15 Straightforward tricks to Cease Condensation in your Motorhome, Campervan or RV

Frightened about condensation in your campervan, motorhome, caravan or RV? You’re in the best place- we’ve bought all the perfect suggestions and methods to scale back your vanlife damp woes.

Don’t overlook to seize your FREE motorhome winter guidelines beneath that will help you keep in mind all the pieces.

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Condensation in Campervans & Motorhomes- The Drawback

I really like street tripping out of season. Campsites are quieter, the roads are much less busy and you’ll go to some AMAZING locations with out queuing for hours. 

HOWEVER- cooler climate brings one actually annoying companion… condensation.

Whether or not you’re in a motorhome, campervan, caravan, RV or boat- that you must discover methods to cease or cut back condensation or damp. In any other case, out-of-season touring goes to develop into fairly depressing.

(Alternatively, simply run away someplace heat, like these 7 warmest locations in Spain in winter!)

I lived on boats for 14 years earlier than we bought a motorhome, so have been doing battle towards condensation for a REALLY very long time. On the plus facet, I’ve develop into actually good at managing/ stopping that annoying moisture throughout your home windows, particularly within the morning, to not point out the damp in your cabinets.

Whether or not you’re new to motorhomes and campervans or been doing it for some time,  listed here are 15 of the perfect tricks to cease condensation in your motorhome or camper, which we hope will assist you to take pleasure in journeys in your van all 12 months spherical. 

Shutting down your motorhome/ camper for winter?

Seize your FREE winter shutdown guidelines right here

Condensation in a Motorhome- What Causes It?

Don’t panic- I’m not going to get technical on you.

In (very!) primary phrases, condensation is brought on by the quantity of water within the air growing (actually because we’ve breathed it out!) This air, now stuffed with water vapour, touches one thing chilly, like a window.

The air is then cooled down too shortly and might’t maintain the moisture in it anymore, so the vapour turns to liquid on the chilly floor it’s touching.

You’ll discover the most condensation within the coldest a part of your van, which for us is the entrance cab home windows as we don’t actually warmth that.

So, there are two foremost methods to do away with campervan condensation (or at the least cut back it!).

First is to cut back the quantity of water vapour within the air. Second is to cease that air getting chilly. Simples. 

Tricks to Scale back Damp and Condensation in your RV, Motorhome & Caravan

The next suggestions will assist you to both cease condensation and damp fully, or provide you with methods to scale back and take care of it if it does happen. Not all suggestions will work for each motorhome or campervan- give all of them a attempt to see what works for you. 

1- Hold your motorhome heat

That is my most well-liked answer to cease condensation in my motorhome and it really works, though it should improve your prices.

Heating your motorhome or campervan and holding your house at a snug temperature stops the air cooling down sufficient to trigger condensation. I ought to level out that when it will get REALLY chilly outdoors, this now not works so nicely. 🙁 

You should use an oil stuffed radiator in case your van is plugged into mains power- these work rather well and are protected to depart on for lengthy durations, though it’s possible you’ll want to put it on a timer to scale back prices.

2- Open a window

A easy answer, particularly in case you’re residing in your motorhome, however not at all times enjoyable if it’s freezing/ raining!

Getting some contemporary air into your motorhome permits air with much less water vapour to enter, lowering the humidity and due to this fact lowering the extent of condensation which may happen. Simply you should definitely decide your moments.

There’s no set rule on how lengthy you must have it open for- clearly the longer the higher! We at all times open a window or a vent at any time when we’re cooking.

I do know, this appears to contradict level one, however heating from cooking typically includes steam, which accommodates… you guessed it = moisture! That’s why one thing like a low-wattage sluggish cooker or an air fryer is a good suggestion 🙂

For a similar causes as above, when you’ve got an extractor fitted both in your lavatory or kitchen, use it to clean up the air, particularly after a bathe/ whereas cooking.

Showers are the hardest- a lot sizzling, moist air which must go someplace.

I depart our vents open for a few hours after a bathe and hold the toilet door shut as a lot as potential in order that air doesn’t get out into the remainder of the Motorhome.

4- Get a Handheld Window Vacuum cleaner

This stuff are GENIUS! Battery operated, simple to scrub and work rather well to take away condensation for home windows in simply a few minutes!

I had by no means heard of them earlier than we bought a Motorhome- now I’m undecided how we ever lived with out one!

A window vac positively one of many best methods to take away condensation from Motorhome, RV, Boat or camper home windows.

My favorite model is Karcher, however there are different varieties on the market- examine them out right here (UK)

5- Use Campsite services if accessible.

I really like wild tenting in our motorhome. I. LOVE. It. Just about every other web page on this web site will inform you why wild tenting is preferable to campsites for me.

BUT, in winter, we use campsites much more.

I additionally use their services extra, each for showers and for laundry/ drying garments. (See beneath.)

6- Don’t dangle up moist garments/ towels to dry

A technique I avoid wasting cash throughout summer season is use a laundrette to clean my garments, then dangle them up within the lavatory to dry in a single day. It really works nice.

However don’t do that in winter in case you can keep away from it.

All that further moisture within the air will trigger havoc to your condensation ranges.

7- Can you employ a dehumidifier in a motorhome or campervan?

I don’t use plug-in dehumidifier’s on the motorhome, I take advantage of stand-alone, disposable packets, like they’ve labored very nicely. I even have hanging ones, to scale back moisture within the wardrobe.

In case you are on the lookout for a dehumidifier, I’ll share a few of the greatest ones beneath.

NOTE- a dehumidifier will NOT take away mildew. As soon as that has began, all the pieces wants an intensive cleansing with disinfectant, after which all of it must be dried totally and left with adequate airflow.

8- Create airflow round your camper

One factor I sometimes undergo from when residing on the boat is mildew/ mould- brought on by not permitting sufficient airflow into our cabinets/ drawers/ wardrobes. (Often after it had been vacant for every week or extra.)

For that reason, I typically depart all the pieces open/ ajar when going travelling- it stops the mould. You are able to do one thing comparable on the motorhome- both lower small holes or match a vent to permit airflow to cabinets which don’t have already got them.

Or don’t put garments in cabinets which don’t have airflow into them. Having stated that, mildew additionally impacts paperwork and books, so watch out what you allow onboard whenever you’re not utilizing your van.

9- Keep in mind cushions and seats want love too!

You want airflow round your cushions and seats- so ensure that to tug them out a little bit so that you simply don’t come again to seats coated in horrible inexperienced spots- which is damp/ mildew.

I typically take away our cushions if we’re not utilizing the motorhome for some time.

10- Put a protector over your home windows

There are a number of methods to do that, and it really works precisely like double-glazing; you could have a buffer between the chilly floor and the nice and cozy air contained in the motorhome. I attempted it when residing on a ship and it labored…okay.

But it surely appears to work a lot better on the motorhome. Our coldest half is our cab, so silver or thermal screens on the outside cut back the issue. It doesn’t cease it fully, but it surely does cut back it.

It’s also possible to get enjoyable ones with eyes right here.

NOTE- the pull-over fitted screens contained in the cab are nice for privateness, however don’t cease condensation because the air simply circulates round them.

11- Hold issues clear and dry

Whether or not you’re utilizing your motorhome all through winter or not, holding your cabinets clear will certainly assist to scale back damp. Damp is brought on by condensation (or different moisture) sitting unchecked for too lengthy.

It may trigger severe issues for each the car and your well being. You’ll be able to cut back the probabilities of damp/ mildew by growing airflow, cleansing out cabinets and drying them totally after cleansing. Your campervan storage will get simpler too.

Do NOT put something into your cabinets/ wardrobe which is damp. This contains coats and sneakers. When you’re packing a motorhome, attempt to not put something damp again into the cabinets. 

12- Examine for leaks in your campervan

It’s in all probability widespread sense, but when your van is leaking, you’re going to get extra moisture into your house. Moisture= condensation when it’s warmed up, so ensure that there aren’t any leaks.

I carry a tube of silicone with us- simply in case!

Widespread locations which leak are across the motorhome television aerial, the van wifi antenna or something you’ve drilled, like a photo voltaic panel or awning.

Can You Use an Electrical Dehumidifier in a Motorhome?

For some purpose, folks appear fearful about utilizing an electrical dehumidifier in a motorhome. It’s completely protected, so long as you comply with the producer’s directions and keep in mind to empty it recurrently.

Personally, I wouldn’t depart an electrical dehumidifier switched on within the motorhome for a protracted time frame (whereas on a driveway for instance), particularly if I wasn’t there to regulate it. Nonetheless, it’s actually not an issue in a single day whilst you’re there.

You’ll be able to add it to your Christmas record, together with these different excellent motorhome items!

Professional’s of utilizing an electrical dehumidifier in a motorhome

• Protected round pets! It is a huge one for us- disposable dehumidifiers are dangerous to animals if ingested.
• Straightforward and environment friendly to make use of
• You don’t want to fret about shopping for replacements
• Most likely kinder to the setting, as there’s much less plastic wastage.

Cons of utilizing an electrical dehumidifier in a motorhome

• You want 12v or mains energy & one thing dependable to plug it into.
• You need to keep in mind to empty it.
• It takes up house.

There are many dehumidifiers in the marketplace. Make SURE the one you’re ordering has an computerized shut off when it will get full and a plug applicable to your nation (you’d be amazed what number of don’t include a plug!)

See my suggestions beneath.

What’s the BEST 12v Dehumidifer for a Motorhome or Campervan?

I’ll be sincere (as at all times!) and inform you that we’ve REALLY struggled to discover a dependable 12v dehumidifier for my motorhome. I’ve tried a number of models- and so they’ve all both failed inside just a few days or not made any distinction in any way.

That’s why I choose packing containers or sachets like these.

Nonetheless, I’m actually happy with the electrical dehumidifier that we used use on the boat. They work nice within the motorhome too, however clearly, you want mains to run them on.

RANDOM Bonus Tip to Cease Condensation in your Motorhome!

Okay- full disclosure- I haven’t tried this however I assumed I’d share it in case it helped anybody out.

APPARENTLY, in case you put a very skinny coating of washing up liquid over the within of your home windows/ windscreen, it stops condensation.

My guess is the washing up liquid creates a barrier between the chilly glass and heat air= decreased condensation! It sounds a bit odd to me- certainly the washing up liquid smears and obstructs your imaginative and prescient?? And cleansing it off have to be a ache.

When you’ve tried it, let me know if it really works!!

So there you go, the perfect suggestions that will help you cease condensation and damp in your motorhome or camper. I hope they assist you to take pleasure in journeys in your van all 12 months lengthy.

Final replace on 2025-08-02 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photos from Amazon Product Promoting API

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