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quoteNobody wants bad smells in their caravan or motorhome. Especially any that linger. But there’s no excuse, really.
As far as any unwanted smells are concerned, prevention is better than cure. Luckily, there are also plenty of products out there that can help you overcome any state of nasty niffiness.
Whilst you will probably not want to go as far as ozone generators and enzymatic cleaners, there are still lots of ways of making your caravan or motorhome as comfortable as possible as far as smells are concerned. Read on….
Go natural to stop the smells…
You might not like the idea of buying proprietary products to keep unwanted odours at bay. That’s fair enough. There are plenty of environmentally-friendly solutions that you might be happier with. But you might also want to consider:
- Bicarbonate of soda (also known as baking soda; both are actually pure sodium bicarbonate) can be particularly effective for removing stains as well as odours from mattresses as well as carpets.
- White wine vinegar is known for being able to neutralise odours. It’s a mild acid
- A baking soda and vinegar solution will absorb unwanted smells from cooking. Place a bowlful on your motorhome or caravan worktop overnight and you’ll notice the difference. The baking soda will neutralise acidic odours, while vinegar absorbs airborne smells
- Or, half a lemon added to a pan of boiling water can also alleviate smells lingering after cooking in your ‘van.
- Activated charcoal is a well-known odour trap, often included in air purifiers but can also be used in its own right.
- Essential oils like bergamot, lemon, lavender, peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus are all good at eliminating nasty niffs in your leisure vehicle.
Top tips to preventing bad smells in your motorhome or caravan
- Ventilate. You vehicle should have plenty of natural ventilation (included gas drop-outs) and you should, of course, always have a decent airflow when you’re cooking in your leisure vehicle, also when you’re asleep (and creating condensation). But you might want to close off ventilation and close windows if any nasty smells are hanging around outside your vehicle.
- Keep on top of your cleaning. That includes everything you would also do at home – mopping up spills immediately, dusting, vacuum cleaning, mopping up any condensation, dealing with damp clothing etc. Ditto for any pets on board your motorhome or caravan.
- A good old spring clean will do wonders for your leisure vehicle ahead of any serious touring. Or, if you want to take things further, have your interior deep cleaned professionally (your supplying dealer will be able to help here).
- Air any mattresses, cushions and general upholstery regularly. If you’re not planning to use your motorhome or caravan for long periods – e.g. over winter – take out as many cushions etc as possible and store them in a dry place. At the same time, clean out the fridge and leave the door ajar so that fresh air can get to the inside.
- Store wet smelly shoes in an outside locker or box. To eliminate shoe smells in your motorhome or caravan, use exterior lockers or garages, or weatherproof and breathable exterior shoe bags or boxes. Paired with natural odour absorbers, they should stop stinky shoe smells from entering your leisure vehicle
Here are some products to help keep smells in your motorhome or caravan at bay…
Star Player #1
Fenwick’s Waste Pipe & Tank Cleaner
More experienced caravanners and motorhomers will remember this product from the 1990s, when it was called Fendox. It’s a cleaner that’s been formulated to remove any build-up of waste material and limescale from the waste water systems in any caravan or motorhome. And because it’s almost completely free of bleaches or biocides it won’t have any adverse effects on pipework and the insides of tanks.
Use it diluted to clean waste systems (pipes and tanks) as well as hard surfaces and any build-ups of black in toilet flush tanks etc.
Fenwick’s also says mixing a dose of Waste Pipe & Tank Cleaner with warm water and adding to your wastewater tank before going for a drive, then leaving it for a few hours after you stop, will make sure all surfaces are covered and worked on.
A standard one-litre container comes in 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled plastic) that is also classed as Prevented Ocean Plastic. Fenwick’s is particularly proud to be among the early adopters of this material in the UK.
Fenwick’s is also a 1% for the Planet Member. One per cent of its annual turnover goes to environmental good causes (and at least the same amount goes to other charities).
Key features Biodegradable, food-safe, can also be used to remove stains and unblock pipes, also available in larger sizes
Expect to pay £10 (one-litre container)
Star Player #2
Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max
An air purifier designed for small rooms but also mighty enough to purify up to 8.5m2 in less than 13 minutes. Its three-speed fan will take out not just odours but also bacteria, viruses, dust, pollen and more. Blueair claims its four-layer filtration process will remove 99.97% of all airborne pollutants thanks to its HEPASilent technology – noise level is as little as 19Db going up to a maximum of 42Db on the highest fan speed setting.
It’s offered in a choice of pre-filter colours. Replacement filters are £18.
Key features Washable pre-filter, two-button fan control, dimensions 17.3cm x 15cm x 28.9cm high, weight 1.2kg
Expect to pay £79
Star Player #3
Lakeland 1L Compact Dehumidifier
Small enough to be used in a caravan or motorhome, and pack away unobtrusively when not needed, this mains-operated dehumidifier will tackle damp and condensation that could otherwise lead to nasty smells in your leisure vehicle.
Lakeland says this can take up to a litre of water out of the air in 24 hours.
It’s also well worth using in conjunction with a pot of Lakeland’s Cotton Fresh Odour Absorbing Gel, which neutralises odours rather than simply concealing them.
Key features 400ml collection tank, 180cm cable, quiet operation, weight 1.1kg, warning light for full tank
Expect to pay £29.99
Star Player #4
HG Bin Odour Freshener
Using what manufacturer HG calls “environmentally-friendly raw materials”, here’s a liquid that absorbs smells and offers a fresh fragrance. It’s not just for rubbish bins, either. You can use it in all kinds of waste containers, including nappy bins, buckets, even wheelie bins.
Dosage varies as per the size of the bin but is typically between one and three caps for a typical rubbish container (significantly less for the bins you typically get on the habitation doors of caravans or motorhomes) – and you can simply top of the dosage as needed (you’ll need more in hotter temperatures, for example).
For use indoors as well as outdoors, but do note it’s not suitable for septic tanks. Bin Odour Freshener is part of HG’s extensive range of odour-eliminating products, including an odour eliminator spray for all surfaces, vacuum cleaner air freshener, humidity absorbers, mattress odour remover, drain unblockers and lots more.
Key features 500g pack size (16 doses per container), limonene and linalool perfumes, contains citral, three-year guarantee
Expect to pay £7.99
Star Player #5
Thetford Grey Water Fresh
From an extensive array of chemicals from Thetford, many sold under the Aqua Kem name, this is an ideal product to keep the contents of any on-board waste water tanks smelling fresh – so unwanted odours won’t permeate to your living quarters. Plus, you won’t get any unwanted nasty whiffs when you’re emptying the tanks.
It also helps prevent any deposits forming in the waste tank, which, again, can be the source of unwanted odours.
Grey Water Fresh comes in a handy 80ml plastic container, with 80ml a typical dose. Add it via the sink and/or shower drain before you start using your grey water tank. Each dosage lasts up to a week.
Key ingredients include Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), which controls smell and prevents bacterial growth; and Laureth-6/Laureth-8, a non-ionic surfactant alcohol ethoxylate that breaks down grease, soap scum, food deposits and more.
Key features Easy to apply, handy container size
Expect to pay £12
Star Player #6
Lakeland Clip Cold Cut Storage Box 1L
A set of four one-litre food storage boxes with lids that are airtight and leakproof – hence ideal for restraining any unwanted odours that could permeate the rest of your leisure vehicle. The clip-lock lids will also keep food fresher for longer.
Also, coming in clear plastic means you can easily assess the state of any products inside.
Each box does indeed have a one-litre capacity. Dimensions are 20.9cm x 27.9cm a 16cm high.
They also stack tightly when not being used for storage. Lakeland also offers alternative sizes and shapes of these containers with their unique lid clipping design.
Key features Microwave-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe, three-year warranty
Expect to pay £15.83
Star Player #7
Thule shoe organiser
Keep (smelly) shoes and trainers out of your caravan or motorhome with this practical hanging shoe organiser from Thule. Designed to be mounted outside your vehicle, it provides space for at least 10 pairs of shoes, helping to reduce clutter and keep unwanted odours from building up indoors.
Ventilation holes encourage airflow, while the integrated zip-up cover helps protect footwear from the weather if left in the open and not under an awning. It also folds away neatly when travelling or storing between trips.
Key features 10 large shoe storage pockets, ventilation holes, weather-resistant, integrated zip cover, foldable for easy storage
Expect to pay £38.99
Star Player #8
Boot Bananas Eco Travel Deodorisers
Pair your boot and shoe organiser with a set of charcoal shoe deodorisers. Simply pop the inserts inside your walking boots or trainers after use to absorb sweat and unpleasant odours, then store them in the organiser outside your caravan or motorhome for maximum freshness.
These Eco Travel Deodorisers are lightweight and the activated coconut charcoal makes these Boot Bananas gentle on the planet. The entire banana will ‘ripen’ over time as the natural cotton fabric breaks down – approximately 12 months.
Key features Home compostable, Oeko-tex® certified dyes and inks, weighs 0.210kg, activated charcoal
Expect to pay £12.99
Star Player #9
Stanley Fresh-to-Table Leakproof Bowl
Again, the extra benefit of food storage containers like this are their ability to keep the smells in, especially when their seal is airtight and leakproof, as here. Also, this has a double-walled vacuum insulation bowl and a foam-insulated lid.
Use it for anything from salads to snacks to hot food. There’s a choice of two colours – Rose Quartz and Frost.
Key features 0.94 litres capacity, vacuum pressure release button, also available in 0.47-litre size
Expect to pay £45
Star Player #10
Liberty Moisture Trap
As it says on the label, this combats smells and musty odours, using moisture-absorbing crystals. It’s non-spill, too, offering up a scent-free fragrance. Just pop it in any areas affected by moisture, which it takes in ready to pour away.
It will help reduce not just unwanted smells but acts as a mould and mildew preventative.
Replacement crystals are available in two styles – scent-free and ocean scent – in pack sizes 500g or 2.5kg
Key features Plastic polypropylene construction with easy pouring, dimensions 11.5cm x 8.5cm x 25cm, total weight 1kg
Expect to pay £8
Over to you…
Got any advice on getting rid of unwanted odours in your caravan or motorhome to pass on to others? We’d love to hear them. Please feel free to add your comments below.
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A simple way to stop damp over winter is just a plastic dish in each room full of ordinary salt. Very effective and very cheap.
I have installed in-line waste water smell traps which are supplied by C.A.K. Tanks. These prevent smells coming up from the waste tank to the sinks in the galley and bathroom/shower. Simple to do for a DIYer.
Thanks for sharing Alan
Some interesting items here