RV Mats: Basic Facts & Cleaning Tips.

A BRIEF INTRO:

Owners of RVs have many things going for them.

They can take their rolling houses so to speak anywhere they like, settle in, and have a weekend of fun.

Some people even travel extensively in their RVs; making a semi-nomadic lifestyle out of it.

In general, RV ownership can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of responsibility.

There are many things you need to buy and maintain while owning your RV.

The focus of this article is on one of them: RV mats.

Designed primarily for protection from the ground while placed under the RV awning, RV mats come in many sizes, styles, and colors.

SIZES, STYLES, & COLORS:

RV mats come in a variety of sizes but the most common are the 6 x 9, 9 x 12, and 12 x 18 configurations with the 9 x 12 being the most common.

As for styles, these are pretty much unlimited based on the manufacturer and what they is being offered at the time.

For a good representation of what styles are currently available, you can browse the on-line catalogs of some of the top manufacturers such as carefree and sunsetter.

Colors are only limited to what's available in material supply.

Since the majority of RV mats are made out of PVC/vinyl threads, the only limitations in color are those not easily produced.

Currently, most of the major color groups are available although a few custom colors may not.

CARE & MAINTENANCE:

As with any other product often exposed to the weather, RV mats need special care and maintenance to provide maximum product life; which is typically 10-15 years.

This is not that difficult and entails only a few steps.

The top priority in keeping your RV mats in great shape is to clean them with a gentle spray of clean water from a hose on a monthly basis.

This simple task will dislodge any dirt lodged in the fabric which is the top cause for RV mats becoming dingy.

Always allow your RV mats to air dry after hosing them down because applying direct heat will damage the vinyl.

If you need to do a more thorough cleaning, your best bet is to use a simple soap and water mixture, (NEVER a chemical detergent) and either a soft or stiff brush.

Soft brushes are used on acrylic fibers and stiffer brushes can be used on acrylic fibers.