The camping trip is over, or maybe camping season is over for you. It’s time to put your RV in storage, and you’re wondering, what can I leave in and what should I take out?

Generally speaking, you need to remove everything you put in, with a few exceptions. A lot of campers leave linens, such as bedding and towels, in their RVs in storage. If you’re worried about pests, you can use baits for mice, ants or roaches. This is Florida, and pests are everywhere. You’ll probably need to inspect the inside from time to time, if possible, to ensure your RV hasn’t been invaded.

As for food items, clean out the refrigerator and freezer, and leave the doors propped open so mold and mildew don’t grow. You may want to get a couple of boxes of baking soda to place inside to keep potential odors at bay. Dry goods are fine during the cooler fall and winter months, as long as everything is properly sealed. Canned goods, also, are good during cooler months. Especially if you plan to use your camper from time to time.
If you’re storing your RV for any length of time during hot summer months, you need to be more cautious with foods, cleaning products and bathroom items.

A closed RV becomes very hot under the blistering sun. Canned goods and sodas may leak. Aerosol cans, such as hair spray and other hair products, air freshener, sunscreen and spray cleaners are especially vulnerable to leaking in extreme heat. When something leaks, the mess may damage floors or cabinet shelves.

Don’t forget to check your outside storage bays for anything you may have stored in them, especially soda. Even if they don’t leak, the fizz may be gone.

Take all the precautions you deem necessary based on the length of time your RV will be in storage. It’s better to err on the side of caution than to find a big mess on your hands the next time you plan to take a trip.

Happy travels.