm currently using a Dyson with a ball center and it's EXCELLENT. This is a housekeeping tool that you shouldn't worry yourself about weight and even cost- just do it. Ohhhhhhh and I bought her a chargeable Dirt Devil and have discovered it's pretty much a hunk of junk.

Doesn't change the fact that I told my 93 y/o mother to stick to hardwood or laminate and tile during her ten years back remodel but at least my older sister threw in the towel and bought her a decent vac whose benefits I'm now reaping as I clean the carpet daily from my parrot's belief that he'll someday enter the Olympics shot-putting nut shells and dried corn kernels.

So hard to train parents today.

[Veebyes]

Half the battle is keeping the dirt on the outside.

Depending on the site there is a multi step process before feet hit indoor carpet. First there is the bristle mat to get the chunks out of shoes & sides of shoes. Step sideways onto a regular doormat. Up the carpet covered steps onto a small section of sacrificial old thick carpet for a wipe there. Inside there are some cheap & nasty runner rugs over the good stuff.

Almost 10 seasons & 1500 nights on the road, mostly at SPs & no outdoor mat, can't say the carpet looks like new but it is holding up pretty good considering.

[Trackrig]

If it's going to be a larger class A, odds are it will have a built in vacuum system like ours does.

Bill

[3oaks]

We also use a Shark vacuum cleaner. How often to clean everything else you mentioned is no different than general housekeeping in a stick built house. Although you may find it necessary to clean more often. The condensed, compact space of an RV gets more traffic and used quite a bit more than a large house. I also think dust collects faster in an RV from road travel and the camping area environment. :@

All well worth the trade-off, of course. 🙂

[jnharley]

We have a Dyson Pet (we do not have a pet) and it fits nicely in the wardrobe closet. We also have a small shop vac for outside stuff like vacuuming the truck, etc. Clean the fridge when it is dirty. We are fulltimers and I clean the fridge and defrost the freezer about once a quarter and spot clean when needed. I wax the wood cabinets every quarter and shampoo the carpet a couple times a year. We like our RV to be neat so everything has a place and everything is out in the proper place. Works for us.

[rk911]

Taylynn wrote:
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!).

we had carried a 12-amp Dirt Devil upright up until last fall when we had a built-in Dirt Devil installed in the new MH.

[doxiemom11]

I have a dirt devil with the cyclone action. It has brushes and is great getting both dirt and pet hair. No bags to change, just dump the cylinder when done. Entire thing is about 20" wide (not a stick vac) and I found it at Target for less than $50. I've been using it for 2 yrs and it's still doing the job.

[Oasisbob]

We use throw rugs we can shake out or wash as needed.

[Dutch_12078]

We have a Shark upright vacuum on board that converts to a canister vac if needed. We also have small wet/dry vac that's handy for liquid spills and a cordless hand vac for quick cleanups.