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Ever thrown open your motorhome doors ready for your summer road trip – only to be greeted by a waft of musty air?

After a few months of disuse, your motorhome is likely to need more than a bit of TLC before it’s ready to take you on more adventures.

In fact, there could even be germs lurking in the crevices that could make you fall sick while on holiday.

So deep cleaning your motorhome before or after a journey is one of those essential tasks you need to undertake, along with making sure your vehicle is covered with insurance for a motorhome.

Read on for our top cleaning tips, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to make your home on wheels sparkle!

 

Sterilise your water system

Cleaning your motorhome is not just about making it look as nice inside as the view outside.  It’s actually about creating a sanitary living environment.

Your water system is vital. All sorts of nasties can be hiding in your tank and pipes, and now’s the time to flush them out – don’t wait till you’ve got an upset stomach!

Cleaning your system is not especially tricky, but it does take time. Start by closing all your taps and valves, then add a dedicated cleaning agent to your tank and fill it with water.

Then turn on your taps one at a time, starting with the one furthest away from the tank. Once you can start to smell the cleaning agent coming through, turn them off.

Leave the system for several hours to sterilise the tank and the pipes.

The next day, turn on the taps again, fill the water tank, and keep the water running until you can no longer smell the cleaning agent.

Afterwards, you’ll need to empty out your grey water tank. Don’t forget to check your water filters, and change them if necessary.

You should also sterilise your Aquaroll by filling it with water with a few teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda and leaving it for 24 hours before emptying it and rinsing it.

Sanitise your toilet system

Dealing with the sewage system is every motorhome owner’s least favourite job – but it’s an essential one to avoid sickness and prevent clogged pipes and damage to your vehicle.

Best get some disposable gloves on and get started!

Most motorhomes have a “black water tank”, which is just as horrible as it sounds. First, empty this out as you regularly do while on your travels, by connecting it to a sewage outlet at a dumpsite or campsite.

Then you’ll need to fill both your black and grey water tanks with a warm water and bleach solution. Use about one-quarter of a cup of bleach for every gallon of water.

Leave for several hours. You could even take your motorhome on a drive to get that mixture really swilling around the tanks and dislodging all the gunk. Then dispose of the solution at a dedicated dump site.

If you’ve got a cassette toilet, you’ll need to buy a specialist cleaner. Then fill your cassette with at least five litres of lukewarm water, add the required amount of cleaner, swill it around, then leave it for several hours.

Give the cassette another swill from time to time. Afterwards, empty it out, rinse it with more water, then you’re done.

Reward yourself by planning your next motorhome trip. Have you chosen the right motorhome insurance to keep your vehicle protected on your travels?

Lancaster Insurance can arrange unlimited cover across the European Union – which countries have you always dreamed of visiting?

 

Look for mould and mildew

These are the bane of many motorhome owners’ lives.

Even the tiniest leak in the roof or around the windows or pipes can lead to a build-up of water, and the confined space of a motorhome is the ideal environment for mould to grow.

Left untouched, mould and mildew can damage your vehicle, and give you and your family symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and even rashes.

So if you sniff that tell-tale musty odour, look for its source and brush the area with a special anti-mould cleanser or diluted bleach.

To stop mould developing, you’ll need to find and repair any cracks or leaks.

Also, make sure you dry everything thoroughly, particularly if you’re storing your vehicle for the winter, and air out your motorhome regularly.

Clean your windows

What’s a road trip without a view? Cleaning your windows is probably the most satisfying job of all, as just a small amount of elbow grease will make a huge difference to your enjoyment of your adventures.

Motorhome windows are made of acrylic, so you need to take care. Using a regular glass window cleaner can lead to the acrylic crazing over time, ruining your view.

Instead, buy a cleaner specially formulated for acrylic, and choose a soft, clean cloth.

It’s easy to damage acrylic, so don’t scrub or scratch – even if trying to dislodge a stubborn stain.

Just take it easy, and think of the views you’ll soon be enjoying on your travels. Remember to make sure you’ve got motorhome insurance from Lancaster Insurance before you set off!

 

Carry out regular cleaning

Finally, it’s time to perform all those cleaning tasks you carry out on a regular basis in your own home.

Throw open the doors and windows to let the fresh air in. Wash bedding and curtains, wipe down surfaces, vacuum or sweep floors, and clean appliances such as the hob and fridge.

Don’t forget the cabin area and the seats.

You can use regular household cleaning products for all these tasks, or buy special motorhome cleaners.

By now, your motorhome should be looking and smelling sweet, ready for you to set off on some fresh adventures.

Get a quote from Lancaster Insurance today

Thorough cleaning is one essential way of protecting your vehicle. You also need to choose the right motorhome insurance.

Lancaster Insurance arranges policies for all types of motorhomes. If your vehicle is less than one year old, we can arrange new-for-old replacement. If it’s aged 15+, we can agree a valuation.

In addition, we can arrange cover for camping equipment up to £2,500 and personal effects up to £5,000, among many other benefits.

Contact our specialist team for a quote today. Bon voyage!