One thing to know about RV life? It’s messy. We park in all sorts of dusty, sandy, and dirty places, and that means the dust, dirt, and sand often end up in our home-on-wheels. Pair that with the fact that we live in our RV full-time with two kids, and the end result is a set of RV fabrics, floors, and surfaces that looks a whole lot worse for the wear after a few thousand miles of travel. 

The good news? There are ways to refresh fabrics, floors, and surfaces in your RV and make them look as good as new. This means you can keep right on traveling for thousands more miles and you don’t have to do it in a worn-out rig. 

Fabrics: Upholstery, Curtains, Cushions & Bedding

Let’s start with refreshing the fabrics. Obviously, the fabrics in your RV are going to be magnets for dust, dirt, dander, and odors. The couch is going to hold onto the smell of last week’s curry, and it’s inevitable that the dinette cushions are going to sport streaks or that red mud from the last campsite. 

Luckily, it’s relatively easy to refresh fabrics a lot of the time. Use the methods below to keep your RV fabrics looking spick-and-span.

Vacuum Everything First

Start with the basics by vacuuming everything. You can use a handheld or upright vacuum with either a brush or upholstery attachment. Either way, pay special attention to seat cushions, sofa crevices, fabric headboards, and curtains and drapes (use a low-suction setting for these). 

Spot Clean Wisely

Once the dirt, dust, sand, and crumbs are gone, look for spots. Mix a mild cleaning solution of 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and A few drops of mild dish soap and spot clean spills and stains using a soft cloth dipped in the solution. Dab the spots (don’t rub) until the spot is gone.

Note: I’ve never had a problem, but I do recommend testing this solution in an inconspicuous spot first just in case your fabric isn’t a fan. 

Deodorize with Baking Soda

Baking soda is a miracle odor neutralizer. If you’re having issues with bad smells, lightly sprinkle baking soda over the couch or dinette cushions, mattresses, and/or pet bedding. Let the powder sit for 15–30 minutes and then vacuum thoroughly. This should remove any smells.

Machine Wash What You Can

Much of the fabric in your RV can be thrown in the washing machine. If your pillowcases, throw blankets, or cushion covers are removable and machine washable, run them through a gentle cycle using a mild detergent. Air-dry or tumble dry on low to avoid shrinkage and then replace the fresh-smelling, stain-free fabrics. 

Steam Clean for a Deeper Refresh

In some cases, vacuuming, spot cleaning, and baking soda won’t cut it. In these cases, a handheld steam cleaner is the name of the game. This can lift grime and kill bacteria on fabric that can’t be thrown in the washing machine. It’s ideal for RV seat cushions, sofa arms and backs, and fabric headboards. In fact, I recommend steam cleaning these things every few months at least. 

Floors: Carpet and Vinyl

Your RV floors see everything, from muddy shoes to spilled coffee. Carpets are the worst about holding onto sand from the last beach you visited, but honestly, even vinyl floors can get pretty gross after just a day of tracking dust in and out. 

Staying on top of floor maintenance helps with this, and when the floors get extra dirty, you can refresh them using the methods at the bottom of this section. 

Sweep, Vacuum, or Dry Mop First

Start by sweeping, vacuuming, and dry mopping the floors. Clear away loose dirt, crumbs, and pet hair. Don’t forget corners and under furniture!

Mop According to Floor Type

Next, you’ll want to wet mop the hard floors. Most RV flooring is vinyl or laminate. For this, you’ll want to use a slightly damp mop and a gentle cleaner. Avoid excessive water, which can seep into the sub flooring and cause water damage. 

Freshen Carpet 

Obviously, you can’t mop your carpets. Instead, try using a deodorizer to freshen them up. I recommend mixing baking soda with a few drops of essential oil (like lavender or eucalyptus) and sprinkling the mixture over carpet. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum it up. 

Of course, you could also turn to store-bought carpet cleaning solutions. These often work better if you need to spot clean stains.

Steam Clean Carpets

Sometimes dry deodorizer and spot cleaner isn’t enough to get the carpets clean. When this is the case, consider renting a steam cleaner. This will shampoo all of the carpet, helping to remove dirt, buildup, stains, and smells, leaving your carpets as clean as they possibly can be. 

Protect High-Traffic Zones

To keep your floors as fresh as possible, you may also want to place rugs or runners in busy areas like entrances, hallways, and kitchens. This will protect flooring and make cleaning easier. After all, replacing a rug is much easier than replacing vinyl or carpet!

Surfaces: Counters, Cabinets, Walls & Tables

Of course, there is also the matter of the hard surfaces. Grimy counters and dusty shelves can dull the vibe of any space, and in an RV, they become even more noticeable. The good news? There are plenty of ways to keep your countertops, cabinets, and walls looking fresh as you travel the country. 

Wipe Down with an All-Purpose Cleaner

Start by wiping everything down well. Use a microfiber cloth and a gentle, non-abrasive cleaner. Remember to get countertops, dining tables, windowsills, and bookshelves. 

Prefer to create your own cleaner? Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, with a few drops of lemon essential oil for scent. This stuff cleans as well as the store-bought products without any of the chemicals. 

Disinfect High-Touch Areas

Of course, you’ll also want to disinfect those surfaces that tend to gather germs. Use disinfectant wipes or alcohol-based sprays on doorknobs, light switches, cabinet handles, remote controls, and anything else that gets touched frequently. This will help keep your family healthy as you travel in your RV. 

Refresh Wooden Surfaces

Sometimes a simple cleaning isn’t enough. If you’ve noticed that any wooden furniture and surfaces in your RV are getting worn out, apply a wood-safe polish or oil. This will revive dull cabinets, shelves, and trim, and it adds a pleasant natural scent.

Tackle Stains and Scuffs

Scuffs are bound to happen in an RV. Fortunately, these can actually be removed and it isn’t as difficult as you might think. Simply use a Magic Eraser or baking soda paste (baking soda + water) to gently scrub scuff marks away. This works on painted walls, table edges, cabinets, and pretty much any other hard surface you can think of. 

Bonus Tips for a Truly Fresh Space

Let in Fresh Air

Nobody likes stale air, and a space that smells like old food or general people odor is even worse. Open windows or vents to circulate air and flush out odors, humidity, and airborne dust to keep your RV feeling fresh with very little effort. 

Use Natural Fragrances

I’m a huge fan of natural fragrances for making the space smell fresh without filling the rig with chemicals. A diffuser with essential oils (lavender, lemon, peppermint) or a pot of simmering citrus peels and herbs on the stove can refresh the whole space naturally.

Declutter

I am constantly purging stuff in our tiny home-on-wheels. Before deep cleaning and refreshing the fabrics, floors, and surfaces in your rig, take ten or twenty minutes to remove clutter. This might include mail piles, empty cups, or unused items. A tidy space immediately feels cleaner and it’ll be easier to get to those things that need refreshing—like fabrics and surfaces. 

Refreshing RV fabrics, floors, and surfaces will help your RV feel cleaner, fresher, and more modern. It’ll make your space someplace you look forward to returning to after a long day of adventuring, and it will help ensure your RV is usable for years to come. Why not start the refresh process now so your rig is freshened up and ready to go on an adventure the next time you are?

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