I have been a neat-nik most of my life, which for me also means being a clean freak. Having pets kept me from becoming a hermetically sealed germaphobe; there’s only so much clean you can accomplish when you live with animals. Still, I worked to keep my house spotless, cleaning it myself in between visits from the cleaning lady. Then, in preparation for the annual summer party, there was the deep clean, which included washing all windows inside and out, cleaning air vents and baseboards, polishing all the vintage furniture and wood trim, cleaning all glass and mirrors in the bar, waxing floors, and removing and cleaning all light fixtures.
Can I stop here for just a minute and say that I don’t miss that at all?
In a motorhome, my standards of cleanliness have changed. When you drive your wheel estate, a certain amount of dust and grime sneaks in through the slides and vents and windows, even when they are closed. Also, I am in a 320 square-foot space with three animals. The pet hair and dander and dirt from little paws was less noticeable in the 2,700 square-foot house. And, even when I remember to remove my shoes at the entrance, the floors are inevitably dirty. I can’t imagine being in an RV with carpeting! At least the grime is hard to see on my black industrial rubber flooring.
My new standard is pretty simple: If it looks clean, it is. Just don’t look at it too closely. And for heavens sakes, don’t bend down and look under things or in corners! Not sanitized. Not sterilized. Clean … ish. My new word for this new world: Sortalyzed.
The sinks? Wipe them out with Clorox wet wipes! Floors? Swiffer wet pad, and just mop around the throw rugs. The throw rugs? If the RV park has a laundromat, they might get done, along with the pet bedding. Dust? A quick once-over with a Swiffer 360. Windows? I clean the inside windshield after the dogs have had their noses all over it, but that is simply because I have to be able to see when I’m driving. Shower? Using an after-shower cleaning spray has drastically reduced how often I clean it. Furniture? If you come for a visit I will invite you to sit either at the vinyl dinette or on the leather captain chairs. The sofa? You’re going to end up wearing some pet hair if you sit there. A friend is coming for a visit soon, and I have advised against bringing a lot of black clothing, and anything woven or black, we’ll hang up immediately when we get back to the rig.
How are you keeping your RV clean? Or are you?
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Tammy..I went to Dollar Store bought very thin “quilted” chair and sofa covers…(think the sofa was about $10) easy to shake out side the RV. And wash dry in the washer…company coming roll up and hide in shower viola clean furniture . Make my own shower cleaner, dawn, vinegar, lemon juice and H2O in spray bottle…spray all walls hose them off about every three days…..works great bathroom always smells good. Have you tried “invisible glass” spray from auto section in Walmart on windshield and windows? Dirt doesn’t stick as bad..great for front windshield!
Love it! Hope you are well.
FYI-I do also spend to much time cleaning my home as well. I just find a messy home distracting to my creativity. I work and paint at home, in-between household stuff, cooking and life chores. I find if I have had a few cocktails I don’t mind the mess as much, but that is only in the evening while R&Ring with the hubby or having friends over for dinner parties. Trying to learn to just let it go. Keep rock’n!
Found your site recently- what a gas- loved the 40 days of “Bent” I hope you continue the ups and downs of road life until we have a cocktail at some unique and special place.
John, thank you for saying hello! I got a lot of flak for Bent – people complaining they did not subscribe to the blog for restaurant reviews, etc. I figure they got what they paid for! ha ha
As usual Tammy thoroughly enjoyed your post. We full time in a class A with a short haired black lab and a long haired cat. We lived in a 5,000 sq ft home we gave to our daughter & family when we started RVing. Like you I was a clean freak. Everything had to be perfect. And like you, would clean before the cleaning lady came. ( really thought I was the only one who did that) I was so exhausted from making sure everything was spotless inside and outside before parties I couldn’t enjoy myself. I’m so glad I’m no longer in that life. Now I use a swiffer sweeper daily, dust, make the bed and I’m free to have fun. On days I miss having a large home to decorate I remind myself of the work that came with it.