Finish Line

RVs will get dirty while on the road. But while RV parks are not keen about washing a rig on your site, waterless cleaning and detailing will keep park managers, you and your neighbors happy.

To keep any RV and tow/dinghy vehicle clean while on the road, I have assembled a “perfect” kit to get the job done — without incurring the wrath of RV park managers.

Most parks will allow cleaning with waterless products, and that’s the impetus for my bring-along kit (besides being cognizant of storage space). If the surface is only dusty, a California Car Duster will remove unsightly particles quickly with little effort. Just make sure it’s the real deal; cheaper spin-offs of the original California Duster do not work that well.

Instant detailer is also your friend. Again, there are several spray-on/wipe-off products on the market, but the one I’ve latched on to recently is Torque Turbo Waterless Detailer. This stuff works miracles. It cleans easily and leaves behind a slick surface with plenty of shine. The 16-ounce spray bottle is not cheap ($29.95 on Amazon), but you use very little to get the job done. Buying multiple bottles or the gallon container (torquedetail.com) will reduce the cost substantially — and watch for sale pricing.

I always cringe after driving on wet roads, especially during a light rain that doesn’t wash away the road grime. Removing the ugly film/dirt requires more than an instant detailing, but again, using a hose in camp is usually not an option. For these circumstances, Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine comes to the rescue. The only water you’ll use is 2 gallons in a bucket for mixing 1 ounce of the cleaning solution. Just wipe the dirt off with a wet rag and dry immediately with another (microfiber works best). Immediately, the dirt is gone and a glossy finish is left on the surface. A gallon container sells for $58.99 on Amazon and it lasts for a very long time.

Torque Turbo Waterless Detailer is a great go-to product for keeping the exterior surface looking new between washings. A light spraying lifts dirt and leaves a super smooth surface. A microfiber cloth does the best job of wiping off the detailer and “polishing” the surface.

A microfiber towel is the most versatile cleaning implement for RV use. It works perfectly for washing the exterior, polishing the surface, applying instant detailer, cleaning bicycles and just about anything else in an RV. One of the best products is the Costco Kirkland Signature Ultra Plush, 16- x 16-inch, yellow microfiber towels (36 for $18.99).

Keep these items handy and your RV will always look nice — and you won’t get yelled at when in an RV park.

Washing an RV in RV Parks is usually prohibited and finding mobile detailers takes some time and is expensive. Rather than let the rig stay dirty, Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine keeps dirt at bay (and ends the dirty looks from camp neighbors). It’s an easy wipe on/wipe off process.

You’ll need 2 gallons of water to mix in 1 ounce of Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine. Measure out 2 gallons of water and mark a fill line with a Sharpie, making it much more convenient to fill with a hose for the next washing.