No one likes odors in their RV. The small space and reduced ventilation can concentrate odors and make them unbearable at times. Find out what you can do.

There are many causes of bad odors in RVs. Even just things like dirty laundry, pets, and even cooking can cause odors that are hard to live with. Here are some causes and what to do about them:

Cooking odors

Food can be a big cause of odors in your RV. It’s also one of the easiest causes to control and eliminate. One very obvious way to combat odors from cooking is to use your RV’s range exhaust fan over the cooking area. It took us about a year (!) to figure out that there is a lockable flap on the outside of our RV exhaust vent, which had been locked close all that time! So make sure that that is open if you have one.

You will also need to clean your exhaust hood fan filter at least once a year. This can collect greases and other smoke byproducts, resulting in bad odors if not regularly cared for.

Other food odors

A trash can that hasn’t been emptied in a while or has been sitting around (especially in hotter weather) can also be the culprit of odors in your RV. It’s a good idea to check this; you’ll know right away if that is the problem. Don’t forget any other trashcans, like in your bathroom or bedroom area. You may wish to spray the inside of your trashcan with something like Fresh Wave Odor Removing Spray. We’re big fans of it!

Your refrigerator can be a source of odors as well. It’s easy to forget last week’s leftovers or something you brought home from eating out a while ago. Make sure you do a purge of your fridge regularly and even a quarterly wipe down. Your freezer can also harbor some bad odors, but this is much less common. NonScents Refrigerator Deodorizer is a great addition to both your fridge and freezer to absorb and control food odors.

Smoking odors

If you or someone in your RV smokes, it can be very difficult to get rid of those odors. Given that the typical RV has pretty small windows, tends to stay pretty tightly sealed, and there’s little way to generate any sort of cross-breeze, odors from tobacco or other products can linger for some time.

Using ceiling vents can help to remove smoke from your RV, and a product like Fresh Wave Continuous Release Odor Removing Gel can help absorb these types of odors.

Water-related odors

Believe it or not, but water can also be a bit cause of odors. Mold and mildew are the main culprits and can present severe health concerns with prolonged exposure. Make sure that your fresh water holding tank is sanitized with some frequency. We recommend once per quarter for full-timers and twice per year for everyone else.

Make sure that you inspect your RV’s roof during your annual maintenance. This is especially important if your RV is stored outside. Repair any seals as needed and if you do find a leak, address it immediately to prevent mold and mildew from growing.

Pet odors

If you travel or live with pets in your RV, doubtless you’re aware of the odors that can result. Often times, cat owners will find little “surprises” in out of the way places, especially if the cat is new to the RV. Seek out these and make sure to use a pet-friendly stain and odor remover, like Ecos Stain and Odor Remover.

Obviously, keeping your outdoor pet’s feet and fur clean, regular grooming and baths, and cleaning a cat’s litter box regularly are all good practices to keep odors down in your RV.

Holding tank and plumbing odors

These are big ones. First, your RV’s plumbing system, though similar to a stick-and-brick’s home waste system, it is not exactly the same. Your RV holds waste in your black and gray holding tanks until they are emptied. Until that time, there is a possibility that gasses and odors can seep up into your RV.

Of course, most RV’s plumbing systems have traps or filters to prevent this. But especially dirty holding tanks can generate a lot of odors. It’s a good idea to have your holding tanks professionally cleaned periodically. Our partner, Kleen Tank, and its sister All Pro Water Flow companies can visit your RV and clean your holding tanks onsite. It’s truly the only way to keep your holding tanks “factory clean.”