Winterizing your RV for the first time in a chilly climate? Don’t forget the interior! Here’s a list of items that often go overlooked, from leather to coffee machines, and why you may want to remove them.

• Coffee/espresso machines- Apparently these appliances are prone to having their motors freeze and crack in half. Yikes! This goes for cheap or pricy versions alike.
• Cleaners- Many detergents and cleaners contain polymers that can separate in freezing temps. These tend to stay separated once thawed.
• Some flat screen TVs or tablets- Believe it or not some TVs state specifically in their manuals that they cannot be stored below a certain temperature. Do you really want the liquid in your LCD (liquid crystal display) to freeze and crack? It’s best to grab your manual or look it up online to see where they stand on the issue.
• Leather- Furniture or clothing can become susceptible to cracking and deteriorating in icy temps. The higher humidity can also cause discoloration and spur the growth of mildew.
• Anything containing water- Drinks, hot sauces, vinegars, lotions, toiletries, any liquids in glass, cans of soda… How would you like to clean those messes come spring? Even canned goods can pop their seams! Fun fact– maple syrup cannot freeze although it will expand slightly.

• Perishables- This should go without saying but I’ve heard of lots of folks leaving an onion or potato in a cabinet. Btw, few things smell worse than a rotten potato.
• Anything that would attract rodents & pests- Anything from kitchen crumbs to birdseed. I have friends who remove all paper products like toilet paper and paper towels because of run-ins with mice who like to shred it and nest in it.
• Batteries- Freezing temperatures can easily drain your average alkaline batteries. Lithium batteries too, although not as fast. So not only should you not store them in your camper you may wish to remove them from items such as smoke detectors, remotes and flashlights too. And for those of you who believe storing batteries in the fridge or freezer extends their lifespan… Apparently that worked for rechargeable batteries of days past. Here is a link to a great article if you care to know more.

• Valuables- If you are not storing your camper on your property (or even if you are) it may be a smart idea to remove valuables to avoid any theft should someone other than a mouse decide to sneak into your precious camper.
• Linens- I’m surprised by how many people remove linens! It turns out critters love to shred linens. I can’t imagine opening the RV up in the spring to rat’s nests and poop! Whatta mess! I do love the idea of storing linens in the camper in big plastic totes. Toss a few dryer sheets in there to keep things smelling nice then snap the lids on tight! Adding this to my routine for sure.

A few helpful tips for emptying your RV for the off-season

• It never hurts to remove ALL food items: coffee, tea, sugar, spices, condiments and use them in your home throughout winter. Restock the camper with fresh items in the spring!
• Open curtains so there are no “cozy” hiding places for pests to nest in.
• Mattresses can be wrapped up in extra thick mattress bags (where you would purchase moving supplies) and sealed with duct tape for a little added protection. Hey, I’d rather spend $13 per mattress bag than a couple hundred for a new mattress! Toss a couple bags of silica gel in there to remove moisture just to be safe. Just the thought of a moldy or rat pooped mattress makes me squirm!
• Items you are removing from the camper can be put in plastic totes for easy moving and storage. Clear totes make it easier to find things if you need them. If you tend to “borrow” items from your camper’s stash like I do, leave a post-it inside the bin because 3 months from now you may forget you borrowed something. Oops.

What else do you remove when you winterize your camper? Comment below or come find me on Instagram @mamas.little.camper and tell me there!