One of the best ways to eliminate unwanted smells from your RV is by limiting the amount of moisture in the air. Invest in a good dehumidifier for your RV. This will help to reduce the mildew and keep your space smelling fresh.
Turn on an exhaust fan when cooking. Open the windows at least occasionally to allow your RV to air out. If it is winter and you aren't getting as much airflow inside your camper, make sure to keep all your linens washed. This will help keep things smelling fresh.
Charcoal is a fantastic choice when it comes to neutralizing odors. Lots of commercial deodorizing products contain charcoal because it can easily soak up all kinds of bad smells. You can either use charcoal sticks or packets.
Put a gallon of fresh bleach in the fresh water tank and refill with clean water. Let the pump refill the hot water heater, and run every faucet until you smell bleach. Let it sit overnight. Drain everything again and flush with clean water.
As you'll see in the next section, one of the primary ways to combat increased odors in high heat is to use a bacteria and enzyme tank treatment product. The bacteria in these products are called aerobic bacteria and they break down waste like the smelly kind does, but they don't release odors.
Too much and you could damage the fresh water system and its seals. A standard guideline is to use ¼ cup of bleach for every 16 gallons of fresh water.
It's important to choose a non-corrosive cleaning product that won't degrade the rubber, plastic and silicone parts of your RV exterior. Simple Green Wash & Wax is gentle enough for delicate RV surfaces, yet tough enough to cut through dirt, grime and bug residue for a clean, polished and protective shine.
Always use a high-quality product that will effectively break down waste and control RV toilet odors. The best product to accomplish this is a bacteria and enzyme blend (like Unique RV Digest-It Plus).
Taking the musty smell out of your camp mattress really is as easy as washing it with a non-bleach solution spray, towel drying, and leaving it in the hot sun to dry!
Air fresheners can help on a short-term basis to mask smells in your RV, but our RVers have had the best luck with Febreze, which not only eliminates the smell, but destroys the bacteria causing it. It's a cleaner and odor eater all in one!
Ventilation is key to maintaining a fresh-smelling RV. Regularly opening windows allows air circulation, which can help to disperse any lingering odors. Air fresheners and diffusers with essential oils can also help to maintain a pleasant smell within your RV.
You can go with classics like lavender, tea tree, or eucalyptus. Or try something different - peppermint smells great, and so do lemongrass and sweet orange. These oils do more than just make things smell good - they actually help fight bacteria too. Every time you flush, a bit of the scent will come out.
You can absorb odors by putting down some baking soda in the holding tank to absorb moisture and neutralize odors naturally. Or, place bags of activated charcoal inside the unit to absorb odors.
The nice thing about RVs is that they are generally constructed from easy-to-clean materials. For this reason, good old soap and water is perfectly well-suited for cleaning most RVs. All you need to get started is a bucket that mixes mild detergent like dish soap with water.
Depending on who you talk to, many RV enthusiasts recommend washing your rig 10-12 times a year.
Start cleaning at the top and move to the bottom so grime flows down and doesn't contaminate already-cleaned areas. With a bucket of soapy water or diluted cleaner, wash your RV with a soft sponge or cloth, taking care to remove any stubborn debris stuck to the surface.
The most likely cause is anaerobic bacteria in your water heater. Your RV's water heating system usually comes equipped with a magnesium or aluminum anode rod, meant to prevent corrosion of your water tank.
To create your tank sanitizing solution, you will need about ¼ cup of bleach for every 15 gallons of water your fresh water tank holds (so about ½ cup for a 30-gallon tank). Calculate how much bleach you need and add that amount to about a gallon of water. Using your funnel, add the mixture to your freshwater tank.
A: Since chlorides are extremely small, they are able to pass through any heat exchanger's passivated or protective layer and cause defects in the metal. Over time, high levels of chlorides can significantly weaken the material and lead to mechanical failure by stress corrosion cracking (SCC).