While the weather may have us believe otherwise, Summer is almost upon us. The end of May/June bank holiday and half term is popular for staycations as the weather starts to improve. For those with a camper, it’s the perfect time to getaway over the Jubilee long weekend. Many campers may have stored unused over winter and need a spring clean before they come out of hibernation. In this guide, we will go over everything you should do to get your camper ready for summer.

The first thing you should do is give your camper a thorough clean, inside and out. You may have to give it a deeper clean than usual as it may have been stored away for some time. If you plan on using it over the Jubilee weekend, now is the time to get it done.

Exterior Cleaning

Start with the exterior of your camper, removing any dirt and grime that may have built up. If you have a hose or pressure washer, you may want to blast off the cobwebs and dirt first. Start from the top and work your way down. The two bucket method is best for removing dirt and grime while not scratching the paintwork. For this, you need two buckets and a sponge, one with soapy water and one for clean water to rinse the sponge in.

Make sure you get in all the nooks and crannies, under the wheel arches, door seals etc., for a thorough clean. If you have awnings or tents, make sure to clean those as well

Once you have given the exterior of your camper a good wash, you need to make sure it is completely dry before moving on. This is important as any water left on the surface can cause rust and damage. The best way to dry your camper is with a chamois leather or microfiber cloth.

Interior Cleaning

Now it’s time to move on to the interior of your camper. Remove all loose items such as clothes, bedding and any other bits and bobs you may have stored away. Once everything is out, give the whole area a good vacuum. Pay special attention to areas like under the seats, in crevices and in corners where dirt and crumbs can accumulate.

Now you need to clean all surfaces. Start with larger areas like benches, tables, and counters, then move on to smaller items such as cupboards, drawers and cabinets. If there is a fridge on board, give this a good clean out and dry too. Use a damp cloth or multipurpose cleaner to wipe down all surfaces. You can use hot soapy water for a deeper clean, but make sure everything is rinsed and dried thoroughly afterwards.

If you have blankets, cushions and curtains in your camper, now is an excellent time to wash them and hang them out to dry to ensure everything is clean and fresh for summer.

If you have a pop-up roof, give this a good brush down or vacuum to get rid of any cobwebs or dirt. If you use any cleaning solutions, be sure to leave the roof up until everything has dried out before collapsing the top to avoid mould and mildew.

Clean the windows inside and out with a good glass cleaner. Not only will this help you see better when driving, but it will also make your camper look much nicer on the inside.

Check all your equipment is in working order, such as the fridge, cooker, lights and heating. If you have a TV or DVD player, now is a good time to test it out. You don’t want to get away and find something is broken.

If you had tinned food stored in the van, then check it’s all in date and get rid of anything that’s not good. Check all cutlery and plates etc., are clean and good to use also.

Stock Up

Once everything is clean and dry, you can start restocking your camper with food, clothes and any other items you need for your trip. Some good things to take include:

  • Blankets
  • Tinner food
  • Torch
  • Clothes for all weather conditions – wellies, jumpers, shorts, vests etc
  • Suncream
  • Coolbox
  • Plastic plates, bowls, cups etc
  • Cutlery

A few final tips…

Make sure you have some sort of insurance cover, just in case anything goes wrong on your trip. If you’re going to be away for a while, then make sure someone at home has a copy of your itinerary in case they need to get in touch with you. And finally, have a great time! Camping is one of the best ways to see the country and meet new people, so enjoy every minute!

We hope this covers everything you need to get your camper ready for summer, if you have any ideas of your own, pop them in the comments to share with fellow campers.