Post-Trip Travel Trailer Cleaning Checklist

Camping in your travel trailer with your family is a fun and rewarding way to make memories and spend quality time together. But over the course of your trip, whether you’re gone for a week or a month, your travel trailer will get dirty and require some attention upon your return.

Thoroughly cleaning out your travel trailer is important for a few reasons. First, cleaning allows you to spot any maintenance issues you need to address. Second, a good cleaning prevents pest infestation due to spills, crumbs, trash and perishable food left on board. Third, cleaning your trailer now will reduce the amount of work you’ll have to do when it’s time to head out on your next trip.

Howdy RV in Mathis is your southern Texas travel trailer dealer. Here are seven tips for getting your travel trailer all cleared out after your trips so that it stays in good condition and is ready for your next journey.

1. Make It a Group Effort

Get the whole family together so that one person isn’t saddled with all of the tasks themselves. Even little kids can help by removing their toys and games and helping to carry in laundry. Give each person a task so they know what to do. You could even have a playlist of music going on a Bluetooth® speaker to make cleaning more fun, and order in some pizza to enjoy together once you’re finished! More hands make less work.

2. Air Out Your Trailer

Open up the doors, windows and vents of your travel trailer so it can thoroughly air out. You don’t want mold or mildew to set in. Also, lots of fresh air will make the trailer cooler to spend time in and it won’t feel as stuffy. If you want to make your travel trailer smell good, plug in some air fresheners or use a room spray in each room.

3. Remove Perishable Food & Trash

Clean out your fridge and pantry of all perishable foods. Canned foods and anything in a sealed, air-tight container can stay on board. You’ll want to empty all trash and recycling receptacles and hose these out to reduce odors that might lure pests into your trailer. Defrosting and cleaning your travel trailer’s fridge is outlined in your owner’s manual; you will likely need towels or a basin to catch draining water.

4. Unload Personal Items

Take out all clothing, books, electronic devices, toys and extra blankets from your trailer and put these in your house. You’ll want to remove anything of value as well so that nothing is there for thieves to steal. There are some items that you’ll want to keep on your travel trailer at all times to be ready at a moment’s notice, including emergency gear like your first-aid kit, repair tools, toiletries, kitchenware and cleaning supplies. Check through each of these items to see if anything needs to be replenished.

5. Empty & Clean Tanks

Your holding tanks need some care now that you’re back from your trip. You’ll need to empty both the blackwater and graywater tanks appropriately (don’t dump them on the ground) and drain your freshwater tank, then run a cleaner through them to clear them out and reduce odors. Your travel trailer owner’s manual should have some tips for how to do this.

6. Vacuum & Sweep Floors 

Now that everything has been removed from the trailer, you’ll want to vacuum carpets and sweep hard floors. Use a spot-cleaner on carpets to address stubborn stains. If you have rugs, remove these and shake them thoroughly outside or launder them if they’re washable. If your hard floors have sticky spots, you’ll want to mop them and allow them to dry, which you can accelerate by setting up a fan in the trailer.

7. Launder Linens & Replace

Strip all the beds of their sheets and pillowcases and take out all kitchen and bathroom towels from your travel trailer. You’ll need to do several loads of laundry (hot-water wash is best for killing bacteria) to get these clean, then replace them on your trailer. If you don’t plan to travel for a while, you can store clean towels and linens in plastic bins to keep them dust-free until it’s time to use them again.

We hope these tips help you to get your travel trailer cleaned up after your summer trips. Interested in purchasing a new travel trailer? Look through our website to check out our wide selection of new and used travel trailers for sale. We provide financing options to help you get the travel trailer you want. Howdy RV proudly serves the cities of Corpus Christi and San Antonio, TX.