Need suggestions for types of cleaners - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Jo And Craig · RV-Dreams Family Member

Need suggestions for types of cleaners

The Restless Youngs · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yeah!! Sooo excited for you guys. Not an expert by any means on this topic, but thought I'd throw in a few comments....

1) Thinking it's fine to use anything, but I've been using the Dawn Platinum that Linda recommended at the rally and really like it so far.
2) I've been using any tp that disolves in water with the "put in water and swirl" test.... Mainly Scott
3) Been using only the HE detergent in our splendide...but leftover from the s&b. So far we like our Splendide Artiston set; dryer is a little loud, but we can shut the bathroom door, so it's okay.
4) We squeegee the shower doors everytime we use (got a squeegee from container store that snaps around the shower head rod thingy) and have been using regular bathroom cleaner. I think it's the scrubbing bubbles, but it's leftover as well.
5) We bought a small dirt devil canister vac. Seems to work just fine for the space it covers. Really like the ease of storage and convenience of the cordless dysons but haven't splurged yet....not sure we will. The dirt devil tucks nicely in the closet and was LOTS cheaper. We have mainly tile in our coach, so find myself grabbing a paper towel to clean something off the floor....probably because the vacuum isn't as convenient. It works though.

And ultimately cleaning is SO much easier. Takes so little time in comparison; soooooo nice!!

Lmn · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi, congrats on your rv.
1, I use all dish detergents - dawn works best for me.
2, again I use any toilet bowl cleaner. We have a porcelain toilet, just as you would in your house.
3, I have a splendide combo, I use the packets, tide and others less mess easy to store. I also use downy for softener, I have used bounce as well, liquid seems to work better for me.
4, squeegees a must, helps keep the tub clean we too use it all the time. I did pick up some micro cloths at an rv rally. A little expensive $20 for 3 works great on tub, mirrors, windows and you don't need window cleaner with these only water, does a great job no streaks.
5, Electrolux cordless, you will need to plug it in to charge this is the best I have found, it's a stand up takes very little room very slimline, use as a dust buster as we comes with 2 tools, the vacuum head has a brush roller. We have front carpet and a small dog, pick up hair, which I have not found others to do. And I think I've tried all but the dyson. Dyson runs rather high, I got mine at Lowes for $161. Worth ever penny. I use it for everything from carpet, vent, blinds.

Good luck RVing

The Sages · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have been wanting to go green for some time. So when I moved from the S & B I got rid of all of the chemical laden stuff. (And disposed of it properly). To clean sink, tub, and toilet, I use a combo of vinegar and baking soda (makes it's own scrubbing bubbles), all purpose cleaner is equal parts of water and vinegar with the juice and peels of 1 lemon. Let the lemon soak a few days and it will cover up the vinegar smell, but really once the vinegar dries the smell is gone and it just smells fresh not chemically.

As far as dishes I use dawn it is a good grease cutter (and when we dump our kitchen gray water I get 2 sinks of hot, soapy water ready and release them into the drain, not sure if it helps, but I feel better about it!) I try to let as little grease go down the drain as possible, and wipe all plates and pans with a paper towel after using and before washing.

Can't help you out with the washer and dryer, the Dutchman is older and does not have one. And my mom gave me a tiny, bright yellow Bissell vacuum that works just fine.

Sheryle

The Sages · RV-Dreams Family Member

Also I use the cheap Scott-like tissue, store brand.-Sheryle

Workinrvers · RV-Dreams Family Member

we talked to an RV tech who is a Splendide factory recommended technician and he said to ALWAYS use HE detergent in our combo unit (we use Gain HE). He told us to transfer the detergent into a smaller bottle with a pump, we use a bottle that once held liquid hand soap, and to only use two pumps per load. Same thing for the softner. That does not seem like a lot of detergent/softener but it works good for us. He said many of the failures on the units can be traced back to using too much detergent and softener in the machines. The instructions (if I remember correctly) say to only use 2 tablespoon maximum of liquid soap per load so the little pump bottle helps us stay within these guidelines.

Phil

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jo,

When we got out Mobile Suites, there was a "note" with regards to our Dometic toilet that we did NOT want to use Charmin Ultra. For a while, we use Angel Soft, but they have changed their "formulation" and is now too heavy. We've changed to Scotts and I've noticed when dumping that I don't see the "paper residue" that I did with the Angel Soft. The Scotts is a single ply, but we are adjusting to it just fine.

For a vacuum, we also elected to not get a built in one and initially got a Dyson canister. After a while, Jo became very disappointed with it because it wouldn't do a good job of cleaning the carpet. So, we gave it away and bought a Shark Navigator NV-22, and Jo likes it a lot better. It is a fair-sized unit, but Jo keeps it in a back corner of the closet where our jackets and coats hang. The Shark's beater head is a LOT BETTER than the Dyson's was, so it cleans carpet better.

Terry

JackKim · RV-Dreams Family Member

I got rid of all chemical cleaners for my home, rv, truck.....etc a few years ago. I discoverd a product that works Amazing using just fibers and water........sorry to sound like a commerical, but it REALLY is amazing!

I am now a consultant and sell them (not sure if it is okay to state that or not. Delete if not Terry)
And love the fact that we do not carry any cleaners, and that the fibers weigh a fraction of the bottles and are re usable for years. Anyway.....if you are interested here is a link to a video that show how my ENJO works. If you have questions feel free to private message me.

And ps......for those who had posted recently about stainless steel, Enjo has been by far the best thing I have used to keep it beautiful and I was a house cleaner for many homes before we left on the road a few months ago so it was all I used.

Thanks for listening to my speil (passion) for getting the chemicals out of our homes and lives.

Kim

youtu.be/KTeIAPTEWq8

Ann-Hank · RV-Dreams Family Member

At the Escapees rally last summer, I went to a demo on natural cleaners.

Micro fiber cloths, alcohol, vinegar and baking soda. I use the Misto sprayers, the ones you put oil into, mix 50/50 water and alcohol or vinegar. Works great to clean everything. The alcohol/water is great for windows and mirrors. Hard water in the shower I use 20 Mule Team or baking soda. Vinegar and baking soda makes a great drain cleaner.

Dishes...Dawn

TP...Scott

Love my Splendide, I use All Free Clear, no softeners (allergies). The only problem I've had is drying 2 small throw rugs that had rubber backing. They made the drum drag and broke the belt. A real pain to fix.

Like my built in vac system.

Have fun with your new home.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yeah Jo & Craig,

You're getting SO close! Yippee!

We use dawn liquid or the foam depending upon our water situation (just use the foam if limited water). We use our used napkins to wipe down plates and cooking pots to keep debris out of drain. A dog helps! (That was for Red & Brian!) We wipe down our shower with microfiber cloths after showering. Every few months I scrub shower floor with a little leftover from S&B Kaboom. Clean the toilet with dawn.

Dust with microfibers and wipe pet hair off upholstery and I have quite a collection so save the dirty ones and wash separately.

We put a spray bottle w/Hydrogen peroxide to spray water connection before hooking up.

We love Kirkland TP.

Kim, that Enjo looks really interesting.

We really like our stick Dyson but I don't feel it gets dust off bare floors. If I walk in bare feet after vacuum I feel fine grit which I hate. It's great for pet hair and vents and upholstery.

I wipe counters in kitchen & bath with Clorox wipe as it leaves a shine on corian. Vinegar & water didn't seem to do that for me. Love reading other's tips!

Sherry

Jo and Ben · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Jo & Craig, so glad you are so close to getting your new home!

We use Green Works cleaner for the toilet. Yes it's ceramic, but we were also worried about what was going down into the tank.

Using Dawn for dishes.

Using HE all natural laundry detergent and fabric softener. LOVE my Splendide W/D! Took a bit to get good at using it, but now that I'm used to it I couldn't live without it :) We couldn't get the stackable, not enough room (height) so we got the vented combo unit. No regrets.

Used Kirkland TP in the S&B but when I did the "shake" test it took about 6-8 hours to dissolve, whereas the Scott dissolved almost instantly, so Scott it is. Kroger also makes a septic-safe, single ply toilet tissue that actually beat the Scott's in the shake test, but no Kroger stores in Maine where we are right now.

I use regular glass cleaner (Windex) on the shower glass, and keep a little squeegee that I think I bought at Walmart.

We have the Dyson stick cordless vacuum and love it. Haven't had the gritty residue that Sherry mentioned, but it's brand new so maybe time will tell. We also had the option of getting the built-in vac system but decided against it since we had read that they don't work all that well. We have two dogs :)

Good luck with the new rig, hope to see you on the road sometime!
Jo

DebbieM · RV-Dreams Family Member

Excited for you both! We've only been out a very short time, but we use:

1) Dawn concentrate

2) I actually like the smell of a bathroom bleach spray.

3) We don't have a stackable washer.

4) We've used what ever paper I pick. I'll should be more careful. Looks like I'll stick with Scott. Is 2-ply ok?

5) Squeegee

6) Our rig came with a built in central vac and I actually like it more than I thought. Quick and easy.

DenJen12 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yay!!! Excitement about a new rig and the dream of full-time!!

1) I also use the Dawn Platinum w/Bleach for dishes...but I think that that is a personal preference
2) I use Clorox wipes on almost everything to clean....I grew up cleaning my family home and my mom instilled the thought in me that nothing smelled better than a Clorox clean house

It definitely stuck.
3) As far as toilet paper, we use Angel Soft. It's septic safe..not paper thin..and usually ok'd by most rv parks (our last one gave us a list of brands we could use and Angel Soft was one of the only ones that wasn't the paper thin kind that you buy in the RV section of your local Wally World)
4) I have the Ariston stackable's in my rig and I use Tide HE or the little packs that you just toss in. I think it's pretty important to use HE in those washers. I don't believe they make too many detergents now though that aren't HE. As for brand, etc...that is a personal preference
5) As for the shower, see my (2) answer...LOL...I usually scrub everything down once or twice a week.
6) I opted out of the stick Dyson my unit was supposed to come with. I just toted my Shark Navigator with me. While it is an awesome vacuum, I wanted something a little more compact for the RV, so I put it in storage and recently purchased the Shark Rocket stick vacuum. Very similar to the Dyson slim, except it plugs in. I like that because I feel like it's more powerful plus I know I take longer to vacuum than a charge would last in a rechargeable. Plus, it's always ready for me. No need to wait for a recharge if I need it quickly. The cord is 32ft. I just plug it in in the middle of the rig and it reaches everywhere without having to switch the plug in. Hangs on the wall, basically out of the way. It works GREAT on hard floors and carport and never loses suction. I've tried and it has yet to disappoint

.

Good luck with your new adventures and hope you find some great information on here from everyone.

JayKim-no regrets · RV-Dreams Family Member

We also use Dawn Platinum for dishes.
TP, we use Costco brand, not too thin but passed the 'dissolve' test and we love it.
Been looking for a good shower cleaner for a while, will be trying the vinegar/bicarb spray (ty)
As for a vacuum, we recently changed out the dirt devil recharge stick kind, for a Hoover Presto, we LOVE IT!!! It has spinning brushes under it, so it picks up from carpet just great, we have a short haired pooch too but she still sheds, it picks up all her hair, works on wood floors really well too, it also has a removable hand unit that has attachments, that is great for the car! Best news is it was less that $80!!

One little question, we have carpeted ceilings in our Alfa (no idea why they would carpet the ceilings, but) we have recently found a couple of stains, not leaks (they are not wet) any ideas on how to get rid of them?

huggies Kim x

The Sages · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am also a fan of bleach to keep things sanitized. I ran a pre-school kitchen for a year and the sanitizer we were required to use was simply 1 gallon of water with 1 tablespoon bleach added. Pour into a spray bottle. Spray and wipe, but don't totally dry it. It will sanitize as it completes drying. Saves on those sanitizing wipes and the plastic containers they come in. If you want lemon scent, add lemon juice.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

RV parks with septic systems do not want RVers using bleach products that go down the drain. Many post that. Just FYI.

Sherry

The Sages · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes indeed. Never put bleach down your drains. It is only meant for surface cleaning and then very diluted.

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

1.-We just pick whatever dish soap is cheapest. Brand really doesn't matter as long as DW like it.

2.- Dish soap works great as a toile cleaner. As for TP, we have tested Scotts, Dollar General and Sam's Choice (Walmart) single ply TP and find all 3 break down rapidly in the shake test and work good in use. Since these are single ply we tend to use a little more but since there is more on the rolls, they last just as well as double ply and are cheaper. Do not use Angel Soft!

3.- Any liquid laundry detergent will work, just need to read directions and use 1 tbs, if not HE type

4.- A good "natural" shower cleaner is 1 part hot vinegar and Dawn dish soap. Works great while hot to remove soap scum, dirt and polish the glass. Have also found that wiping down the glass and metal fixtures with a plain microfiber towels after each use prevents water spotting.

5.- We both love our Dirt Devil on board vacuum. Also bought a suction powered beater bar that works great, called Turbocat Pro. This beater bar is wider than most and has a "turbo" that increases the air flow across the propellers that drive the beater bar so they do not bog down as easily as some makes. So we cannot recommend a small regular sweeper.