RV Post Trip Procedures

Almost as important as trip preparation is what you do when you come home from a trip.  Proper post-trip clean-up will keep your RV in better shape and make your next outing easier.  Be sure to dump and rinse your holding tanks and refresh holding tank chemicals on the way home. Things can really nasty if you store your RV with dirty holding tanks!  Also stop and re-fill your fuel tank and propane. Be sure to shut off all pilot lights when refueling. Leave the main propane valve shut off when you are done filling the tank. When you get home, re-fill your fresh water tank (unless weather dictates that it be drained to prevent freezing, in which case follow normal winterizing procedures). If you are in freezing weather, add RV antifreeze to the drains and into the holding tanks to prevent the pipes and valves from freezing.

Remove all perishable foods from your RV and clean the refrigerator. I like to use a strong window cleaner with ammonia to clean and sanitize my refrigerator and microwave oven. Turn the fridge off and leave the door slightly open while it is not in use.  You can buy little wire devices to hold the door slightly open but keep it from swinging around when the RV is in motion.  Remove ice cube trays or at least dump out the ice. I usually store full ice cube trays in the freezer in the house so they'll be ready for the next trip. Remove bedding, towels, etc. you have used and wash them before returning them to the unit. While you have the bedding out, it is a good time to vacuum the mattress. Do a thorough interior cleaning job -- cleaning sinks, toilet, bath/shower, stove, ovens, counter tops and tables, Clean all the floors. Sweep and mop hard surfaces, thoroughly vacuum carpets. Spot clean carpets as needed. Take any throw rugs out and shake them. If they're really soiled, wash them.  Vacuum upholstered furniture. Remove extra clothing you brought along just for this trip. Remove prescription drugs. Return CDs and movies to your home. Plug in your battery charger/maintainer or, if you have an adequate built-in charger, plug in the shore power line. Check your cleaning supplies and replenish anything that is getting low, deteriorating, nearly used up, or has a damaged container. Review the list you made during your trip to remind yourself of items you need to add or remove and services or repairs needed. Keep the list in a prominent place and review it frequently until you have completed all items on the list.

Spills and crumbs left in an RV will attract pests (insects and rodents) and you'll have a very unpleasant surprise the next time you want to take it out. Check inside all the cabinets and cupboards to make sure no foodstuffs that may attract invaders is left behind. Clean up any spills. If you find what look like grains of black rice in your cabinets or drawers, you've got mice.  Larger deposits may mean rats, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, or skunks.  Leave a mouse bait like Decon to discourage them.  Decon is a poison so handle it carefully and keep it out of reach of kids and pets.  Decon includes a desicant that dries out the corpses so they don't rot and smell if they die inside a wall or other inaccessible area.

Even a clean RV will tend to develop a stale odor in storage. I like to hang an automotive air freshener or two in mine to keep it smelling nice. Don't over do the air fresheners. If there are any leaks in the roof or around windows or in the plumbing, strong air fresheners may disguise the musty odor and prevent you from noticing the problem before it has done serious structural and cosmetic damage.  Any leftover cooking odors in upholstery, curtains, bedding, and carpeting can usually be mitigated with a fabric freshener like Fabreze.  Of course any serious spills or stains on carpet or upholstery should be thoroughly cleaned.  You will want to wash towels, sheets, and pillowcases so they will be fresh for your next trip.

As you're cleaning, take inventory of your supplies, sundries, tools etc. Make a list of things you need to replace or restock. Make sure everything is put away in its proper place. Things often get moved about during a trip and you may not remember where you stashed things by the next trip if they're not in their proper place. You might even want to go over your pre-trip checklist so you can replenish depleted supplies and make necessary repairs before your next trip instead of waiting until the last minute.

If you don't plan to use the RV again for several months, it is a good idea to take at least some of the weight off the tires if you can using stabilizing jacks (the old term is "putting it up on blocks"). If you park on concrete or damp ground it is a good idea to put a wooden "buffer board" under each tire to protect the rubber.

I usually remove the trailer hitch and store it in an appropriate location. Leaving it installed invites two undesirable scenarios: banged shins when you walk behind your vehicle (VERY painful!) and loss of the expensive hitch and ball to thieves -- also painful, but in another location a little higher up -- your wallet!

If you have the time and energy, it is a good idea to wash your RV before storing it. Frequent cleaning makes the job easier and prevents buildup of road film that can damage RV finishes. Think the bugs on the windshield are hard to get off after a trip?  Just wait until they've had a chance to bake in the summer sun for a few weeks!

Now, go inside, have a nice dinner, and get a good night's sleep!