6 Best RV-Friendly Kitchen Cleaning Supplies for Small Spaces Nomads Swear By
Keep your RV kitchen spotless with 6 nomad-approved supplies. This list features compact, multi-purpose, and tank-safe essentials for life on the road.
You’ve just finished a fantastic camp-side dinner, but now your tiny RV galley looks like a disaster zone. Limited counter space is covered in greasy pans, you’re low on fresh water, and the last thing you want is to use harsh chemicals in your small, enclosed home on wheels. Choosing the right cleaning supplies isn’t just about tidiness; it’s about managing resources, protecting your RV’s systems, and maintaining your sanity in a compact environment.
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Essential Cleaning Gear for the RV Galley
Cleaning an RV kitchen isn’t like cleaning one in a sticks-and-bricks house. Every item you bring aboard needs to justify its existence by being multi-functional, compact, or incredibly effective. You’re not just fighting grime; you’re battling limited water, minimal storage, and the need to protect your sensitive holding tanks.
Forget the under-sink clutter of a dozen specialized sprays. The core principle for an RV cleaning kit is concentration and versatility. You want products that can be diluted, serve multiple purposes, and won’t harm the delicate ecosystem of your black and gray tanks. Think less about buying a product for every single task and more about finding a few powerhouse tools that can handle 90% of your needs.
Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds: The All-Purpose Hero
If you can only have one liquid cleaner in your rig, this is it. Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds is a biodegradable, plant-based surfactant that is brutally effective on grease but gentle on the environment and your RV’s plumbing. It’s not a soap, so it leaves no film and works well in hard water—a common situation when filling your tank from various sources on the road.
The magic of Sal Suds is its extreme concentration. A single bottle can last for months, saving precious storage space. A few drops in a sink of hot water will cut through the greasiest camp-stove bacon pan. A capful in a spray bottle filled with water creates an all-purpose counter and surface cleaner. You can even use it for floors or a tough laundry stain. It’s the ultimate multi-tasker that respects your small space and your holding tanks.
No-Tox Life Dish Block: Zero-Waste Soap Bar
Cut grease and grime with this ultra-concentrated, zero-waste solid dish soap. Its rich lather cleans effectively in all water types, leaving dishes residue-free and your skin happy.
Liquid dish soap is a travel day spill waiting to happen. The No-Tox Life Dish Block solves this problem entirely. It’s a large, solid bar of concentrated, vegan dish soap that sits in a small dish by your sink, eliminating the risk of leaks and freeing up valuable cabinet space.
This isn’t just about being eco-friendly; it’s about practicality. A single block can last for an incredibly long time, often replacing multiple plastic bottles of liquid soap. You simply wet your sponge or brush, rub it on the block to create a rich lather, and wash as usual. It cuts grease effectively and, because it’s a solid, you use only what you need, which helps with water conservation. There’s a slight adjustment period from using liquid, but the space-saving, no-spill benefits are a massive win for RV life.
Scrub Daddy Sponges: Tough on Grime, Not Pans
Tackle any mess with Scrub Daddy's temperature-controlled FlexTexture foam: firm for scrubbing, soft for gentle cleaning. These scratch-free, odor-resistant sponges are safe for multiple surfaces and designed for comfortable, versatile use.
Sponges in an RV can get gross, fast. The enclosed space and fluctuating humidity can turn a standard cellulose sponge into a mildewy mess. The Scrub Daddy is different. Its unique polymer material, FlexTexture®, changes based on water temperature, giving you two tools in one.
In cold water, the sponge becomes firm and rigid, perfect for scrubbing off burnt-on food without needing harsh chemicals. In warm water, it becomes soft and pliable, ideal for gently washing non-stick pans, dishes, and countertops. This dual-nature means you don’t need a separate abrasive scrubber and a soft sponge. Crucially, it rinses clean and resists odors for weeks, a non-negotiable feature when your kitchen is also your living room and bedroom.
E-Cloth Microfiber: Chemical-Free Cleaning Power
Get streak-free windows and glass with just water using the E-Cloth Microfiber Cleaning Kit. This two-cloth system removes 99% of grime and leaves surfaces spotless, while being reusable for up to 100 washes.
Water is a precious resource in an RV, and so is clean air. E-Cloths let you conserve both. These high-quality microfiber cloths are engineered to remove over 99% of bacteria from surfaces using just water. The microscopic fibers trap and hold grease, dirt, and grime without needing a chemical spray.
Clean effectively with HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloths. These ultra-absorbent, lint-free cloths are safe for all surfaces and reusable for hundreds of washes.
A small, dedicated set—one for general cleaning, one for glass—can replace an entire arsenal of surface cleaners and a year’s supply of paper towels. You use less water for cleaning and introduce fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your small living space. When they’re dirty, you just toss them in with your next load of laundry. It’s a simple system that saves space, reduces waste, and makes daily wipe-downs incredibly fast and efficient.
OXO Deep Clean Brush Set: For Tight RV Corners
Tackle tough messes with the OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set. This set features a large brush for grout and stovetops, a small brush for tight spaces, and a wiper blade to clear debris from drains.
RVs are full of tight seams, tiny tracks, and awkward crevices that collect crumbs and dirt. The seal around your sink, the track for your screen door, and the gap between your counter and stove are magnets for gunk. Trying to clean them with a paper towel or the corner of a sponge is an exercise in frustration.
This is where a specialized tool like the OXO Deep Clean Brush Set shines. It’s a simple, two-piece set with stiff bristles and angled heads designed specifically for these impossible-to-reach spots. It’s small enough to tuck into any drawer but makes a huge difference in keeping your rig from feeling grimy. This isn’t about deep cleaning once a year; it’s about having the right tool to quickly and easily handle the unique cleaning challenges of a vehicle built with seams and joints everywhere.
Krud Kutter Degreaser: Tackles Tough RV Messes
Krud Kutter Original Concentrated Cleaner/Degreaser tackles tough stains on building materials and tile. This powerful, water-based formula is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for home and work.
Even with the best intentions, RV kitchens get greasy. Frying bacon or searing a steak in a small, enclosed space means grease splatters on walls, ceilings, and cabinet faces. Sal Suds and microfiber can handle daily grime, but for built-up, sticky kitchen krud, you need a heavy hitter.
Krud Kutter is that tool. It’s a water-based, biodegradable degreaser that is relentlessly effective without the toxic fumes of other industrial-strength cleaners. A small spray bottle is all you need. Use it on your range hood filter, the wall behind your cooktop, or any surface that’s developed a sticky film. It’s the "problem solver" in your cleaning kit, ensuring that a big mess doesn’t become a permanent part of your tiny home’s interior.
Smart Storage for Your RV Cleaning Caddy
Having the right supplies is only half the battle; you also need a system for storing them. In an RV, everything needs a secure home for travel days. A loose bottle of cleaner can become a projectile or a leaky mess after a few miles on a bumpy road. The goal is to create a system that is both secure and accessible.
A small, handled caddy that fits snugly under the sink is a classic solution. It keeps everything upright and contained, and you can easily pull it out when you need it. Another excellent option is to use vertical space by mounting a small rack or pocket organizer to the inside of a cabinet door. This keeps cleaners off the valuable floor of the cabinet, leaving room for other items.
Whatever system you choose, make it road-ready. Use non-slip liners on shelves to keep things from sliding. Small tension rods can be used inside cabinets to hold taller bottles in place. The best RV cleaning kit is one that’s easy to grab when you need it and stays put when you’re rolling down the highway.
Ultimately, outfitting your RV galley is about curating a small collection of highly effective, multi-purpose tools that save you space, water, and time. By choosing products that punch above their weight, you can spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the freedom of the road. Your tiny kitchen will thank you for it.
