Some people use antifreeze in order to prevent their RV pipes freezing during storage over the winter. RVers can use compressed air to remove water from their lines, then pour antifreeze into each drain. After the antifreeze, or compressed air you are good to go. Wrong! Here are some extra tips to winterize your RV.
Winterizing RV tips
Refrigerator
- Defrost and clear. As part of the winterizing process, remove all food and condiments. The RV’s refrigerator and freezer should be cleaned, defrosted, and dried. To make the defrosting process easier, you can line the sides and back of your RV’s freezer with thin plastic cutting boards before your first camping trip. Trim and shape the plastic to fit the freezer walls. Remove the plastic carefully and pour the ice into the drain when it is time to defrost.
- Use dish soap or any mild soap to clean the interior. Clean all shelves, drawers and side panels in the refrigerator.Dry with a soft cloth.
- Open the doors. Be sure to prop open your fridge and freezer. Manufacturers may provide a bracket to hold the door open by an inch or so, allowing air circulation. This will prevent mold from growing inside your fridge or freezer.
Find another way to prop open the refrigerator’s doors if it doesn’t come with an “open-door” bracket. But what about the light? Will the refrigerator’s light remain on if the doors are open? Remove the light bulb from the refrigerator or turn the power off to prevent this.
- Odor Control. To winterize your RV refrigerator, place baking soda in the freezer and refrigerator. The baking soda will absorb the odors and keep your refrigerator smelling fresh.
Humidity control
A moisture absorber. You may purchase DampRid anywhere. This product can be used in your RV even if it is winterized because it does not require electricity.
RV Wash
- Wash and dry. Use the “tub-clean” cycle on our RV washer as part of winterizing. After the cycle is complete, dry the interior of the tub with a soft and absorbent cloth.
- Hold the door of the washer open with a pool noodle while the RV is being stored. Air circulation is important to keep mold at bay.
Pest control
- Seal the opening. Seal all cracks and openings with aluminum or copper-colored wool and caulk to prevent mice from entering the RV.It is also possible to use steel wool, but this can rust.
- Clean, clean, clean. Sweep and dust the RV. Mop it.You don’t want anything to look like an invitation for vermin. Ants and mice will be looking for crumb trails.
- Eliminate potential nesting material. Take extra precautions in case an extremely determined mouse manages to gain entry into your RV. Take away anything that could be used as nesting material by mice.
- Spray an insecticide. For a last precaution, spray a spray of insecticide around the RV’s windows, baseboards and exit doors. This will prevent spiders and other creepy crawlies to hibernate inside your RV.
Shades
To prevent the interior fabrics and wallcoverings of our RV from fading, we should pull all window shades down.
Batteries
- Disconnect. You’ll need to disconnect your batteries if you plan on storing your RV for a long time.
- Trickle Charger. When we bring our RV batteries to home, we plug them into the trickle charger.They are always ready to go.
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