Archive for January, 2009

There are lots of quick RV tips… just one or two sentences long which don’t require any elaboration. It seems silly to make just one short tip ‘the’ RV Tip of The Day so from time to time we’ll have a Quick Tips Day and post several all at once. Today is the first.

• When storing your RV don’t forget the refrigerator/freezer. After removing all food items, wash the interior walls, shelves and door liner with a solution of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart warm water, and wipe dry. Leave the doors open while the RV is in storage.
• If the refrigerator has an unpleasant odor consider a commercial odor remover. Spray into the refrigerator and close the door. Repeat if necessary. Wash the interior before loading with food.
• Cut two pieces of foam pipe insulation… the stuff you slip it over your pipes to insulate them from the cold freezing weather… the same length as your RV’s windshield wipers.
  Slip one of these over each of the wipers to protect them from the elements while your RV is parked. The wipers last for years this way. Just remember to remove them when you hit the road or they won’t clear the windshield if it rains!
• To conserve gray-water holding tank space, use dishpans to wash and rinse dishes. When finished, pour water down toilet into the black-water holding tank.
• Clean off the top of your slide-outs before closing them up.
• Call to check for RV size restrictions at campgrounds before you get there. Particularly sites at state and national parks and also older private campgrounds.
• To conserve gray-water holding tank space, turn water off when shampooing and soaping up in the shower.
• Save battery power by using fluorescent or LED lights.
• Put screenwire in your rubber bumper plugs to prevent bees and wasps from nesting.
• Fabric softener sheets placed in drawers, closets, and other strategic locations in an RV prevents musty odors and that “closed up” smell. Also, reported to be a good pest repellent.

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Visibility is fundamental to safe driving. Even though drivers depend on their wiper blades to clear away rain, sleet and snow, many wait to replace them until they need them the most. So remembering to maintain wiper blades regularly can maximize visibility, efficiency and reliability.

Avoid problems and extend the life of your wiper blades by following these simple steps:

• Clean your windshield often and at least every time you fill your gas tank.
• Gently wipe the rubber squeegee with a damp paper towel to remove any loose dirt or oil.
• Never use your windshield wipers to de-ice your windshield. Instead, either use an ice scraper or use your defroster to melt snow and ice.
• Pull your wiper blades away from the windshield during winter months to prevent ice build up on the rubber squeegee and to prevent them from sticking to the windshield.

Wiper blades should be replaced every year or as soon as you notice a squeak, chatter, skip, smear or streak reducing driving visibility.

An easy way to remember to proactively change your wiper blades is to replace them at same time each year. Pick a birthday or other special date that coincides with the beginning of the rainy season.

When inspecting wiper blades, look for the following:

• Broken frame – detachment of frame arms at joints or connection points
• Metal Corrosion – especially at joints and claws
• All joints hinge freely
• Visible cracks, tears, and missing pieces in the rubber squeegee’s edge
• Flex rubber squeegee back and forth to see if it is still flexible. Aged squeegees will have difficulty conforming to the shape of your windshield and create streaks.
• Check the squeegee’s wiping edge for rounded edges which can prevent the wiper blade from making proper contact with the windshield
• Ensure wiper blades have been securely installed on the wiper frame

If the frame assemblies are in good condition you can save yourself a few dollars by just replacing the rubber squeegee with a refill.

Remember to check your wiper blades as part of your regular preventative maintenance program!
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