How to Tips for Cleaning your Caravan and Curtains

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Traveling in a caravan can be great even over unmade roads and camping out in the natural bush. This is the best part, finding new and hidden treasures. No matter what age you start traveling you will meet and make many new friends along the way.

The worst part is keeping the dust out of your caravan, once in you need to get rid of it. Most caravans are pretty well sealed, although the vents behind the fridge, microwave and air conditioner do let that awful red dust in. Also the vent at the bottom of the van door often builds up with dust.

We have spent twelve months traveling around Australia and I have just found a few great tips for cleaning it. I sure wish I had known one of these ideas while on the road.

Keeping the outside clean

Removing tar is the hardest thing I have found. Here are suggestions; I have been given, so take your pick

· CT 18 Truck wash – Spray on and leave for a minute then wipe and wash off

· WD 40 - use as above

· Mayonnaise – use as above

· Butter - I still haven't tried this yet, but I will. Use same principle as others.

Once you have tried these. Make sure you wash the caravan to rid any excess products. Now to keep it looking great finish off with a wax and polish.

Removing bugs

Most of the above will clean these off with the same treatment. To prevent the radiator overheating from excessive bugs, you could place a fine mesh in front of your radiator. Leave enough room for air to circulate in between.

Cleaning inside

The best way to do the inside is to empty it out. Yes I know that is not always possible when traveling. If not, try starting with the curtains. Pick a sunny day and take them all down and wash. To prevent the need of ironing, I remembered a sailor telling me that they never used and iron. They put their clothes under their bed. The art of doing this is to make sure you fold correctly.

Using this principle (at end of trip) I folded in their pleats and placed a couple of heavy books on top when nearly dry and left for a couple of hours. It works wonders.

Cleaning the shower, walls and ceiling

Now do not Laugh! A friend gave me a packet of 2 magic cleaners, before we left on our trip. Typical, I put them in the cupboard and forgot all about them. I cursed having to clean the body fat off the shower walls.

On arriving home, I decided to give them a go. I dampened one and wiped the shower walls. I got the shock of my life, they came clean so easy. I used it very carefully on the ceiling wiping of the fly dirt's. And it removed the dust marks where the pop-top zips marked the ceiling.

The disadvantage of these- they break-up and do not last very long, but who cares? They work their magic very well. They even removed marks off the vinyl floor covering.

If you have any other great suggestions then let me know and I will add them to this article. Good luck.