The best motorhome cleaner will make effortless work of the many types of dirt that can end up caked on our home-on-wheels. From black streaks to green algae, it’s inevitable that muck will appear, whether you’ve just got back from an enjoyable tour or have taken your ‘van out of storage.
While cleaning a motorhome will never be the most enticing of tasks, the welcome news is a good motorhome cleaner will make the job much more straightforward, allowing you to clear the grime off of your ‘van so you can tour with pride.
Using a motorhome cleaner is not just about being able to travel in a sparkly ‘van, however. A well-maintained ‘van is likely to require fewer repair bills over time, and will also help you achieve a higher price when you decide to sell it on.
With numerous options on the market, we’ve simplified your buying process by hosting the Practical Motorhome Awards. Here, we’ve combined our decades of collective industry experience to pick out the best motorhome cleaner.
This year, the title went to Autoglym Caravan and Motorhome Cleaner, an achievement all the more notable as it represents the third year in a row that the product has taken the top spot. Our judges were particularly impressed by its versatility and the ease of applying it. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at it, as well as the items that made our shortlist. After you’ve got a glistening ‘van, make sure you don’t forget to use the best motorhome polish to protect it from harmful UV rays too.
Practical Motorhome is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
If you’re looking for a particular type of motorhome cleaner, we’ve made it easier than ever to find the one for you. Alternatively, keep scrolling to see what we think of each cleaner.
The best motorhome cleaners:
The best motorhome cleaner:
Autoglym Caravan & Motorhome Cleaner
Fenwick’s Motorhome Cleaner
Dirtbusters Premium Cleaner
Silky Deep Cleaner
Rhino Goo! Caravan and Motorhome Cleaner
Meguiar’s Oxidation Remover
The best motorhome shampoo:
The best motorhome cleaner for wheels:
What is the best thing to clean a motorhome with?
Image courtesy of Autoglym
Autoglym Caravan & Motorhome Cleaner
The best motorhome cleaner
Reason to buy:
- Our pick for the best motorhome cleaner for three years in a row
Reason to avoid:
- One of the pricier cleaning products
It’s a testament to the quality of Autoglym Caravan and Motorhome Cleaner that it has taken the title of best motorhome cleaner at the Practical Motorhome Awards for three consecutive years now. The brand is a well-known name in the motorhome cleaning sphere, providing ‘van owners with products that they can rely on to achieve a glistening exterior.
Removing all the dirt and grime from your vehicle is never going to be a favourite task, but we’re firm believers that a good motorhome cleaner should help to make the whole process that much quicker and simpler. We think that’s a challenge the Autoglym product has certainly proved itself up to.
It provides a highly effective way of getting rid of stubborn winter algae and black streaks, smartening up your motorhome and restoring it to its pristine former glory. However, that’s not the only feature to impress us. We really like how it’s such a versatile motorhome cleaner too. As a result, this product can be used on a range of different surfaces on your ’van, both internally and externally, including paintwork, acrylics, glass fibre, rubber, metals, plastics and much more.
The end result will be a motorhome that you can tour in with pride.
Image courtesy of Fenwick’s
Fenwick’s Motorhome Cleaner
Reason to buy:
- Budget-friendly, suitable for variety of surfaces, no aggressive agents
Reason to avoid:
- Spray top on Autoglym may be simpler to use
Fenwick’s Motorhome Cleaner is a simple to use product that has been designed specifically for use on ‘vans. We like how it provides you with an effective way of restoring your motorhome to its best, and we think it’s more than up to the challenge of removing any algae or uncompromising streaks that can appear on a ‘van.
We’re impressed by the absence of aggressive agents too, which could otherwise run the risk of causing damage to your ‘van.
Something else which stood out to us is the flexibility it offers – we like how the motorhome cleaner can be used on a variety of surfaces, from plastics, GRP and aluminium to ABS, acrylic windows and fibreglass.
Image courtesy of Rhino Goo!
Rhino Goo! Caravan & Motorhome Cleaner
Reason to buy:
- Helps prevent future growth of mould
Reason to avoid:
- Fairly expensive, only for exterior use
We think this motorhome cleaner will provide an effective way of getting rid of any streaks, algae or mould. Something we particularly like about Rhino Goo is that the product has been formulated to prevent future growth – this should help you keep your motorhome free of muck for that bit longer. It’s also suitable for use on aluminium, acrylic windows and rubber seals, so you don’t need to worry about damaging them.
It’s a more premium offering than some of the other options in our guide, but we do like how it should last a long time – a five-litre bottle can make up to 50 litres, giving you some longevity, so long as you have the room to store it.
Image courtesy of Dirtbusters
Dirtbusters Premium Caravan Motorhome Wash & Wax with Carnauba Wax
Reason to buy:
- Comes with Carnauba wax
Reason to avoid:
- Relatively pricey, only in a single size
We like how this motorhome cleaner should let you achieve a streak-free finish on your ‘van. It may be at the more premium end of the market, but we think it will make short work of the dirt, mud, grease and oil deposits that could be caking your vehicle after a tour. It can also be used on a variety of surfaces, such as alloys, wheels, rubber trims, paintwork and more, giving you a versatile product for removing any black streaks.
We’re also fans of the addition of Carnauba wax – this helps to protect your paintwork, returning your vehicle to its sparkling best.
A little also goes a long way with this Dirtbusters cleaner, with the five-litre bottle giving you up to 1,000 litres of solution – we reckon that should be more than enough to keep your motorhome clean for the foreseeable future.
Silky Deep Cleaner
Reason to buy:
- Can be applied with pressure washer
Reason to avoid:
- Exterior use only
Coming in two sizes (we’d recommend opting for the 2.5-litre bottle over the 1-litre bottle as it presents better value for money), this product from Silky is ideal for removing dirt from your motorhome and getting it ready for your next trip. A feature we really like with it is how it can be applied with a pressure washer if you have one. The end result will be a ‘van free of grime that you can tour in with pride.
Meguiar’s Oxidation Remover
Reason to buy:
- Specialist product for removing oxidation
Reason to avoid:
- More of a specialist product that not everyone will need
This Oxidation Remover from Meguiar’s is a specialist cleaner, but one that can be relied upon to get rid of stubborn stains and defects on the exterior of your ‘van.
Suitable for use on fibreglass, gel coat and high-tech paint surfaces, the cleaner will remove light to moderate oxidation, scratches and stains, restoring the colour of your motorhome safely.
We like that it also comes with enriched feeder oils, which create an enhanced finish, as well as giving the coat a nice touch of shine and gloss. We would warn you to double check it is suitable for your needs before using it though.
Autoglym Interior Shampoo
Best motorhome shampoo
Reason to buy:
- Effective interior cleaner
Reason to avoid:
- Not for exterior use
We’re fully aware that a sparkling exterior is only part of the cleaning process. Before you can think about enjoying a tour, you’re likely to want to make sure your van’s interior is ready too. That’s where this useful Autoglym product comes in.
Working on interior fabrics, we think this will provide you with an efficient and effective way of removing any dirt and debris that has built up.
It’s simple to use on both hard and fabric surfaces – before you know it, you’re left with a clean interior. However, the brand advises to use a leather cleaner on leather surfaces.
Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel
Best motorhome cleaner for wheels
Reason to buy:
- Efficient way of cleaning wheels
Reason to avoid:
- Only for use on wheels
Keeping your motorhome’s wheels in tip-top condition is another important part of the cleaning process.
That’s where this product from Bilt Hamber comes in. Available in a range of sizes, it will help you achieve a spotless finish for your wheels.
We think it’s a clever product. While some acid-based cleaners will end up leaving your wheels with a dull finish, this product draws the particles to the surface without damaging the wheel, regardless of whether it’s steel, alloy or aluminium.
After spraying it on (while taking care to avoid the centre caps), you can watch the wheel begin to turn red to show the cleaning process is taking place – upon completion, simply hose it off.
How often should I use a motorhome cleaner?
As a basic rule, we’d recommend giving your ‘van a good clean twice a year. This includes at the end of the touring season, so you can make sure it doesn’t go into storage with corrosive or damaging muck on it. Then, at the start of the season, we’d also suggest using your motorhome cleaning products to clear off any grime and streaks that build up during the offseason.
How to choose the best motorhome cleaner
When you’re looking for the best motorhome cleaners, you’re going to want one that is going to effectively spruce up your ‘van, making short work of the grime that has accumulated. We’d always recommend spending a bit more to buy from a reputable brand as it will not only save you time but also help you conserve your energy when you’re cleaning your ‘van. They may be a bit more expensive but should last for a few years.
Make sure the cleaner you have in mind will be suitable for the surfaces you want to use it on too. You don’t want to inadvertently damage your motorhome while trying to bring some sparkle back to its paintwork. As well as this, you may find some can be used on both the exterior and interior of your ‘van, while others are dedicated exterior cleaners.
We’d also recommend factoring in the size of the product when you’re storing it too. Some products come in five-litre bottles – would you have room to keep these and be okay lifting them up?
Once you’ve settled this, you’ll be well placed to choose the right motorhome cleaner.
Looking for a product to use on your RV instead? Our guide to the best RV cleaners is bound to help you find the one for you!
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.
