6 Best Eco-Friendly Cleaners for RVs That Lower Your Footprint
Explore our top 6 eco-friendly RV cleaners. These powerful, biodegradable solutions protect your rig and the planet, helping you travel more sustainably.
You’ve found the perfect boondocking spot, miles from anywhere, with an incredible view out your dinette window. But after a week of dusty roads and campfire cooking, your rig is a mess. As you grab your cleaning supplies, you realize the runoff from washing your RV will flow right into the pristine landscape you came here to enjoy. This is the moment every RVer faces: how to keep your home on wheels clean without harming the very nature you’re exploring.
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Why Eco-Friendly RV Cleaning Matters
When you live in a conventional house, your wastewater goes to a treatment plant. In an RV, you are the treatment plant. Your gray and black water tanks hold everything you pour down the drain, and what you use to wash your rig’s exterior often ends up directly on the ground.
Harsh chemical cleaners contain phosphates, ammonia, and chlorine that can contaminate soil and water sources, harming wildlife and delicate ecosystems. Think about it: the very creek you might be filtering water from could be downstream from someone’s chemical-laden wash runoff. Using biodegradable, plant-based cleaners isn’t just a trend; it’s a core part of responsible RVing and the "leave no trace" philosophy.
Furthermore, your RV is a tiny, enclosed space. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by conventional cleaners get concentrated in the air you breathe, impacting your health. Eco-friendly options are not only better for the planet, but they create a healthier, more breathable living environment inside your rig.
Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds: All-Purpose Power
There’s a reason Sal Suds is legendary in the small-living community. This isn’t soap; it’s a concentrated hard-surface all-purpose cleaner. One bottle can replace a half-dozen others, which is critical when every inch of storage space counts. I’ve used it for everything from washing dishes and mopping floors to scrubbing down the fiberglass exterior.
The magic is in its concentration. A single tablespoon in a gallon of water is enough for most general cleaning. It’s completely biodegradable and plant-based, so you can feel good about the gray water it produces. It cuts through grease and dirt effectively without the harsh chemicals found in many mainstream "power" cleaners.
The only real tradeoff is that it’s a generalist, not a specialist. For truly baked-on grime or specific stains, you might need a dedicated product or a bit more elbow grease. But for 90% of your daily cleaning needs, Sal Suds is the most versatile and space-saving eco-friendly cleaner you can carry.
Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax for Waterless Washing
Clean, protect, and shine your vehicle with this aircraft-quality waterless wash and wax. Its advanced formula safely cleans all surfaces, leaving a non-stick UV protective coating. Use it anywhere, anytime, for a brilliant finish.
Water is your most precious resource on the road, especially when you’re off-grid. A traditional RV wash can consume 20, 30, or even 50 gallons of it. A waterless wash, like the kind from Aero Cosmetics, uses a spray-on, wipe-off formula that requires zero water and produces zero runoff.
This is a game-changer. You can clean your rig in a Walmart parking lot, a campsite with washing restrictions, or deep in the desert without wasting a drop from your fresh tank. You simply spray a section, let the polymers lift the dirt away from the surface, and wipe it clean with a microfiber towel. It leaves behind a protective wax layer that helps repel future dust and rain.
Let’s be realistic: this method is for dust, road grime, and bug splatters—not for a rig caked in thick mud after a backcountry adventure. For heavy-duty cleaning, you’ll still need water. But for routine upkeep, a waterless wash is the single best way to conserve water and clean your RV anywhere, anytime.
Walex Bio-Pak for Your RV Black Tank
Eliminate odors and break down waste quickly with Walex Bio-Pak drop-ins. The advanced enzyme formula cleans tanks up to 40 gallons and keeps sensors working effectively.
Your RV’s black tank is not a place to mess around with harsh chemicals. Traditional blue toilet treatments often use formaldehyde to kill bacteria and mask odors, which can damage septic systems at dump stations and harm the environment. They essentially pickle the waste instead of breaking it down.
Eco-friendly enzyme and bacteria treatments like Walex Bio-Pak work differently. They introduce beneficial bacteria that actively digest waste and toilet paper, turning solids into liquid. This natural process not only controls odors effectively but also prevents the dreaded "poop pyramid" from forming inside your tank. The drop-in pod format is incredibly easy to use—no measuring, no spills.
Using an enzyme-based treatment is non-negotiable if you ever plan to dump at a campground with a septic system, as chemicals can kill the system’s necessary bacteria. Switching to a bio-treatment is one of the most impactful eco-friendly changes an RVer can make, ensuring your waste system functions properly and you remain a welcome guest at any dump station.
Ecover Glass Cleaner for Streak-Free Views
This ECOVER Bathroom Cleaner tackles tough grime with its plant-based and mineral formula. Its foaming action effectively lifts and removes dirt and scale without harsh chemicals.
Your windows are your connection to the outdoors, and keeping them clean is essential. Many conventional glass cleaners rely on ammonia, which creates powerful fumes that are especially potent in a small, enclosed RV. Over time, ammonia can also damage window seals and degrade any tinting film you might have.
A plant-based cleaner like Ecover’s is a much better choice. It uses biodegradable ingredients to cut through grime and fingerprints without the harsh smell or risky chemicals. You get a streak-free shine that’s safe to use around pets and family inside your rig’s tight quarters.
This is a simple swap with a big payoff for your interior air quality. You don’t need industrial-strength chemicals to get a clear view of that mountain sunset. A gentle, effective formula does the job perfectly without compromising your health or your rig’s components.
Citra Solv Degreaser for Tough RV Messes
Citra Solv is a powerful, concentrated cleaner and degreaser made with natural orange oil. This versatile formula effectively removes tough stains, adhesives, and paint, and can be diluted for everyday household use. It's USDA BioPreferred and biodegradable for an eco-friendly clean.
Every RV has those grimy, greasy jobs that a simple all-purpose cleaner can’t handle. Think black streaks on the exterior, grease buildup around the stove, or grime on your awning. Before you reach for a petroleum-based solvent, consider a natural citrus degreaser like Citra Solv.
Made from the oils in citrus peels, this stuff is incredibly powerful at dissolving grease, tar, and adhesives. It’s a concentrate, so a single bottle lasts a long time; you dilute it with water depending on the toughness of the job. The potent orange scent is a pleasant bonus compared to the chemical smell of other degreasers.
A word of caution: this is a powerful solvent, even if it is plant-based. You should always test it on a small, inconspicuous area first, as it can damage some plastics or finishes if used undiluted. But when used correctly, it’s an indispensable tool for tackling the toughest messes without resorting to harsh, toxic chemicals.
Better Life for Fabric & Upholstery Stains
Living in a small space means your couch is also your dining room, office, and movie theater. Spills are inevitable. The challenge is treating stains on cushions and upholstery without introducing harsh chemicals into the fabric you live on every day.
Better Life’s stain and odor eliminator is a fantastic solution. It’s plant-derived, color-safe, and free of sulfates and fragrances. It works by using natural enzymes to break down stains from things like coffee, food, or pet accidents. You can spot-treat a spill without worrying about toxic residue being left behind where you sit and sleep.
This is about more than just cleaning; it’s about maintaining a healthy interior environment. In a space this small, every product you use contributes to the air quality. Choosing a gentle but effective fabric cleaner is a smart move for both your upholstery and your lungs.
DIY Cleaners: Vinegar & Baking Soda Basics
For the minimalist RVer, nothing beats the simplicity and low cost of basic household staples. A spray bottle filled with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water is a fantastic multi-purpose cleaner. It’s great for wiping down counters, cleaning windows (and repelling insects), and tackling hard water spots on your shower door.
This gallon of 5% acidity distilled white vinegar is perfect for both cooking and cleaning. Enjoy a versatile, affordable staple for your home with Amazon Saver.
Baking soda is its perfect partner. As a mild abrasive, it’s excellent for scrubbing sinks and stovetops without scratching. You can also sprinkle it on carpets to deodorize them before vacuuming or place an open box in the fridge to absorb odors—a classic trick that works just as well in an RV.
However, it’s crucial to understand their limitations. Vinegar is acidic and can damage natural stone or unsealed grout, so know your surfaces. And while these DIY solutions are great for daily maintenance, they don’t have the grease-cutting power of a dedicated degreaser or the waste-digesting power of a proper tank treatment. Think of them as your first line of defense, not your only solution.
Choosing eco-friendly cleaners for your RV isn’t about achieving environmental perfection. It’s about making a series of small, intentional choices that, when combined, significantly reduce your impact. By swapping a few key products, you protect the beautiful places you travel to, improve the air quality inside your home, and ensure your rig’s systems run smoothly for the long haul.
