The Ultimate Guide to Motorhome Cleaning

Owning a motorhome offers the freedom to explore the open road whilst enjoying the indoor comforts that a home has to offer. Just like a regular house, your motorhome requires regular maintenance and cleaning both inside and out to keep your mobile living space in top condition.

In this blog, we’ll give you our best tips on motorhome cleaning and the essential areas to focus on when embarking on your cleaning job.

Are you looking to purchase your own motorhome? Finance a motorhome with Auto Finance and enjoy smooth cruising with the best loan rates available.

Why do you need to clean your motorhome?

Whilst the reasons for cleaning the interior of your motorhome seem fairly obvious, it can be easy to forget the importance of cleaning your motorhome exterior. Unlike a brick-and-mortar home, motorhomes are made from metal and this requires greater maintenance.

Across your travels, you’re likely to have dirt, grime and debris build up on the exterior and roof of your vehicle and left untouched this can cause issues like rust, mould and mildew. 

Rust can damage your motorhome, leading to holes and structural integrity issues. Untreated mould and mildew can seep into the interior of your vehicle and this can cause a range of health issues and damage your valuable possessions. Damage to your mobile home can hurt your wallet and also effect your motorhome MOT.

To prevent these issues from becoming a problem, your motorhome must be regularly cleaned.

What supplies do you need for motorhome cleaning? 

You’ll need to a wide range of cleaning products and equipment to get the job done. We’ve included a helpful checklist below to help you gather everything you need to get started:

Exterior motorhome cleaning

• Sponge and bucket
• Soft bristle brush
• Dedicated motorhome cleaner
• Hose with spray attachment or powerwasher
• Access to outdoor water supply
• Seal sealant and weather proof coating

For more on protecting your vehicle against the elements, check out our dedicated blog on weatherproofing. 

Interior motorhome cleaning 

• Vacuum/hoover
• Mop and bucket
• All purpose cleaner and floor cleaner
• Glass cleaner and spray
• Cloths
• Antibacterial wipes
• Deodorising spray
• Carpet cleaner
• Furniture cleaner (both fabric and wood cleaners) 

Where do you start with motorhome cleaning?

It’s always best to start with the exterior first. Motorhome cleaning should be done outside to inside, and it’s always a good idea to start with the trickiest task first and that’s cleaning your motorhome roof. 

Cleaning the roof

Using a hose or powerwasher rinse down your motorhome to remove any general loose dirt and grime. 

Once this is done you can move onto the deep cleaning and grab a ladder to take yourself up to the top of the roof. Always remember to be careful when using a ladder and have someone supervise. Using your soft bristle brush and a dedicated roof cleaner, scrub your motorhome roof, being sure to work the soap into any tough grime or stubborn dirt spots. Follow with a final rinse to remove the excess soap. 

Follow this same process for all sides of your motorhome to achieve an even clean. Make sure to clean your motorhomes’ wheels in the same way to remove any stones, grease and dirt that could otherwise impact driving.  

Windows and mirrors

Glass picks up dirt, water marks and smears very easily and this can not only impact your vision but make for an unsightly home. Using a glass cleaner and some microfibre clothes, gently clean the exterior windows and mirrors until they are clear and shiny. 

If you’re conscious about the environment and want to reduce water waste during cleaning you can check out our blog on sustainable travelling. 

How do I clean my motorhome interior?

Interior motorhome cleaning is the more straightforward but lengthy cleaning process. You can approach this cleaning job in a similar way you would to a normal house or property:

Floors first

Start by hoovering the floors and any upholsteries and fabrics including carpets, curtains and sofas. If you’ve got hard or wooden flooring in kitchen and bathroom areas vacuum these areas first and then move on to mopping. Use an antibacterial floor cleaner to wash away any dirt and germs.

Living room and Kitchen

Using your all purpose cleaner, wipe down any counter tops, appliances, tables, door handles and other surface. Don’t forget to clean the interior of your fridge too! For hobs and ovens, use a degreasing spray to get rid of touch stains and grime. 

Bathroom

Using an antimould spray, clean all surfaces in your bathroom including walls, basins, mirrors, shower doors and screens. A specially formulated toilet cleaner should be used to effectively clean your motorhome toilet whilst controlling smell. 

Whilst tackling the bathroom you should also endeavour to clean and empty your motorhome waste tank. Empty your waste tank and ensure you’re using tank treatments to eliminate smells. You can check out our blog on how to handle waste tank odours for more tips on how to keep your mobile home smelling fresh. 

Bedroom

In the bedroom, remove and wash the bed sheets and covers. Vacuum the mattress, use a deodorsing fabric freshener and then leave it to air for an hour or so. Wipe down nightstands and shelves with cleaning wipes or spray. Open any windows to let fresh air in and finish by tidying any clutter. 

Fresh new motorhomes with Auto Finance 

By now you should be an expert on motorhome cleaning, but if you’re looking to purchase a shiny new model, there’s no better place than Auto Finance. We scourer the UK for the best motorhome finance deals so you can enjoy smooth sailing without stressing about price. 

The application process is simple, just use our finance calculator for motorhomes to choose how much you’d like to borrow and for long.

If you’re not sure which finance options are best for you, contact our team and we’ll be happy to help find the right loan for you.