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Sand, mud, and bits of grass are the bane of every RVer’s existence. An RV is an expensive investment and if you want it to keep its value (and you want to enjoy your time away from home) you need to keep the interior clean.
Fortunately, there are things you can do (and all of them are easy) to help keep mud and sand out of your RV’s interior.
The main thing to remember here is that preventative measures are the way to go. It’s easier to keep dirt out of your RV than it is to remove it once it makes its way inside.
So, with no further ado, here are some top tips to keep your RV’s inside relatively dirt-free.
Park Somewhere Favorable
This is probably the most important piece of advice we have to offer. If you park over grass in a low area, it will get muddy, and you will get mud in your RV’s interior.
Even if occupants and visitors are conscientious about keeping their footwear clean, if they have to walk through mud to get inside, you’re not setting yourself up for success.
Instead, when and where possible, park somewhere over gravel, stones, or on a paved surface. That way, the ground will naturally scrub off some of the sand and mud before it has a chance to get inside.
That’s not always practical at campsites, but if you can, be judicious about your choice of parking.
Shoes Off
This one’s a bit more realistic. During your stay in camp, make sure you require everyone to take off their outdoor shoes or boots before entering.
It also helps to keep a second pair of indoor shoes for everyone that will be coming inside, just in case.
Another pro tip is to keep a mud tray by the entryway. That way, you can bring boots inside if necessary (such as overnight or when it’s raining) without too much concern about mud and dirt.
Rinse Before Entry
Obviously, you’re not going to leave your shoes or boots at the campsite before you pack up and leave, so keeping them outside is only a short-term solution.
However, what you can do is rinse them before you bring them back inside. It’s also useful to keep a boot scrubber by the entryway to your RV. That way, you can “pre-clean” boots and shoes before rinsing them and bringing them in.
Use High-Quality Patio Mats
High-quality RV patio mats are another powerful secret weapon in the war against mud and dirt.
Many RV patio mats are made with high-quality synthetic materials that are exceptionally durable and can simply be rinsed off and dried to remove dirt before storage.
Of course, patio mats will keep you off the dirt, sand, and mud when you’re outside, but there’s another trick here. Some patio mats are designed to allow sand and dirt to filter through one way but not to come back up – which means they will actively clean your shoes.
(If you decide to spring for RV awning mats and patio mats, check out RV Upgrades online at RVUpgradeStore.com. They carry a wide range of mats from Prest-O-Fit, Crystal Art Gallery, Lippert, My Magic Carpet, and more, in a diverse assortment of colors and patterns.)
Stash Away a Powerful Cordless Vacuum
Finally, one more important tip is never to let dirt get the upper hand. Do what you may, there will be occasions when you find some itinerant gravel, sand, or dirt in your RV.
Don’t panic, though – just keep a small yet powerful cordless vacuum (like a car vac) around, and dispatch the dirt before it has a chance to grow legs and spread to other areas of your RV.
