One Way to Keep Your RV Refrigerator Fresh
Use Your Noodle 3
A quick tip to help keep your RV refrigerator fresh smelling over the winter months, or any time you’re not going to be using your rig for a while. We all turn off, empty, and clean our RV refrigerator and freezer as part of the winterizing or storage-prep process. Most of you also know that it’s a good idea to leave your RV’s refrigerator and freezer doors open a bit while it’s not in use. This just allows air flow and helps to prevent any musty smell or condensation inside the refer.
How do you keep the doors ajar? We used to use a couple of the spring bars you put across the shelves when traveling. Just lay one on a shelf and adjust the length so it sticks out far enough to hold the door open. We’ve seen someone use a folded kitchen towel, and you can buy “door stays” at RV supply stores.
After using these pool toys to help us secure our dinette chairs (post is here), and to make protective pads for an RV cover (post is here), we said “Hey, let’s use our noodle – again!” We cut a couple of 4-5 inch lengths of left over noodle and slit one side. Then we slipped them over a couple of convenient protrusions on the inside of the doors. Bingo! Easy, lightweight, and reusable.
could use pipe insulation as well not in as nice colours as noodles but in different sizes so fits smaller awkward places.
Good idea!!
Well, I’m sure there are other ways to do it, but the ol’ noodles work for us.
Thanks for your comment.
We use clothespins on the hooks, but this is a great idea.
Thanks for the tip! Cleaning a musty fridge in the spring is no fun. Hubby also uses them on the boat windshield before he puts the cover on.
Sheri, isn’t it something how many different uses turn up for these darn things?
you are so smart! love this idea.
I don’t know about the smart part, but if it helped, I’m glad.
how do you keep the doors from swinging/banging around during travel if they are ajar?
You’re right…I didn’t mention that, did I? We use a couple of short bungee cords, hooking one end onto a shelf and the other end onto the door handle. Seems to work fine.
Thank you for all the information my husband and I just bought a travel camper can’t wait to get out there
Glad you found something interesting. Have fun with your new rig!
I left them open for the winter an the mice got in an made a big mess.
Oh boy! Thankfully, while we’ve occasionally had mice in the rig, they’ve never (yet) messed up the fridge. There are a lot of little holes into the rig (pipes, wires, etc.) We’ve stuffed every one we can find, and get to, with course steel wool and that seems to help a lot. We’ve also used various “smelly” things, like dryer sheets, to discourage the rodents.
A bar of open irish spring is supposed to keep the mice away but I travel with 2 cats so I haven’t had to worry about mice lol
Rebecca, we don’t have a cat (although we used to), so maybe we’ll try the Irish Spring idea. We actually have more of a mouse problem in the house when we’re on the road. Might try it there, too!
does not work, we had two bars out and the vermin still came in.
It’s a puzzle to me why some people swear by a particular “tip or trick” while others have no luck with it. We’ve never tried the Irish Spring, but have had some success with drier sheets. On the other hand, I watched a video the other day that seems to prove that drier sheets don’t discourage rodents at all! Go figure!
Also use the spray foam to seal pipe holes or any place they can squeeze through. No more mice in Campground or parked at home thru the winter.
The best thing I’ve used to keep rats away is used kitty litter. I keep a pan of it under my motorhome here in AZ where we have a lot of packrats and it works! I don’t have a cat so my friend supplies me with her kitty litter every month or so.
Why would you not use your refrigerator during the winter months if your traveling!! Some of the statements above didn’t make sense!
Well, we didn’t always travel during the winter. Actually, now we more often do this with the refer during the summer. Anyway, thanks for your comments…I added a few words that might help to clarify a bit.
First timers….8 grandkids and k children….love getting out. How do I get on the blog. Alot of questions!!
Ramp of toy hauler into a deck….
Hi Carlo. Just getting into RVing? I hope you enjoy it as much as we have over the years. We’ve never had a toy hauler, so I can’t offer any first-hand information, but here are a couple of thoughts:
– Here’s a link to a post on the RV.Net forum on the subject – http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23926430/gotomsg/23926637.cfm#23926637. Sounds like you might find more posts on the subject there too.
– Lippert apparently puts out a kit to turn the ramp into a patio – https://www.lci1.com/party-deck-ramp-door-patio. You might check MORryde too.
– Looks like there are several YouTube videos on how to do this
I HAVE A CLASS C RV AND LIKE TO LEAVE IT PLUG ALL THE TIME I WAS TOLD IF I DID THAT THE BATTERYS COULD BOIL OVER IF THAT IS SO WHEN PARKED AT HOME BASE COULD I UNPLUG THE REFIG AND PLUG IT ON AND EXTENTION CORD IN WALL RECIPITAL I LIKE TO HAVE MY REFIG ON ALL THE TIME READY TO GO ANY INFO WILL HELP THANKS
We leave our 5th wheel plugged in all the time except, of course, when we’re towing it. Once, while the thing was plugged in at home, I forgot
to check the battery for…well, I won’t say how long ;). The electrolyte in the cells cells was very low and the battery lost almost all of it’s charge! Since then, I’ve established the routine of checking the electrolyte level monthly. I usually have to top off the cells with a bit of distilled water each time and that keeps everything working just fine.
Newspaper type paper/Non-coated junk mail grocery ads balled loosely absorb any odors in closed coolers and refrig/freezers. Works great!!!
Now that’s an interesting idea! We’ve used some of the commercial odor-absorbing products when the fridge is on and in use (Arm & Hammer is one). We leave the doors open a bit to prevent moisture build-up, and possible mold or mildew, when it’s going to be off for a while. Maybe we’ll give your method a try.
Thank You so much for sharing this information, I dread when it’s time to clean it up to Travel LOL
Have a great day 😃
Glad to hear that it was helpful. Cutting down on the cleanup is a good thing!
I accidentally figured out mice don’t like Lysol. Spraying Lysol liberally on luan and other porous surface areas in the camper storage areas discourage rodents and make things smell nice.
Thanks for the suggestion. Sounds like it’s worked well for you. Do you have to respray the areas periodically? If so, how often?
I need suggestions on keeping those petty littl ants from coming in at campgrounds.
I have read that mice don’t like light and heard that some people use solar powered string lights under their trailer. I haven’t tried it yet, but plan to get some in a tube (not just a fragile copper wire). They can be used while in storage or even at the camp ground, if they have been charged during the day. We also use a product called Fresh Cab.
Little pouches of what looks like saw dust or dried flowers. Apparently the mice do not like the way it smells.
Pool noodles are also great for putting the extension cords you have laying outside into, so you don’t trip over them. Also around the tent stakes you have in the ground.Bright colors make them more visable. Just cut to size.
Soo many uses foe something so cheap.
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I was hesitant about the cooler-style refrigerator mainly because of the price and its ability to provide power during a power outage. I’m so glad I bought the JP42 Pro RV Refrigerator now!! On an off-road trip, we left this cooler in the back of my hot Jeep all day, plugged into the Jackery 500 solar generator. Packed with beer, drinks, and snacks, it keeps everything at 34° perfectly with no problems.