Spring Cleaning

Today is March 21 -- the official First Day of Spring in the northern hemisphere.  Most places with 4 distinct seasons are (hopefully) shaking off winter.   Signs of spring are popping up.  The grass is getting green, leaves are budding out on trees, robins have returned.  That also means it is time to start preparing your RV and camping equipment for a new season of family fun.  I find getting my equipment ready for camping is welcome outlet from months of being cooped up inside during winter weather.   Its not as much fun as camping, but the anticipation of what is coming creates a lot of excitement -- and a fair amount of stress release.

RVs have often been idle all winter and need preparation for the upcoming camping season.  Start by inspecting the outside of your unit.  If it has been outdoors, be sure to check the roof for any damage that might have been caused by falling limbs or other airborne debris during storms.  Give it a good washing and check for loose panels or fasteners.  Check for leaks in the roof and around doors and windows.  Check your tires.  If they are more than a few years old, they may have developed sidewall cracks.  Check the inflation pressure.  Some loss of pressure over time is normal so you'll probably need to inflate them to the proper pressure before driving.  Check the vehicle specifications. If not available, inflate to the maximum pressure shown on the sidewall.  Never exceed the maximum sidewall pressure, even if the tire looks low. T emperature swings during the winter months cause flexing of body panels and windows which can sometimes lead to cracks or separations and you'll want to identify and correct any such problems before you hit the road.  Be sure to check your batteries, propane system, and belts and hoses.  Rubber components can dry out and weaken or crack during storage.   Test them NOW so you don't have an unfortunate incident out on the road or get stranded in some remote camp ground.  Check radiator and heater hoses visually and by squeezing them.  Hoses should be flexible but not squishy.  Tighten all hose clamps.  In addition for looking for leaks or cracks, squeeze the hoses.  Hoses should be pliable.  Hoses that are brittle or squishy should be replaced.  You can test exposed portions of the propane system for leaks by spraying a solution of soapy water on any connections you can see.   If bubbles appear, there is a leak that needs to be fixed before lighting any appliances.  The size and speed with which the bubbles form is an indicator of the size of the leak.  You may be able to tighten loose connections, but take care not to over-tighten them, which can cause further damage.  Other leaks will need professional repairs.   Propane systems sometimes accumulate moisture which can lead to freeze damage in cold climates.  Be sure to test all your appliances to make sure they are functioning properly.  Problems with individual appliances may be debris or incest webs or nests in burners or vents that need to cleaned out or failure of a component, such as the computer control board or the thermocouple.  Winter temperature changes may tweak components out of alignment so make sure the burner is adjusted properly. I f nothing works right, you may be out of propane or lines or the regulator may be damaged.  Moisture in the system sometimes condenses and freezes in the regulator or in low-lying loops of the lines.  Of course you'll want to make sure the main valve is turned on and you have propane in the tank before calling a technician.

Clean all the outside lights and check them for proper operation.   It is not unusual for the ground connections on lights to corrode over the winter.  You may need to clean the ground connections. Look for black wires, usually about #12 guage, that are connected to some metal frame component. The screws may be loose or the connector may be corroded.  Sometimes the base of the bulbs also corrode.  Cleaning them may get them working.   If not, you may have to replace the bulbs.   Corroded sockets or fixtures may need to replaced.  Replace any missing or damaged lenses.   Proper functioning of lights is essential for safety -- and may avoid a "fix it" ticket.

Awnings should be unrolled and examined.  Clean any dirt or mildew that has accumulated over the winter.  Even if you made sure it was dry when you last rolled it up, humidity may have condensed on the fabric during temperature swings over the winter.  If any of the mechanism is stiff or sticky, clean and lubricate it.  If any of the arms or supports are bent you might try to gently straighten them.   To do this successfully you may have to remove them and lay them out on a flat surface.  If they can't be straightened successfully, replace them as soon as possible.  Bent arms will lead to further problems that will be a lot more expensive than just replacing the initial damaged component.   If cleaning and lubricating all moving parts doesn't get things moving right, have it checked out by an RV technician.   Damaged components will interfere with normal operation and may lead to serious malfunctions and permanent damage to the awning and/or the RV itself if the awning comes loose during travel.

Interior preparations.   RVs in storage are attractive homes for insects and vermin during winter months, so check inside your exterior storage cabinets and throughout the interior for any evidence of their presence.  Remove spider webs, brush or vacuum dust and debris from the refrigerator vents, inspect and, if necessary clear and clean furnace vents and the burners in refrigerators and water heaters.  If you find rodent droppings in your RV, clean them up right away and set some traps.   To prevent rodents from taking up residence I usually put some D-con poison in my RV over the winter. Remove bedding and vacuum the mattress.  Wash the bedding before reinstalling it.  Even if you haven't used the beds, dust will have accumulated and humidity may have infiltrated below the surface and provided an environment for bacteria growth that may not be obvious.   Having fresh bedding will make slipping between the sheets a real pleasure that first night in camp.  Even if the bedding appears clean and smells OK, it may not remain so pleasant to use.   Sweat may release dormant odors that accumulated over the winter.  Check all your interior lights and 12-volt appliances (like fans and radios) for proper operation and make repairs as necessary.  This is also a good time to clean all of the lenses on the lights.   Check the batteries in clocks and smoke detectors.  Replace any that are weak.

Provisions need to be checked.  Anything that froze over the winter will probably need to be tossed out and replaced.  Be sure to check the expiration dates on all edibles and medicines as well and get rid of outdated items.  Any containers that are bulging or leaking should be discarded and replaced. Things like lotions, shampoos and liquid soaps may have separated.  Sometimes you can reclaim them by shaking them, but if they have an unusual odor or will not regain their original consistency and color, replace them.   Far better to spend a few extra $ and be confident of your supplies when you need them.   Things like sun screens and insect repellants will lose much of their effectiveness if they've been frozen or are too old so you should get fresh ones each season.

Cabinets, closets, drawers, and storage tubs all need to be inspected, cleaned and organized. Inventory and inspect contents.  Repair or replace damaged items.   Discard and replace outdated medical supplies and food items.  Remove unnecessary clutter, and put things back where they belong so you'll be able to find them when you need them on your outings.

Camp clothing you may have stored in your RV or or tent camping tubs should be inventoried. It may need to be cleaned or repaired.   Consider the appropriateness of your wardrobe.  You may have accumulated heavy winter clothing you won't need again for many months and may need to substitute articles more suitable for spring and summer activities before you venture out.

De-winterize your water systems.   You should delay this step until you are certain you won't get any more freezing weather.   However, I would try to schedule it at least a week before any planned outings.  That will give you time to make an repairs that may be need and for any residual chlorine from sanitizing the fresh water tank to dissipate.  When it is time to de-winterize your fresh water system, fill the fresh water tank about half full and flush all the lines until all the pink RV antifreeze has cleared.  Re-set the bypass valves on the water heater and fill the water heater and test it.    If the water has an unpleasant odor, add about a half cup of ordinary household bleach to the fresh water tank and then either drive the unit to mix it in or add more water to stir things up.  Then flush the lines until you can smell the chlorine at each fixture.   Let it sit for a few hours, then drain the tank completely, re-fill and flush the lines with clean water until the chlorine smell is gone.   If you have trouble getting rid of the chlorine smell, you may have used too much bleach.   Add about cup of baking soda to the fresh water tank, drive your RV to mix it up, then flush it through all lines and fixtures and let it sit for a few hours.  You should then be able to drain the tank and flush the lines and have fresh, clean-smelling water throughout your RV.   If you have any doubts about water quality purchase some fresh water treatment from your favorite RV supply store and add it to perk things up a bit before your next trip.  Be sure to inspect your water system for leaks or any unexpected freeze damage.  Even though I meticulously winterize my RVs, I've twice had the outside shower controls freeze up and crack.   Obviously I didn't get enough antifreeze into them.  Water won't care about your good intentions.   It will simply obey the laws of physics and expand when it freezes, often breaking pipes or fixtures.  Depending on how much water you flushed into the holding tanks you may need to add more be be able to flush them.  They should be at least half full for proper flushing. Dump and flush the tanks and add chemicals as usual.  Clean and service the air conditioners.   Older roof air conditioners may need lubrication.   Newer models have sealed bearings that can't be lubricated.  For older unis, a few drops of motor oil in the oil ports on the motor should do the trick.  Clean the fins on the condenser (outside) and the filters (inside).  Most filters are made of foam and can be easily removed and hand washed with soap and water.  Rinse them thoroughly and squeeze out any excess water.  You may want to lay them on a paper towel to dry before re-installing them.

Appliances.  Check all your appliances to ensure they are proper working order and adjusted correctly.   Propane attracts certain spiders so burners on furnaces, water heaters, and refrigerators may have accumulated webs and nests that will interfere with proper operation.  Don't forget your portable BBQ, camp stove, and lanterns.  Fire up your generator and test the microwave.   Test all your electronic equipment (radios, TVs, media players, etc).

Tent camping may not have all the complex systems of an RV for winterizing and spring cleaning, but there are certain tasks you should do in preparation for the new season.  Insects and vermin may have found their way into your stored equipment, even into plastic tubs, so take everything out and clean and inspect it.  This is also a good time to make an repairs that might have been missed when the equipment was stored.  Take inventory of your tools and supplies.  Repair or replace any damaged or missing equipment and get rid of exhausted or outdated supplies.  Winter temperatures or just age may have affected foods, medicine, and cleaning supplies, so check them carefully and replace anything that looks or smells suspicious.  Sharpen axes and knives.  Make sure all tools and utensils are clean and properly stored where you'll need them.  Sometimes moisture may have made its way into stored tents or sleeping bags.   They may be just damp, but often they may have begun to mildew.   At the very least you'll need to hang them out to dry.   Mildew can be treated with anti-mildew sprays.   If they are badly soiled, stained, or smelly, take the to the dry cleaners to be cleaned. When the items are thoroughly dry and any needed repairs have been made they can be rolled back up.   Be sure to inspect tent pegs and poles.  Replace any damaged items.  Your tent pegs should have been cleaned before they were put away.  If they were not, clean them now and check for corrosion that might have weakened them over the winter.   Replace any that have been weakened by rust, corrosion, or other damage.  Even clean metal pegs may rust due to humidity, so make sure none are weakened.  They won't do you much good if they bend when you try to pound them in or snap off and let your tent blow over.  Fire up your camp stove and lantern and make sure they are adjusted correctly and functioning properly.  If they're not, now is the time to make repairs and adjustments. Service your camp stove and lantern.  Make sure the pump seals are soft and working.  Test them to see if the generators need to be replaced.  Be sure to clean all the openings in the stove burners.  They do tend to get clogged up from spills during normal use. If you use a portable 120-volt generator, give it a complete checkout -- change the oil and oil, fuel, and air filters. Give it a test run to make sure it is adjusted right.

Go over your regular pre-trip checklist to be sure everything is ship shape for your first outing. Even though that first outing may be a few weeks away, checking everything out now will give you time to take care of any repairs, replacements, or additions you need to make.

Tools.   Go through all your tools.  Make sure nothing is missing or out of place.   Clean every item so it is free from grease, dirt, and rust.  Repair or replace any damaged tools.  Take inventory and see if you need to add any items.  Was there anything you needed last season that you didn't have?  Did any of your fellow campers have new tools last year you don't have that would be of benefit to you? As you put them away, make sure they are neatly organized and easy to access.   Just dumping everything into a canvas bag isn't very useful.  You'd probably be better off leaving it all at home and reducing your rolling weight than having a jumble of stuff you won't be able to conveniently use and probably won't be able to find what you need when you need it.

If you are an OHV or personal water craft rider, now is also the time to get your ride and gear ready for the upcoming season.  After a winter in storage, your equipment will need a good cleaning and you'll want to perform routine lubrication and adjustments to make sure everything is ready to go.  You may want to drain and replace the fuel, especially if you didn't add any preservatives before storage.  Oil and filters should be changed.  Even without use, the winter temperature changes and humidity may have introduced moisture or caused additives to breakdown. An oil and filter change is a lot less expensive than rebuilding an engine damage by poor lubrication! Check out your gear to make sure insects or vermin haven't taken up residence or otherwise damaged it.   Inventory and inspect your tools and supplies.  Replace any used up, damaged, or missing items.

Inventory time.   Now is a good time to go through your camping bins or your RV closets, cabinets, and drawers, and do a complete inventory.   Check to see if anything is missing or out of place.  Check expiration dates on foodstuffs and medical supplies.  Examine gear and equipment for any needed repairs.  You want everything to be in A-number-one condition when you hit the road soon.

If you've spent a lot of time "hibernating" you may need to do some personal tuneup as well.   Between the Holiday feasting and  being confined to the sofa or computer desk for several months, your body probably needs a little exercise to get you prepared for the upcoming camping season.  Start off easy and work your way to to more strenuous sessions to avoid unnecessary pain and possible injury.

Clean up!