5 Incredibly Simple DIY RV Cleaner Recipes (2024)

Creating your own RV cleaner is simple.

  • Gather household ingredients.
  • Mix your own all-purpose cleaner using vinegar, water, baking soda, and essential oil or lemon.
  • Create a glass cleaner with vinegar, rubbing alcohol, cornstarch, and lemon juice.
  • Use a combo of baking soda and orange essential oil for a carpet cleaner.
  • Combine dish soap and mineral spirits with water for a rubber roof cleaner.

To make your own all-purpose RV cleaner, you need white vinegar, water, baking soda, and tea tree oil or lemon. Mix one cup of white vinegar and three cups of water, then add two tablespoons of baking soda and 15-30 drops of essential oil or lemon juice for a fresh scent. Apply it to various surfaces in your RV for a thorough clean.

For windows and mirrors, you need a different mixture that can tackle smudges and dirt effectively. Combine 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol. Add four cups of warm water and two tablespoons of cornstarch, plus 1/4 cup of lemon juice, to give the cleaner a pleasant aroma. Once you’ve mixed these ingredients, pour them into a spray bottle for easy application.

Carpeting and upholstery in RVs can hold odors, but a simple baking soda and essential oil mixture will freshen up these fabrics. Shake together baking soda and 20-30 drops of orange essential oil, sprinkle over the carpet or upholstery, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and then vacuum it up.

For the rubber roof that may have stubborn stains, mix a simple solution of water, dish soap, and mineral spirits. Start with a gallon of water and add two tablespoons each of dish soap and mineral spirits. Scrub the roof in sections with a soft brush, rinse after cleaning, and use mineral spirits to dab away persistent stains if needed. This same solution can help clean the tires on your RV as well.

Have you ever stepped foot in your RV to find unwanted stains on the seats and carpet? Have you ever looked out your windows or into the mirrors on your RV to see smudges and dirt plastered all over them? Have you ever thought about driving your RV through a car wash to get all of that buildup off?

You probably have, but you also stopped yourself from doing that, seeing as many RV cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can potentially damage your vehicle. One last question: Have you ever considered making your homemade RV cleaner? You’ve probably researched your fair share of RV cleaning tips as an RV owner. “In my experience, creating your own RV cleaner not only saves money but also gives you control over the ingredients, ensuring they’re safe for your vehicle,” says Clara Webster, a knowledgeable practitioner in home organization.

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Many of your RV cleaning products likely cost a lot of money. Here, you’ll learn how to save a few extra bucks while creating things like a homemade RV roof cleaner and camper cleaning products.

5 Incredibly Simple DIY RV Cleaner Recipes (2)

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Table of Contents

  1. Making My All-Purpose DIY RV Cleaner
  2. My Special RV "Cleaning" Tip
  3. My Homemade RV Roof Cleaner
  4. My Recipe for Homemade RV Cleaner

Making My All-Purpose DIY RV Cleaner

Start gathering household ingredients like laundry detergent, dish soap, olive oil, water softener, baking soda, and essential oil to get started.

There’s always one cleaning product you’ll need for most surfaces, and it’s typically referred to as the all-purpose cleaner. For all of you RVers out there, start mixing this solution to clean your RV exterior and interior.

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My Recipe for Camper Cleaning Products for All Surfaces

  • 1 cup of white vinegar
  • 3 cups of water
  • 2 tablespoons of baking soda
  • 15-30 drops of tea tree oil or half a lemon

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Mix all the ingredients and apply the solution to dirty areas for a clean RV. You’ll be able to use this on your roof, steering wheel, and dashboard, to name a few. The vinegar will work its magic by killing mold and bacteria while the essential oil or lemon juice will give it a fresh scent.

Remove corrosion from aluminum wheels with this simple recipe and a little scrubbing with a nylon sponge or brush. Your wheels will look brand-new after this treatment!

Making My DIY Window & Mirror Cleaner for the RV

Products like Windex are typically the cleaning supplies that an RV dealer will suggest you use for window cleaning. However, there are better, more natural ways to go about cleaning your travel trailer windows and mirrors without having to put in that extra elbow grease and expense.

This DIY mirror cleaner adds sparkle and shine to surfaces with smears and stains. It’s also appropriate for removing bugs from the windshield that accumulate during long drives.

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Homemade Glass Cleaner for RV

  • 1/2 cup of white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol
  • 4 cups of warm water
  • 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup of lemon juice

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To make this natural cleaner for a car windshield or for the windows in your RV, mix the ingredients and pour the solution into a spray bottle. Spray the mirrors and windows and wipe clean. Use a little extra pressure for hard-to-remove stains.

Unlike other RVing tips and tricks, this recipe doesn’t have chemicals that are harmful to the skin. Also, using this recipe will eliminate streaking on all windows, and it smells nice, too.

My Special RV “Cleaning” Tip

Whether you’re trying to get rid of mice or you’re trying to prevent them from entering your RV, these tips will help. Go to your nearest store and pick up peppermint essential oil. Then, open the bottle and soak cotton balls in the solution. Place them in different areas of your RV to cover your tracks.

If you don’t want to worry about cotton balls being in your car, you can mix one ounce of peppermint essential oil with warm water and put the solution into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on hard surfaces and upholstery throughout the RV. This nifty trick will work on spiders, too.

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner for My RV

Unfortunately, carpets and upholstered seats tend to harbor the bad odors in every RV; you’re probably wondering how to create a homemade RV cleaner for such areas. In particular, you’re probably trying to construct a recipe that is not necessarily chemically enhanced.

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Carpet Cleaner Recipe for RV

  • Baking soda
  • Orange essential oil

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Mix baking soda with 20-30 drops of orange essential oil, depending on how fresh you want the fabric to smell. Shake the ingredients together in a container and sprinkle it over areas you’d like to clean. Leave the powder on for approximately ten to 15 minutes and then vacuum it all up.

My Homemade RV Roof Cleaner

If you’re an RV owner, you probably know that many RV roofs are made of rubber, as this increases the durability of the vehicle. However, what you may not know is that cleaning the rubber roof with a chemical cleaner is not recommended, as it could deteriorate the material.

Instead, use a homemade RV wash to get dirt and tree sap off. You can use a soft brush and go in a circular motion to remove stubborn dirt, if necessary.

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Rubber Roof Cleaner Recipe for RV

  • 1 gallon of water
  • 2 tablespoons of dish soap
  • 2 tablespoons of mineral spirits

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Combine water and dish soap in a bucket. Rinse the roof with a garden hose to remove loose debris and prepare the surface for washing. Dip a long-handled scrub brush into the bucket and gently scrub the rubber roof in sections.

Rinse each area of the roof as you clean it. Apply the mineral spirits to the cloth and wipe away any stains that are still present. You can also use this solution for removing sap from a car. Use this recipe as a homemade wheel cleaner for those grimy tires on the RV, too.

You’ve discovered some handy tips to use when cleaning your RV. These homemade RV cleaner recipes are time efficient, cost-friendly, and easy to make. Using ingredients like baking soda and Dawn dish soap from around the house to create camper cleaning products is now easy for you.

My Recipe for Homemade RV Cleaner

5 Incredibly Simple DIY RV Cleaner Recipes (3)

Homemade RV Cleaner

Yield: 4 cups

Prep Time: 2 hours 2 seconds

Total Time: 2 hours 2 seconds

Difficulty: Easy

Disinfect and shine all RV surfaces with this simple DIY solution.

Materials

  • 24 ounces water
  • 8 ounces distilled white vinegar
  • 2 tbsp baking soda
  • 20 drops tea tree oil

Tools

  • Tablespoon
  • Glass jar with a lid
  • Measuring cup
  • Clean rags

Instructions

  1. Pour the liquids into the jar, put on the lid, and swish to mix.
  2. Add the baking soda and shake to combine.
  3. Use the cloth, smear the solution on any surface, inside or outside the RV.
  4. Wipe to eliminate stains and create a like-new shine.

Notes

For a citrusy scent, substitute the juice of 1/2 lemon for the tea tree oil.

5 Incredibly Simple DIY RV Cleaner Recipes (4)

We hope you liked our homemade RV cleaner recipes and guides. If you did, please share our RV cleaning solutions and cleaning products with your family and friends on Facebook and Pinterest.

5 Incredibly Simple DIY RV Cleaner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best homemade RV cleaner? ›

While you can experiment with the proportions to get something that works well for you, start by trying a mix of 3 parts water and 1 part white vinegar. This is a good basic mixture, and you can then add a bit of baking soda for added cleaning power and something to bring a nice scent to the party.

What is the best soap to get black streaks off camper? ›

The Bio-Kleen Black Streak Remover not only is the absolute best, quickest and most efficient black streak remover on the market, but it's also a great multi purpose cleaner and degreaser for your RV, camper, trailer and garage.

What removes black streaks from a camper? ›

Bio-Kleen Black Streak Remover

Bio-Kleen has done a great job with this cleaning solution and it's one of the few products out there that actually work.

What is the best thing to wash your RV with? ›

The nice thing about RVs is that they are generally constructed from easy-to-clean materials. For this reason, good old soap and water is perfectly well-suited for cleaning most RVs. All you need to get started is a bucket that mixes mild detergent like dish soap with water.

How to deep clean an RV? ›

Start by giving your RV a thorough rinse with water. Then use a microfiber towel or soft sponge to start scrubbing. Avoid using any abrasive materials or harsh chemicals that might ruin your RV's paint and decals. While you're scrubbing, be sure to inspect the seals around your windows and doors.

Is it safe to wash RV with Dawn dish soap? ›

For each of the now 4- RV's I have owned, the manufacturers, including Grand Design have indicated a good car, marine or RV wash. If you plan to wax or seal your rig after washing, DO NOT USE DAWN dish soap as it will strip away any wax or sealant that has been applied.

Can you put Dawn in RV black tank? ›

RV Tip of the Day: DO NOT put Dish Soap in your black tank!!!

Will vinegar remove black streaks from RV? ›

Vinegar is not only an excellent household ingredient but can also be effective in cleaning your RV. When black streaks oxidize after some time, white vinegar is the best weapon to fight them. For every gallon of water, use 3 cups of vinegar. You can apply it using sponges or RV pressure washers.

How do I remove oxidation from my RV? ›

Procedure
  1. Clean the surface with soap and water. ...
  2. Next, attach a buffing pad to your buffer tool and apply the oxidation removal liquid gel to the buffer pad. ...
  3. Move the buffer slowly side-to-side along the surface of the RV, applying light pressure over the area that needs extra attention.

Will WD-40 remove black streaks from a camper? ›

Keep it simple and cheap. WD-40 takes it off without any effort. It is cheap, works VERY well, and won't harm any finish.

How to remove stains from RV exterior? ›

Fiberglass Powder Cleaner & Stain Remover. This heavy duty cleaner is designed specifically for fiberglass and is perfect for removing black streaks as well as rust stains and other scuff marks. Once you apply, you can simply wash clean with fresh water.

How to dry your RV after washing? ›

Microfiber Towels: Use clean, soft, and highly absorbent microfiber towels for drying. These towels effectively soak up extra water and minimize the risk of water spots.

Is it OK to wash your RV at a truck wash? ›

If your truck wash is large enough to accommodate these vehicles, it can accept RVs without question. Class A RVs, the largest type, often range between 26 to 45 feet in length and weigh up to 30,000 pounds. The dimensions of your truck wash can certainly fit that, but the only issue you may encounter is weight.

Can I use vinegar to wash my RV? ›

By buying a gallon of vinegar, you just cleaned your RV's interior up from spots, stains and grime without having to fork over extra cash for the dyes, fragrances and chemicals that are in the stores.

Can I use Simple Green to clean my RV? ›

You should also avoid using citrus-based cleaners or mineral oils, which could dissolve your EPDM rubber membrane. A safer cleaning option for you and your RV, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner's formula doesn't use harsh chemicals. It won't leave behind harmful residue that can degrade your RV roofing.

Can you use vinegar to clean RV? ›

All-Purpose Cleaner

By putting straight vinegar into a spray bottle, you can use just as you would any household cleaner, cleaning those countertops, drawers, and just about any surface you can find. As with any cleaner, you want to test it on those surfaces first to make sure it does not damage the finish.

Can you clean RV water lines with vinegar? ›

If you are not comfortable using bleach, you can use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide when cleaning the water tank in your RV. However, unless each is heated to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, they will not be as effective as bleach at killing bacteria in a contaminated RV fresh water tank.

Can you use simple green to clean an RV roof? ›

Mix 1 oz. Simple Green Wash & Wax with 1 gallon of water in a bucket. Apply Simple Green solution. Work in 4-5 foot wide sections, washing with a soft sponge, soft brush or non-abrasive loth, and working from the bottom to the roof in large sections.

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