Let's face it, RVs can get smelly. Between the black water tank and the smells that come with adventure, you must follow RV deodorizing tips to keep your RV clean...
As a longtime RV owner, I struggle with all sorts of bad smells that come with the RV. Bad smells are part of life, but the good news is they don't have to be a part of your RV lifestyle.
Yes, the various tanks and RV coolers that turn on and off tend to give off an unpleasant smell. But it is possible to reduce and even eliminate these odors completely.
Here are some great RV deodorizing tips to help prevent and eliminate unwanted odors.
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10 RV deodorizing tips for a great smelling RV
Not surprisingly, the list of the most common RV smells starts with toilet smells. So, we'll cover that, but we'll also cover the less unpleasant and unexpected smells that come with camping.
1. Use high quality black tank treatment
Most unpleasant odors come from your RV's black fuel tank. This is the tank that your toilet's liquid and solid waste goes into.
That is, of course, if you have a conventional RV toilet instead of a free-standing toilet. If you don't know the differences, I recommend reading the 5 most common types of RV toilets .
If you have a traditional RV toilet, you will need to use a chemical treatment. Jennifer and I highly recommend the Happy Camper Holding Tank Treatment . A Happy Campers ball can make you a happy camper!
The thank-you tank recently also convinced us. When it comes to treating RV holding tanks I would start and end your search with these two options.
However, if you want a homemade option, I wrote an article on the best homemade RV black tank treatment known as the Geo Method.
2. Use RV toilet paper
Another toilet tip worth mentioning is to use RV toilet paper. There is no standard toilet paper. This indirectly improves the smell in your RV. Let me explain why...
If you don't use RV toilet paper (i.e. TP made specifically for RV toilets), it can build up and get stuck in your RV's tank. This will contribute to the dreaded and hated "poop pyramid" that is unfortunately a well-known problem in the VR world.
So be sure to readThe Smelly Truth About RV Toilet Paper and use the best RV toilet paper .
3. Clean the water system regularly
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Dirty water equals smelly water, and even your freshwater tank can have odor problems. If left untouched for a long time, your fresh water tank will develop an odor of its own.
This is especially true if your water source contains high sulfur levels, which is not uncommon when camping in remote areas. This can result in a rotten egg smell that you really don't want to mix with your morning coffee.
In addition to the video above, here are some helpful resources to ensure you have clean water with no unpleasant odors:
4. Store baking soda in your RV fridge
Another common source of odors in RVs is the refrigerator. It comes with territory, as refrigerators in RVs are often turned off between car trips and sometimes even during them.
This inconsistent use creates a lingering odor that is difficult to eliminate. The best way to combat this smell is also the easiest (and cheapest!). It serves to store an open box of baking soda in your fridge.
Baking soda naturally absorbs odors, leaving a fridge that smells great.
5. Clean your fridge more often than you do at home.
Baking soda alone doesn't cut everything. Contaminated food must also be disposed of very regularly. The same goes for cleaning the shelves and drawers in your RV fridge.
Since your RV fridge is constrained to a small living space, the smallest spill of pickle juice (or whatever) can become the biggest odor seeping through your RV.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to remove leftover food after a few days and to clean the shelves and drawers every one to two weeks.
6. Reduce condensation in your RV
Most unpleasant odors are caused by moisture leaving your RV with a musty smell. It's a good idea to go the extra mile to reduce condensation in your RV. Not only will this help you smell better, but it will also allow the air to breathe.
To learn how to reduce condensation in your RV . This article provides a list of the 5 best dehumidifiers for RVs .
And members of our RV lifestyle community suggest using a small fan to circulate the air in your RV fridge to keep things cooler.
7. Place dirty clothes in airtight containers.
Another common source of odor is dirty clothes. After days of hiking and exploring, it's no surprise that this smell can quickly become overwhelming.
So it's a good idea to store dirty clothes in an airtight container until you can wash them. Simple plastic containers that you can buy at any major department store will do.
(By the way, you might want to check out Top 10 Camping Laundry Etiquette Tips and Tricks .)
8. Take out the trash every day
Of course, the same applies to rubbish as to dirty clothes. It quickly collects in your trash can and the smell permeates your entire RV.
I recommend taking out the trash every day or as often as possible if that's not an option. To encourage this good habit, I recommend buying a small trash can with a lid . The lid helps keep the smell inside and the small size forces you to remove it as soon as possible.
9. Use shoe powder
Since we mentioned dirty clothes, it's no surprise that dirty shoes are a big culprit. Shoes can suck up a small space really quickly!
dr Scholl's Odor-X works very well. You can store it where you store your shoes and put it on before or after you wear it (or both!).
If you prefer to go natural, this powder-free natural foot and shoe odor eliminator is very popular.
10. Have air fresheners handy
The last suggestion is perhaps the most obvious, but it's still effective. You can opt for aerosol or plug-in air fresheners like essential oil diffusers .
Of course, Febreze is a leading brand in this field, but there are many different products to choose from. You can choose the brand and the pleasant aroma you prefer.
Planning for next year?
Interested in visiting Key West, Everglades National Park and all the other wonderful things the Keys have to offer? Well we've got you covered. Jennifer and I love traveling to the Keys so we created a complete 7 day RV adventure guide: Florida Keys . This downloadable guide includes a suggested route and a list of the best RV spots on the road.
We also have a 7 Day RV Adventure Guide for Florida Atlantic Coast and Florida Gulf Coast . If you're interested in all three, check out our series of Florida RV travel guides .
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