Spring Cleaning Your RV in a Day

Spring cleaning has to be performed in your rolling house just as it has to be performed in your stationary one. The upside to spring cleaning your rolling house is it's less square footage and if you're like most full-time RVrs, you are in a perpetual mode of cleaning in one form or another. Here are some helpful tips to lessen the workload and get the job done in less than a day....Discover the Freedom of MinimizingWhen you decide to live in an RV full-time it will benefit you to discard, sell or give away anything and everything that you won't be able to take with you in a motorhome. This should be your mantra for the downsizing years. If you can't take it with you, then don't take it at all.Living in an RV will be more enjoyable if you live a minimalistic lifestyle. The more stuff you have the more dust and dirt will accumulate on and around the stuff and the more time-consuming it will be to clean around everything when the spring cleaning fever hits. For example, while shopping, I will look at something and ask myself if it serves a purpose. If I can't justify its presence with a purpose I put it down. Liking the item or thinking it's cute is not a good enough reason to bring a dust catcher into the RV.Plan Your StrategyYou can turn the chore of spring cleaning into a pleasant one by planning ahead. Every day of the year, make it an unwritten rule of the house to keep the RV tidy. If you get something out, put it away. If you dirty dishes, wash them. Find homes for the little things that tend to pile up before the pile gets piled higher than you.A good rule of thumb when living in your RV is to wipe the kitchen sink and countertop often. Wipe the bathroom sink and toilet daily and spray the shower with a shower spray or wipe the glass and walls with a towel or chamois after each shower. The pop-up wipes from the makers of disinfectants and bleach are great for these daily wipe-downs. You can also use furniture polish pop-up wipes for dusting the cabinet doors, wooden entertainment centers and other furniture. Window cleaner wipes are great for mirrors, shower doors and windows.If you're living full-time in your motorhome, fifth wheel or travel trailer you probably stay in one place for 14 days before you have to go out to your next stop. A good habit to get into is to do all the laundry the day before you travel so you start fresh at your next stop with all clean clothes and bedding. Sweep your floors (hardwood) and shake or vacuum area and throw rugs. Finally, before you roll take a large damp towel and wipe down the dash and driving area. Now the RV is freshened up and ready to head out.Stay Focused on the Finished ProductYou may or may not have noticed the strategy by this point. If you keep your focus on the finished product you'll discover that the strategy is simply keeping up with the task. Spring cleaning while living in an RV is daily. If you wait until Spring to get started it becomes a big chore instead of an easy fix. Keeping up with the little things throughout the year makes short work of what otherwise can be a waste of several days you could be exploring new territory.Executing the PlanWhen your day arrives you get up early and throw open the windows and doors, put on some music and get started.9:00 - 9:30 Vacuum the throw rugs and throw them outside then throw the sofa and chair blankets in the washing machine.9:30-11:30 Run the vacuum over all the furniture, floors, window frames and valances. If you have a lot of knick-knacks this could be a little more time-consuming. If you have curtains, now is the time to run them to the washing machine.11:30-1:30 A bucket of hot water and cleanser, and a chamois or two will clean up the dash inside and out, all the cabinet fronts, the kitchen inside and out, bathroom, window frames; any hard surface will shine.1:30 - 2:00 Time to put the wash over into the dryer.2:00 - 3:00 If you have a hardwood floor there are 2 steps to complete the cleaning process. First, it takes about a half an hour to mop and clean the hardwood, then about 15 minutes to dry. You can take a break to eat lunch anytime but this is a good time for it, since you'll have a 15-minute wait.3:00 - 4:00 Second, mop and shine the hardwood floor. You'll have about a 30-minute wait until the floor dries so go get your blankets and curtains from the dryer. Fold and the floor should be dry.4:00 - 5:00 When you return, replace the rugs, hang your curtains, display your chair blankets.Spring cleaning in a 9-5 work day completed. Of course this is only a guideline.Not every RV has hardwood floors. Carpeted floors will be more time-consuming. Not every RV has curtains and chair blankets to wash, so you'll make your own individual schedule that works best for you. If your husband is motivated, you can kill two birds with one stone if he's hosing down the outside as you're hosing down the inside. In that case you may decide to use window cleaner on the windows inside the RV. In any case, enjoy your day. Happy Spring!