Pint-Sized Powerhouse

Dremel’s Versa works wonders when it comes time to clean up tight spots in your RV

“Scrubbing” is profanity in my personal dictionary, but a necessary evil for RVers. We spend time scrubbing barbecues, bathtubs, toilets, wheels — you get the picture. One of the best discoveries I’ve made is the Dremel Versa, a handheld, wireless cleaning device that makes easy work of removing grime and stains from various surfaces.

Dremel is no stranger to building tools that streamline repair and craft projects. I use the company’s quintessential rotary tool for all kinds of projects. The Versa is quickly becoming my favorite, although it’s hard to beat the Dremel rotary tool for making light repairs and getting into close quarters. The Versa fits ergonomically in your hand, is lightweight and can be fully charged in around two hours. It typically sells for about $45 on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3xCsiVw) and comes with an eraser pad, non-scratch pad, heavy-duty pad, bristle brush, rubber splash guard and the base for attaching the pads. Replacement pads are available in kit form or individually online and at home improvement stores.

The eraser pad is non-scratch and designed for cleaning showers, sinks and other similar surfaces; I found the bristle brush to be the most versatile for bathroom cleaning. A heavier, non-scratch pad is good for barbecue grills, while the heavy-duty pad is abrasive and can be used on tougher jobs where scratching is not a concern. The base for the pads and the bristle brush simply screw on to the threaded stud in the device.

One of my least favorite chores is cleaning the shower stall with all of its hard-to-reach cervices. For years, I struggled to remove debris and stains (mostly from hard water and rust) from tiny channels and hardware obstacles using a microfiber towel and a wooden chopstick. Yes, a chopstick is a great “tool” for getting into grooves and channels — but adding the Dremel Versa really improved the process, to the point where cleaning the shower is no longer top of my “dislike” list (wheels and wheelwells now rank first).

Cleaning the shower pan and walls takes about 30 minutes using the bristle brush and Voom, my favorite all-around cleaner from Roadmaster (roadmasterinc.com/products/care_clean/voom_rv.php#voom). I tried using the Versa’s splash guard, but it just got in the way when working in tight areas. Once the surface grime is broken up, a microfiber cloth removes all the residue.

The Versa is small, lightweight and requires little effort to guide. It’s best not to bear down on the brush or pad because the motor will slow down, but I never found that to be a problem since the brush and pads do all the work. The Dremel Versa is truly versatile and will quickly become one of the most reliable tools in your cleaning arsenal.