Winterizing Your RV
As summer draws to a close, many Midwestern RV owners are preparing to store their RVs for the fall and winter seasons. But before you park your RV under a tarp or in your garage, you should take the time to properly winterize it. An RV that has been winterized will be easier to deal with in the spring since you’ll have taken care of major maintenance issues and planned ahead. Here’s what to do.
Clean & Remove Items
First, start by removing all of your personal belongings, including towels, clothing, books, electronics, toys, toiletries, and perishable food from the RV. Take out trash and recycling as well. Gather up your curtains, towels, and sheets to launder these before you put them back in your RV. Sweep, mop, and vacuum floors, and wipe down all surfaces to remove any trace of food or spills.
Air Out RV
Open up the doors and windows of your RV while you’re cleaning so that you can air it out, especially the bathroom. Set up some fans to dry wet floors so that mildew doesn’t build up. A thorough airing out can help prevent your RV from developing weird smells in storage. You can even hang up some air fresheners to maintain a clean scent.
Scrub Exterior
Hose off the exterior of your RV to remove the grime of travel. Use a telescoping brush or squeegee to help you clean from top to bottom with car-wash soap. Pay special attention to windows and doors, and use a silicone lubricant on seals and slide-outs when the RV is clean and dry. Climb up on a ladder to sweep off and rinse the roof of your RV (make sure it’s dry before storage).
Attend to Systems
The water and power systems in your RV will require some maintenance. You’ll need to remove your generator and propane and ensure that all your appliances are functional before you turn them off. Clean out your holding tanks and sanitize them thoroughly. If your RV has an engine, you’ll need to do an oil change and add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank to prevent water separation.
When you’re ready to buy a new or used RV in Missouri, stop by one of our dealership locations in Eldon or Independence to see what we have in stock. Unlimited RV is proud to serve our customers in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, as well as those of you in Osage Beach, MO.