To rid your RV of musty or bad smells after storage or after being closed up for a few weeks, place activated charcoal in disposable containers throughout your rig. Don’t use charcoal briquettes, which are not effective and are designed for burning not deodorizing. Activated charcoal is a much safer and effective product for deodorizing. You can buy it in many forms (loose, embedded in filters or as part of hanging deodorizers).
Another way to refresh your space is to use fabric softener sheets like you use in a clothes dryer. Placing them in drawers and cabinets will also give off a fresh, clean smell.
If you know where a smell is originating, use vinegar — which is safer than many commercial products — to neutralize the odor. Vinegar is also effective on pet accidents and for carpets. Stir a teaspoon of white vinegar into a pint of water (more vinegar for tougher jobs) and apply with a spray bottle. Blot the cleaned area and allow to air dry. Vinegar is effective as a general cleaner also.
And, of course, open up your RV’s windows and let Mother Nature do her bit to freshen up your wheeled home.
You can purchase Activated Charcoal Bags (500 grams) and hang them in various parts of the RV. Works great and they are very inexpensive.
And they are reusable by simply placing them outside in the Sun. The direct Sunlight refreshes them.!
Another option, though pricier is an ionizer air purifier. The smaller ones, like we have, use only 3 watts, but do a good job of purifying the air & reduce odors, mold, bacteria, viruses and allergens. We’ve got 2 Mini Aer units in our 34 ft 5th wheel & we like them. They work well at reducing odors from the bathroom & food smells in the kitchen area.
We havent had a big problem with smells, but we do keep the windows and roof vents open as much as we can. Also, we keep a Glade Pug-In in the bathroom so it’s working if we’re on shore power or the generator, but we unplug it if it takes over. We might try the coffee idea, too.
Coffee, I always take the motel coffee, I use them to absorb smells. Coffee works well to take away bad smells, even cigars.