How often/how do you keep your rig clean?

[Every Road Leads Home]

Wondering what everyone brings with them to keep their rig clean?  I've been living in a 27' Trailer going on three months now while I remodel my house and it's a never ending battle of vacuuming up sand in here!  Once on the road I think I'm going to want to bring a small shop vac with me, probably my battery powered Milwaukee that uses same batteries as my other cordless tools.  

I've traveled for a few months at a time over the years and can't remember dirt/sand being a big issue, but seems to be a never ending battle this time around.  Anyone else have any tips tricks for keeping the inside clean?

 

[rvpopeye]

The Milwaukee should do it.

Sand is only a problem when you are parked on or near it........so most of the time !
A good door mat outside and another one inside will help a lot.
Or just take your boots/shoes off at the door if you're barefoot keep a towel there.
I use a bunch of throw rugs on the hardwood click floor and when they get nasty I replace 'em!

 

[Almost There]

How often? Not often enough...  

I have no carpet in here so it's a 2 minute job to sweep the floor with a hand whisk. I try to do it at least every day so I don't track sand and pine needles in to bed with me.

As soon as I'm far enough south that I can work in a t-shirt at a car wash, I'll be going through a couple gallons of water and a roll of quarters cleaning the summer (and some leftover AZ sand) from the inside of it.

I ditched the shop vac, the hand broom is enough to keep it presentable and the car wash vacuum doesn't take up any space in my van.

 

[BobBski]

I put a small step stool outside to help me step up as well as shuffle off any sand/dirt.  Then a throw rug just inside the door.  Generally I use a whisk broom but with dog hairs I'll often use a cordless Dirt Devil...daily.
 

 

[TrainChaser]

Put one of those door mats outside the entrances of your rig, the kind that look like plastic grass: http://giftsservice.com/producer/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Promotional-PVC-Doormats.jpg

BobBski: Don't obsess! Left to accumulate, dog hair provides a nice protective floor covering. Yes, it does tend to bunch along the edges and in the corners, but just shift it out with your foot as you're going by.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I think I need to add an outside rug to my setup, seems to be my downfall. I use cheap $7 rugs from Lowes all over my trailer and they work pretty good. Plus once they get to the point of no return I toss em and buy new ones. They actually sweep pretty well too, put them outside and sweep off the dirt/sand.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-...on-24-in-x-36-in-Actual-24-in-x-36-in/3830649

 

[Oopslala]

Are you going to be at the RTR? I've got a huge one of those green fake rug things that you see on the floor of boats you can have a piece off if you'd like. It's gotta be 18'x8' at least.

 

[TMG51]

I use my cordless DeWalt vacuum daily. Sometimes twice.

 

[firebob]

I wipe down my wood floors about every other day. I use the passenger door all most every time I get in or out and take my shoes off there. I wipe out the front floor boards at least once a day.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

My camper has only ~12 sq.ft. floor space.  I cut a rug to fit.  Shake it out as needed.  A rubber bottom on the rug keeps fine dirt from falling through.  Accumulation around the edges of the rug is wiped up ~ once a month.

Counter cleaning is done a couple of times a day.  Bed made every morning.  Dirty laundry stored every morning.  Food cleared and dishes cleaned after meals.  Everything returned to it's space after use.

Plastic grass (astroturf) mats excel at removing dirt before it gets into the camper (even works well on dog paws).

 -- Spiff

 

[MrNoodly]

There's this nifty invention called a "broom," and another called a "dust rag."

 

[TrainChaser]

MrN: There's this nifty invention called a "broom," and another called a "dust rag."

What are they for? They don't have anything to do with making beds, do they? One of my uncles told me to stay out of the military because they insist you make your bed. EVERY DAY! OCD.

 

[GotSmart]

They sell RV ground mats at Q in the tents.

Worth more than I paid for it. They do a great job of knocking the trash off the shoes.  

Like others have said, a piece of astroturf also helps.

 

[Luciano151]

I take a lot of pride in taking care of Maxine. I'm always cleaning and reorganizing her. A lot depends on the kind of trip I'm doing. Like with everything else, procrastinating just makes the job of keeping Maxine clean that much harder. Staying on top of stuff on a daily basis, maintains the van at the level of cleanliness and organization I'm accustomed to.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Are you going to be at the RTR? I've got a huge one of those green fake rug things that you see on the floor of boats you can have a piece off if you'd like.  It's gotta be 18'x8' at least.

Hi Oopslala,
  Appreciate the offer but try as I might, just wont be able to make it this winter.

 

[speedhighway46]

One of the thoughts that keeps going through my mind if I were ever in a position to live on my vehicle full time would be having an enjoyable daily routine of sleeping, cooking my own meals, driving and sight-seeing, and doing maintenance and cleaning.

Over time my vehicle would be perfect in every way, taking small "baby steps" every day till I reached and supported that goal.

Or, as it is said of the ancient Chinese:
"They moved mountains, one shovel full at a time."

 

[jimindenver]

I like the make a mess, clean it up approach. I will do dishes just once a day to save water but as for the rest of it, I'd rather spend minutes a day than a hour a week. It keeps me from becoming overwhelmed and from getting bored. Last time out I got bored and thought I'll clean this window and ended up giving the trailer a sponge bath.

 

[IanC]

I'm finding that I can get pretty much all my daily cleaning done while the coffee is brewing - slide the bed in, shake out the rug, give it a sweep and put dirty laundry in the back of the truck. Do dishes once a day. I do a big cleaning the day before I do a move - clean off the stove, surfaces and sink, wipe the floor with rag and spray cleaner. The worst, I found, was camped on a beach in Louisiana, then no matter what I did there was always sand. The rocks in Quartzite were the best because they don't track in.

 

[highdesertranger]

jeez all that work before coffee, I am lucky if I can light the stove. highdesertranger

 

[ArtW]

^^I have to use instant