Author: Tech

There’s nothing quite like spring cleaning. The very term conjures up the excitement and enthusiasm of a new season and all the adventures that lie in the offing.

When it’s a question of giving your motorhome a spring clean, of course, you’ll be looking forward to those upcoming days and nights of touring the country – and abroad – from the comfort of your second home on wheels. You’ll want to make sure that it is up to the task, looking, smelling and feeling renewed and refreshed both inside and out.

The exterior

While it has been laid up over winter, the bodywork of your motorhome will have attracted its share of dust, dirt and grime – including grit and birdlime.

Liberally hose down the exterior of your motorhome using plenty of fresh water – this washes off the looser dirt and softens more persistent patches for removal later. When adding cleaning products to the next wash, choose those that are specially formulated for motorhomes, so that you avoid any which are too harsh.

An article in Out and About Live on the 9^th of March 2020, suggests that you avoid washing down the outside of your motorhome on a windy or hot day since the water will dry too quickly before you’ve had the chance to rinse it down, and so leave unsightly streaks.

Pay particular attention to any acrylic windows, which may be sensitive to some chemicals and will scratch easily from abrasives. Use plenty of warm water to wash them, therefore, and make sure to remove the residue from any cleaning products.

Tackling the inside

If you took some care to clean your motorhome before its winter layover, tackling the interior is likely to be a simple question of airing it thoroughly and removing the dust and debris that might have built up.

Open all the windows and doors and get your duster out to tackle every surface and the inside of cupboards and storage units. When that’s been done, take a vacuum cleaner to the floor – or a mop if it’s a laminate covering – and keep the doors and windows open so that the interior remains well ventilated for at least the next few hours or so.

Upholstery and soft furnishings can be cleaned with shampoo or specialist cleaning products but remember to keep the interior well ventilated until everything has dried out thoroughly – wet cushions are only going to encourage damp and mould.

Functionality

Spring cleaning also gives you the chance to check that everything is working as it should. There is nothing worse than discovering a malfunction when you have already set off from home.

Sit behind the wheel and operate each of the switches at your fingertips. Check that the headlights come on and that no bulbs need replacing. Do the same for the brake lights and indicators. Ensure that the handbrake works smoothly and effectively.

Check the controls for the air conditioning, together with other gadgets and devices such as the radio, TV, CD player, sat-nav and any onboard WiFi system. Test any fire alarms and smoke detectors, ensuring that each one has enough battery life.

Once you’ve given your motorhome a clean, you can start planning your next journey!

In these dark days of coronavirus lockdown, you might be wondering when you’ll get the chance to have your motorhome back on the road once again. Make no doubt about it, though, there will be light at the end of even the longest tunnel. When that time comes, you’ll want to be sure that your motorhome is ready and waiting to go.

Here, then, are our tips and suggestions for getting ready for summer:

Check it over

• given the current restrictions on travel, your motorhome is likely to have been laid up unused for rather longer than usual this year;
• by giving it a thorough checking over now, you may be better prepared to take to the road once circumstances allow;

Give it an airing

• since it has been shut up for a number of weeks or months, the inside is bound to smell a little musty or damp – and now is the time to make sure that a good airing is required rather than anything more serious;
• check the carpets and upholstery for any signs of damp or staining – giveaway clues to a leak or condensation that is likely to bring mould in its train;

Water system

• hopefully, you remembered to flush out and drain down the fresh and wastewater systems at the end of last season – but they are still likely to need a further rinsing through before you put them to use once again;
• so, fill up the tanks and add a little sterilising solution before opening all the taps – hot and cold – to wash the system through into the waste storage tank;
• repeat as often as necessary until the water runs bright and clear;

Gas system

• before putting a match to any gas appliance, thoroughly check all the pipes and hoses to ensure that none is split or perished;
• when you are happy with the integrity of the supply system, light the gas and check that it burns with the familiar blue flame – if it’s orange, the chances are that air is getting into the supply somewhere along the line;
• with any gas system, safety is paramount, so if you are in any doubt or want the added reassurance of professional help ask a registered Gas Safe engineer to check it over or book in your motorhome for a full habitation service;
• check that the gas cylinders are as full as they need be for your next trip before you set off;

Servicing

• as important as any habitation service, of course, is a mechanical service too;
• this needs to follow the engine manufacturer’s specifications – and it is worth keeping a careful record of that service history;
• included in any mechanical service, there also needs to be a thorough check of the tyres – they must be free from bulges and cuts but also have a tread of at least 2mm across their entire width;
• remember that the tyres are likely to have suffered more than their usual share of wear and tear simply by standing and taking the whole weight of the vehicle throughout the winter months.

Keep an eye on the current situation, therefore, and look out for that light at the end of the tunnel. Now is the time to start getting your motorhome ready for summer.