June 22nd, 2022 by Sarah Miles

The 10-item checklist to get you ready for the holidays

Sensible caravan owners will have given their pride and joy a thorough prep for winter storage back in the autumn but even if you did, there are still jobs to do before you can embark on the holiday season in your beloved van. (If you didn’t prepare it for winter, you have a bigger job to do now but essentially the tasks remain the same).

Check for damp and leaks
In storage over winter is often the time when seals start to deteriorate so have a good look around for any signs of a leak or damp starting to creep in. The red flags are patches of discolouration, mould and mildew, and a damp, musty odour. If you do find any breaches, reseal with silicone or similar.

Check battery
Even if you kept the battery charged up over the winter, it’s always worth checking it now. Check not only that it charges up but that it holds its charge as well. You can do this with a voltmeter; it should read at least 12.5 volts.

Check tyres
Vitally important for road safety, of course, check the caravan tyres just as you would a car’s tyres (you don’t want to discover a problem on a motorway). Check the pressure, that the tread is appropriate, and that there are no obvious signs of splits or damage.

Check the lights
Again, another road safety precaution that may seem obvious but is very important. is to check that all lights are working and, if necessary, replace any blown bulbs.

Check and grease working parts
Parts such as the hitch lock and corner steadies will need greasing for easy use and ensure they are still in good working order.

Clean interior
Even without use, the surfaces in the van will become a little grubby while in storage so give everything a once-over with a general cleaning product. If you haven’t removed and washed any loose covers on soft furnishings, this is a good time to do that too, Homefront carpet shampoo is available in a range of fragrances and will remove stains and leave the carpet smelling fresh.

Clean exterior
If the caravan has been stored outdoors, it would benefit from a good clean as mould and algae can mar its appearance, as well as general dirt, bird droppings, weather-related marks etc. Use a caravan cleaner as it’s designed specifically for this job and won’t damage or dull any surfaces, it is also a good time to look for black streaks around windows and doors, as this can be an indication of the seals beginning to break down.

Clean the macerator unit
Even a toilet system that has been emptied of water before being stored needs a flush through to remove any possible build-up of bacteria or algae. Use a Toilet Macerator Cleaner to clean and descale it. To use, ensure the flush tank is full then simply add 1.5 – 2L of solution into your toilet bowl flush and leave to work – for best results we recommend leaving overnight then turn the macerator back on and allow it to pump out before flushing again.

Homefront Toilet Macerator and Cleaner 5L

Price: £18.95

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Clean the water system
Just as with the toilet system, the drinking water system can develop bacteria so give it a good flush out with a water tank cleaner. This will remove any bacteria or algae from the tank and make water safe to drink, as you can imagine this is very important.

Maintain the toilet
Keep the toilet system in good working order over the course of the season by using a toilet rinse product. This will not only keep it clean but break down waste, which helps the system continue to run properly and prevents foul odours, simply add 100ml to every 10L of water in your flush tank.

Homefront Pink Toilet Chemical Rinse for Caravans 2L

Price: £10.99

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