How to Clean a Caravan: Tips & Tricks

When you own a caravan, you’re free to explore and adventure to new and exciting places whenever you want. Whilst life might feel like a holiday when you’re on the road, there are a few necessary chores you need to take care of, and one of those is cleaning.

Keeping your caravan clean and tidy is not only essential for making your trips enjoyable, but it’s also crucial for extending the life of your vehicle. In this blog, we’ll give you our best tips on how to clean a caravan from top to bottom so no dirt gets left behind. 

At Auto Finance, we offer caravan finance alongside a range of handy guides and blogs to ensure you always get the most for your money. 

How do you clean a caravan?

When it comes to cleaning a caravan, the cleaning techniques are similar to those of cleaning a standard home. The only difference is that you also have an exterior to clean and some mechanical parts. 

If you want to know how to clean a caravan, we recommend starting with the exterior and all its moving parts.. Then you can move on to the more standard domestic cleaning inside your mobile home.

You can use common household cleaning appliances and solutions to clean your caravan, all of which are easy to access and fairly inexpensive.  

What tools do you need to clean a caravan?

For the exterior, you’ll need:

• A hose or power washer
• Sponge or rubber brush
• Vehicle or caravan exterior detergent
• A ladder or a stepping stool
• Window cleaner
• Microfiber cloths
• Wheel cleaner

For the interior, you’ll need: 

• A vacuum cleaner
• Mop and bucket
• Floor detergent 
• Disinfectant spray or wipes
• Dustpan and brush or broom
• Fabric cleaner
• Microfiber cloths
• Bleach and bathroom cleaner
• Oven and hob cleaner and degreaser
• Scrubbing sponges
• Rubber gloves
• Air fresheners

You might think gathering all these products will cost a pretty penny, but there are in fact many budget cleaning hacks you can use to save money and keep your caravan clean.

If you’ve got a larger vehicle, you might need additional cleaning supplies. Take a look at our ultimate guide to motorhome cleaning to see all the equipment and methods used with large mobile homes. 

Why is it important to clean your caravan?

Alongside the more obvious reasons for cleaning, like hygiene and creating a positive living space, there are some other important reasons to keep your caravan clean. 

Increases resale value: When it comes to the end of your loan term and you own your caravan, you may be looking to sell. Keeping your caravan clean and in good condition will help to retain its value.

Extends lifespan: Even if you don’t want to sell, keeping your caravan in top condition will still benefit you. Removing grime and dirt will help you make the most of your caravan and get your money’s worth.

Helps reveal damage: Regularly cleaning helps to reveal any issues with your vehicle. This is especially the case for external cleaning, where problems can often go unnoticed without close inspection.

How to clean a caravan exterior 

Now you know why it’s important to keep your vehicle clean, let’s dive into the how, starting from the top.

Start with the roof

The best way to clean a caravan is to start from the top. This is because the water and soap will wash down the exterior of your caravan as you go. Start by using a power washer or hose to give your roof and entire exterior an initial rinse. This will remove any loose debris like leaves or twigs.

Then it’s time to go in with your caravan cleaner. Using a stepladder, safely climb up so you’re level with the roof or high enough to clean it thoroughly. For safety, we’d always advise having someone spot you when using a ladder during cleaning. Using a detergent and water solution, use a soft-bristle or rubber brush and scrub the solution into the roof. Once you’re sure any dirt is gone, follow up with another rinse.

Exterior – frame, windows and mirrors

You’ve already given the whole frame a rinse, so you can repeat the same cleaning process you used on the roof on the rest of the exterior. Use your detergent and use the scrub and rinse method. Once the general cleaning is done, you can move on to the more detailed areas.

After rinsing, the exterior of your windows will be clean but wet and is likely to pick up water marks and smears. The same goes for your mirrors. Use a glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to dry the surface and ensure the glass is sparkly and smudge-free for clear vision. 

One of our top caravan cleaning tips is to check for any signs of wear or damage as you’re cleaning. This will help you identify areas that may need repairing or careful monitoring.

Wheels and undercarriage

Give your wheels a rinse with the power washer, focusing extra attention on any stubborn spots where mud and dirt have built up. Then go in with your wheel cleaner. Apply the solution, let it sit for a few minutes to work its magic, and then scrub with a sponge or the soft brush you used for the roof and exterior.

Don’t forget the undercarriage! You don’t need to do a full soap clean under there as this would be tricky, but make sure you hose everything down to remove any debris that may be trapped. 

How to clean a caravan interior

Learning how to clean a caravan interior is a lot like cleaning any standard living space. The first step is to remove any obstacles or clutter so you have clear access to every surface.

Start by vacuuming

Vacuum in every room, including wooden floors and carpeted areas. Also, vacuum around the driver’s area, underneath the seats and built-in furniture. Using a different attachment, you can also hoover and soft furnishings like sofas and mattresses. This is especially important if you bring your pets on the road with you to prevent the buildup of hair and dust.

Follow with mopping

Once you’ve hoovered, follow up by mopping any hard floors with a disinfecting floor cleaner. Whilst hot water typically works better at cleaning grime and dirt, it’s important to exercise caution if your caravan has wooden floors. Hot water can warp and damage the wooden boards, so if your hard floors are wood or linoleum, opt for cold water instead. 

If you’ve only got a small area to mop, forget the bucket and water and opt for a speed mop that cleans using disposable floor wipes. 

Wipe down all surfaces

Wipe down all the surfaces using an all-purpose disinfectant cleaner. It’s really important you use a disinfectant as cleaning a surface removes dirt and grime, but disinfecting kills bacteria and viruses.

Focus on all surfaces like counter and table tops, furniture and cupboards. Don’t forget about appliances like microwaves and kettles, as these can build up grime too!

A top caravan cleaning tip to always remember is to also clean high-touch areas. Think about things like light switches and door handles that are used multiple times a day. 

Deep clean the kitchen

Disinfectant alone isn’t strong enough to handle tough dirt and grime on hobs and ovens, so you’ll need to use some elbow grease and specially made cleaning products. 

Use a degreasing solution on the hob and oven and leave it to sit for a few minutes. Then go back with a damp cloth and wipe away the soap and grime. 

Empty your fridge and use a disinfectant spray inside on the shelves and walls to ensure everything is clean and bacteria-free. 

Tackle the bathroom 

A caravan bathroom is different from those found in houses or flats. Because a caravan is mobile, water is drawn from a tank, and waste is collected into a waste tank that needs to be emptied. 

It’s important to conserve water when cleaning your caravan and to be smart with cleaning. Use a caravan safe bathroom cleaner and clean all the surfaces, including the sink, shower and toilet. Pour septic tank cleaner into the toilet or directly into the waste tank. 

If you have a bathroom mirror, wipe it with glass cleaner and be sure to inspect the bathroom for any signs of leakage or water damage. Check the air vents and clean them to allow full ventilation. Damp can often be an issue in caravans if there is limited ventilation, so this step is important. 

If you do encounter signs of damp, don’t worry, we have a handy guide on how to fix damp in caravans. 

Upholstery, curtains and fabrics

Strip any beds that have bedding and sheets and let the mattress air for an hour or so while you complete your other cleaning. Wash these bed sheets and then add fresh, clean ones to the beds.

Any removable covers like chair covers, curtains or blankets should also be washed and aired. 

Use fabric cleaner to give a quick refresh to your living furniture and dedicated driving seats. This will not only keep them smelling and feeling fresh, but will also help extend the fabric’s life. 

Final touches for a cosy, clean caravan

Now that all the heavy cleaning is out of the way, there are only a few extra steps to help make your space feel just like home.

Open all windows and doors

Once you’ve finished cleaning, leave all the windows and doors open to allow fresh air to circulate throughout your caravan. This will not only rid any trapped odours, but also help to remove the smell of any cleaning products.

Add an air freshener

For the ultimate feeling of freshness, add an air freshener of your choice to your living space. Never use candles or incense burners inside your caravan, as this can pose major safety risks, even if the vehicle isn’t in motion. 

Ensure a long-lasting caravan with careful cleaning

We know that cleaning might be a chore that takes you out of the holiday mindset, but it is an essential task to ensure you enjoy the best life in your caravan. 

Well-kept caravans prove to be a better investment and give you the potential to sell or hire out your space in the future. With routine cleaning, your vehicle will stay in top condition both inside and out.

If you need any further advice about caravans or maybe you’re interested in financing another mobile home, get in touch with our team. We’ll help you find the right plan that suits you with no hassle, so the only hard work you’ll need to put in is cleaning your caravan!