Man details his camper using high quality RV detailing products and a pressure washer

Your Guide to Camper Detailing: Tips for a Sparkling Clean Ride

TL;DR: Proper camper detailing keeps your RV clean, protected, and ready for adventure. In this guide, you’ll learn how to wash, polish, and protect your camper inside and out while saving money with DIY methods.

Inspect seals, screws, and slide-outs to prevent leaks and costly damage.
Wash with RV-safe soap—never household cleaners—to protect finishes.
Polish faded fiberglass, then apply wax or a silica sealant for UV protection.
Use the right tools like foam cannons, microfiber mitts, and soft brushes.
Freshen the interior with regular cleaning, odor control, and tank maintenance.

Your RV or camper is more than just a means of transportation. It’s a home on wheels and a ticket to adventure. So keeping it clean isn’t just about improving its looks – or even about protecting its resale value. It’s about personal pride, too. With the right camper detailing approach, you can make your rig look like it’s brand new…or even better! Here’s a quick guide to get you started.

1. Inspect Before You Wash

Most people skip this step, but to do so would be a big mistake. Why? Even out of the factory, RV quality control isn’t always as good as auto quality control. These are big machines, after all. So you might find things you need to address before washing. For example, as this helpful camper detailing video mentions, you should always:

Check the seals around windows, slide-outs and the roof to prevent leaks
Look for black streaks from seals and rain runoff
Check screws and tabs because loose ones can rip wiper seals and cause expensive repairs

Step 2: Wash, Polish, and Protect

Wash

After your inspection is done, it’s time to wash your RV. Always start with the right soap and debugging solution. (In most cases, bug removal is needed!) Dedicated RV soaps are pH-balanced and designed to be safe on paint, fiberglass, and seals. Household cleaners and dish soap can strip away protective wax and dry vulnerable materials like rubber seals over time. Don’t forget to wash awnings and slideout covers!

Clay

After washing, it’s time to decontaminate the paint – a step that separates the pros from the amateurs. Usually, this is done with something called a clay bar and quick detailer. In some cases, due to the size of RVs, this step is skipped, but it’s best-practice for decontaminating paint for better adhesion of wax or sealant.

Polish

Then, it’s time to compound or polish your camper’s paint. This step is not always necessary, but it helps remove swirl marks, scratches, and restore the luster of faded paint and in cases of severe oxidation, is required for sealant or wax to properly adhere and provide protection.

Protect

Finally, it’s time to wax or seal the paint to lock in the finish and provide a slick, shiny surface that resists everything from acid rain etching and bird droppings to UV-caused clear-coat failure.

Pro Tip: Having the right tools is essential! For this job, you’ll need:

A foam cannon and pressure washer (just be careful around seals!)
Soft-flagged bristle brushes on long poles
Ladders or stools for getting hard-to-reach areas
Debugging solution
RV soap
Soft drying and polishing towels (i.e. microfiber towels)
Wax or sealant
Clay bars and quick detailer
A machine polisher and polish or compound (dual action/orbital is recommended over rotary as rotary polishers can burn through paint)

3. Give the Interior Some TLC

Inside, remove trash and vacuum away dirt and debris. Wipe or deep clean counters, cabinets, and vents. Clean glass. Shampoo or steam clean carpets and remove stains. And empty tanks regularly to prevent odors. For seriously stinky interiors, try an ozone generator after thorough cleaning! (Just be sure NOT to stay inside the RV when using one of them!)

Pro Tip: For this job, make sure you have these supplies on hand:

Lightweight vacuum or handheld vac
All-purpose interior cleaner (safe for wood, vinyl, and laminate)
Microfiber cloths for dusting and wiping
Glass cleaner for windows and mirrors
Carpet shampoo or portable steam cleaner
Odor absorbers (baking soda, charcoal bags, or neutralizing sprays)
Optional: Ozone generator for deep odor removal

How Much Does RV Detailing Cost?

Detailing an RV is a serious job that’s not for the faint of heart. Professionals often charge $8-$10 per linear foot or more. Doing the outside and inside often takes many hours.

So if you’re an RV owner looking to save money, using the above guide can help! If, on the other hand, this all seems like too much, we recommend purchasing your own high-quality materials and contacting a local detailer to get the job done right for you!

If you’re a detailer, trust Image Wash Products to help you save time and effort during RV details.