One area of your trailer that needs some extra attention is the bathroom. The tricky part is that you can’t use the same cleaners that you would in a home. With that being said, there are some special RV bathroom cleaning products that you will want to purchase, so that you don’t ruin your pipes and valves.
After my husband attended RV technician school, we realized that we weren’t educated on which cleaning products were okay to use in our fifth wheel. Thankfully, I didn’t use any of the products you want to stay away from (like draino). But, if you want your trailer to last, I highly recommend you stick to these safe RV bathroom cleaning products.
I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard about RV black tanks flooding inside the RV. Unfortunately some of these issues are caused by damaged valves that allow water to continuously run into the black tank and it eventually overflows inside the RV once it’s full.
Sometimes these situations can be prevented, so learning how to take care of every area of the RV is important in helping it to last for the long haul.
RV BATHROOM CLEANING PRODUCTS
I thought it was crazy at first that you needed to use special cleaning products in your RV. After learning that not all cleaning products are created equal, I realized that some can cause damage to our equipment or tanks, which we definitely want to avoid.
It’s a good idea to stay away from cleaners that are concentrated, abrasive, or have harsh chemicals. This type of damage may void any warranty you might have on your equipment.
Before you start cleaning, it is important to note that RV bathroom equipment is not the same as household bathroom equipment. It’s a good idea to do a bit of research to help you decide what RV bathroom cleaning products you want to use.
I’ve compiled some of the best RV bathroom cleaning products with good reviews as well as some natural options.
Best Toilet Cleaning Products for RV’s
Most RV toilets are plastic or porcelain. We have to be mindful of using cleaning products that won’t damage the surface of the bowl, the seals, or the black tank.
Black tanks often use bacteria-based tank treatments to break down waste, so you’ll want to avoid flushing any chemical cleaners. Bleach, chlorine, or formaldehyde-based cleaners will kill the enzymes and potentially damage your system.
Here are some of the BEST Toilet Cleaning Products for your RV:
1. Thetford Aqua-Foam
This product’s foaming action allows it to work in very little water. It is safe on porcelain and plastic toilets, and won’t affect the seals.
2. Unique RV Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Black Holding Tank Enhancer Liquid
This is safe for plastic and porcelain surfaces and won’t damage seals or valves. It removes tough stains and odors. It is fragrance free.
3. STAR BRITE Toilet Bowl Cleaner
This product is safe for plastic and porcelain bowls. It eliminates odors and lubricates seals while it cleans.
4. Natural Alternative: A blend of vinegar and baking soda.
You can add about ⅓ cup of vinegar to the bowl and sprinkle it with baking soda. It will bubble and then you can scrub. You can also make a vinegar and water spray bottle and add baking soda to the toilet brush before scrubbing.
Keep in mind that whichever product you decide is right for you, you’ll want to be sure to use a non-abrasive toilet brush, such as silicone or other scratch free material.
Best Shower Cleaning Products for RVs
The main thing to keep in mind when cleaning your RV shower is that anything you use to clean your shower will end up in your gray tank. Again, you’ll want to stay away from harsh chemicals to make sure you don’t cause damage to the surface of your tank.
While researching RV shower cleaners, we found that most people use a multi-surface cleaner or a kitchen and bath cleaner like the ones listed below.
Keep in mind that cleaning the shower surfaces will be easier if we try to keep the shower surfaces dry with a squeegee or soft microfiber cloth after each use. The bottom of the shower can be kept clean if we clean and maintain the drain so we don’t get standing water during showers.
Best Shower Cleaner for RV
1. Thetford Premium RV Aqua-Clean Kitchen and Bath Cleaner
This product is non-abrasive and no scrub. It cleans any hard surface, such as countertops, sinks, showers.\
2. Blueland’s Multi-Surface Cleaner
This product will gently clean almost any surface. It is appealing because it comes in tablets and you just drop one tablet into a 24 ounce spray bottle, making it a plus for RV storage
3. FulTyme RV 4007 RV Bathroom & Sink Cleaner
This multi-purpose cleaner can clean most household surfaces, including toilets, showers, and sinks, removing soap scum and hard water stains.
4. Dawn Dish Soap, Vinegar, + Water Mixture
A popular cleaning solution we found repeatedly mentioned is a mix of Dawn dish soap, vinegar, and water for a basic all-purpose cleaning solution. Combine about 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of liquid dish detergent, 2 cups (473 mL) of water, and 1 cup (237 mL) of white vinegar in a clean spray bottle.
Best Cleaner for Glass Shower Doors
The best thing we can do to keep our glass shower doors looking crystal clear is to use a squeegee or microfiber cloth to dry them after each use. Even doing this, we will still need to clean the shower doors.
If the shower doors are glass, we will want to use a product that is safe for the gray tank in case it happens to end up there. There are also foam glass cleaners available, so shower doors can be cleaned without the gray tank being affected. Here are some popular glass cleaners we found.
1. Windex Vinegar
This is ammonia free and has no harsh chemicals.
2. Sprayaway Ammonia Free Glass Cleaner
This spray foam stays exactly where you spray it and can simply be wiped off with a soft cloth. (This is my personal favorite)
3. Dawn Power Wash
This can be used with water or by mixing with vinegar.
Tip: If your shower door happens to be plastic, you’ll want to try to keep it dry between uses. Then you can easily clean it with warm water, Dawn dish soap, and a soft microfiber cloth.
Best Bathroom Sink Cleaning Products for RVs
Like our RV shower, everything that goes down the drain ends up in the gray tank. Anything mentioned for cleaning the shower can also be used to clean the bathroom sink.
You’ll find a little bit more added flexibility for cleaning the sink simply because it is a much smaller area. I’ve found that it’s easier to wipe with a soft microfiber cloth, or any of these:
1. Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes
These do not contain harsh chemicals and are easy to compost or discard after use.
2. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser -Bath
These are easy for a quick wipe down of your sink. The bath version can easily remove hard water stains.
Best Floor Cleaning Products for RVs
One way to make our RV floors easier to clean is to take off our shoes at the door and minimize how much we track in. A Swiffer or microfiber broom is a simple way to collect loose dirt from the floor.
Many people opt for a small vacuum, such as the Dirt Devil with the collapsable handle that is great for RV storage.
For mopping, a multi-use option like the Swiffer Wet Jet is a good option. Any of these options are great for RV floors, but our RV bathroom is much smaller and it may be harder to use some of these options there. Cleaning the RV bathroom floor can be simple and quick with options like these:
- A small broom or hand broom is ideal for collecting loose dirt from the bathroom floor.
- Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes are great for getting corners, crevices, and behind the toilet.
- Any of the multi-purpose cleaners mentioned in the RV shower section can create a quick clean of the bathroom floor: Thetford Premium RV Aqua-Clean Kitchen and Bath Cleaner – UltraFoam, Blueland’s Multi-Surface Cleaner, FulTyme RV 4007 RV Bathroom & Sink Cleaner.
I know many RV owners wonder if dawn, lysol, and vinegar is okay to use. So, I thought I’d answer these in a little bit more detail.
Can I use Dawn to clean my rv toilet?
Yes, you can! Dawn dish soap is an environmentally-friendly soap that can be broken down by bacteria. This means that it’s a safe biodegradable soap to use!
Can I use Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner on my RV Toilet?
It’s not recommended that you use lysol toilet bowl cleaner on your RV toiled. This product may be damaging your holding tank and waste system.
Cleaners such as Lysol and Clorox have high concentrations of bleach and other harsh chemicals. These chemicals can accelerate the wear of soft rubber and plastic seals in the waste system. Which can cause them to degrade and reduce their functionality. Damaged seals can result in tanks that leak waste.
Can I use Vinegar to Clean my RV Toilet?
Yes, you can use vinegar to clean your RV toilet. Mix up some vinegar, water, and dawn dish soap in a spray bottle. Then lightly spray the bowl. If you pour vinegar into the toilet, it might disrupt the good bacteria that helps with odors.
My Thoughts…
RV bathroom cleaning products should be easy and quick to use as part of your overall cleaning routine. This way you can spend more time enjoying the rest of your camping trip. We hope that you have found options that will work for you and keep your equipment in great shape.