What are the best products to clean your RV interior walls? Our RV Lifestyle member asked, and our wonderful community answered with great products and tips!
Recently, a member of our RV Lifestyle Facebook group posed a question. She wrote, “What stuff do you use to clean inside walls. Prior owner was smoker. I have that wallpaper stuff and my ceiling (has) that yucky yellow look.”
Her post received many helpful comments, including 17 specific cleaning products. There were several other cleaning ideas mentioned that I'm also going to share with you.
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17 Best Products to Clean Your RV Interior Walls
The following are the 17 best products for cleaning your RV interior walls. These suggestions come directly from the best reviewers around: your fellow RV lifestyle enthusiasts. You can see the Facebook post here.
Who better to suggest what has worked than those that have put these products to the test?
**Important Note: several of these products are not made specifically for walls. So, please be sure to test a small, hidden area before fully applying these products to your RV interior walls.
1. Magic Eraser / Melamine Sponge
Many people have heard of magic erasers. They are also called melamine sponges since they are made from melamine foam.
These little guys are truly “magical,” able to scrub stains and dirt from surfaces that cannot otherwise be cleaned. They don’t use a cleaning solution, just the foam!
They work just as well on RV interior walls as they do on traditional house walls.
2. OdoBan
Many of our Rv community folks suggested a product called OdoBan.
One member named Tammy shared how she used to clean motels and said they would use it to clean surfaces in smoking rooms.
She also said that it can help with urine odor, and be used in the washing machine! That would be useful for pet owners or parents that need a good cleaner to help with potty accidents.
3. Clorox Bathroom Cleaner
Clorox Bathroom Cleaner may work for more than just a bathroom. Annette said she has used this cleaner on her ceiling and it “worked great!”
BEWARE! This product contains bleach and can damage or discolor some surfaces. Be sure to test a small, hidden area before you use it on your walls or ceiling.
4. Dawn Power Wash
Another member who is a chef suggested Dawn Power Wash for interior walls. He said that it removed the stains and debris from the interior of a food truck!
5. Trisodum Phosphte (TSP)
Several people suggested the cleaning power of TSP as its known for removing smoke and soot stains. It comes in a liquid or powder form and is widely available. You can easily find it online or in bix box or hardware stores.
Douglas said that it was effective at removing smoke but may have to be washed a couple of times.
6. Powdered Tide
Another member suggests the cleaning power of Tide. Although she said she had not tried it in an RV, it works very well to clean walls in her house. She said it even cleans baseboards and cabinets!
All you have to do is mix 1 TSP of the powder with a gallon of hot water. Then saturate and wring out a rag to clean.
She went on to say it can even help clean dirty windows. However, you will need to rinse the windows when you are done.
7. Awesome
There is an Awesome cleaner that can be found on Amazon. But there is also a different Awesome cleaner that you can locate at the Dollar Tree.
Either way, these cleaners have a great reputation for cleaning walls well!
RV Lifestyle FB member John suggests diluting the cleaner by half and opening some windows to increase airflow.
8. 409 Multi-Surface Cleaner
409 is another great all-purpose cleaner that you can try out. You can find it in different versions, but try out the easy-to-use spray bottle. No need for a bucket!
9. Peroxide
Peroxide is an environmentally friendly cleanser that can be used in a number of ways. It is also pretty cost-friendly!
The product description boasts, “No Job is TOO TOUGH for our Peroxide Cleaner! Deep clean Restrooms, Kitchens, Mirrors, Floors, & other surfaces Easily & Efficiently.”
10. Simple Green & Mrs. Meyers Lemon Multi-Surface Cleaner
Kristine uses a combination of Simple Green and Mrs. Meyers Lemon Multi-Surface Cleaner to clean walls, ceilings and upholstery!
She said that the previous owners of her RV were not smokers, but the combination really cleaned. It helped removed musty, stale smells and dirt and grime.
11. Damp Rid
This product comes in a small bucket and helps soak up foul odors. It is not used to clean walls but can be used to remove odor from the interior of an RV.
12. Scrubbing Bubbles Grime Fighter
Scrubbing Bubbles is another great bathroom cleaner that can be used to clean walls in other areas as well!
But again, don’t forget to test a small, hidden area before applying to all of your walls.
13. White Vinegar
If you are interested in an environmentally friendly, natural cleaner then you can use a vinegar and water solution. You mix one part vinegar to one part water, put it in a spray bottle, spray and wipe!
The best part is that it is an inexpensive way to clean as well. If you don’t like the vinegar smell, you can add lemon juice to the mixture.
14. Kaboom
This cleaner packs a punch!
Mark said that it worked wonders in his RV. The previous owner smoked four packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years of ownership! Kaboom removed the tar easily and thoroughly.
15. Lemon Juice
Here’s another natural cleaner for those that want it. A mixture of lemon juice and water can help remove tough odors. 1 squeezed lemon per cup of water should work, but it’s easier to use lemon juice.
For tough stains, you can add white vinegar to the mixture as well. As we mentioned above, 1 part vinegar and 1 part water make a great cleaner for RV interior walls.
16. Angry Orange Odor Eliminator
Another suggestion is using the power of orange! This cleaner can remove stains and odors, including harsh odors like urine.
Originally designed for pet odors, it also works well on any other strong smell.
17. Scentsy Bathroom Cleaner
Our final product was suggested by Kathleen. She said that Scentsy Bathroom cleaner “smells great and cleaned it up!”
She said she also used this cleaner on her outside chairs, and it worked well.
Out-of-the-Box Options to Clean Your RV Interior Walls
Our members suggested many beneficial cleaning products and tips. But what if none of them work for your particular issue?
There are a few other off-the-beaten-path suggestions that you can try on your RV interior walls.
Ozone Machine
Several members of our community suggested renting an ozone machine or generator. They are highly effective at taking out hard-to-remove odors.
Bross echoed these sentiments. He said, “Rent an ozone machine. It will take the smell out plus sanitize everything.”
Repaint or Replace Wall Paper
Many respondents suggested that if cleaning products don’t get out the odor of your RV interior walls, you can try repainting. KILZ brand paint can cover and seal many years worth of cigarette odor and staining.
(By the way, we wrote an article on the best paint for RV cabinets you might want to check out.)
Silly Putty
Did you know that silly putty was originally made as a wall cleaner? The manufacturers realized that it made a good toy, and it was rebranded.
But it can still be used to clean walls. It may not be the most efficient way to clean your RV interior walls, but it could be fun!
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