Rental companies often charge a cleaning fee when an RV comes back dirty, and festival dust gets everywhere. Coachella's own camping page warns that high winds and heavy dust are common in the valley (coachella.com/camping). Here's how we keep the inside livable and the deposit safe. Always read your rental agreement first, and don't modify the vehicle.
1. Before you leave the lot
Photograph every room, the upholstery and the floors. Ask what counts as "excessive cleaning" and whether dump and refill are your job. Note where the roof vents, A/C intake and furnace vents are.
2. Close it up when the wind picks up
Close roof vents and windows before a dust storm, not during. Removable painter's tape like ScotchBlue can mask gaps without leaving residue; test a small spot first and peel it before return. Our dust storm prep guide covers the outside camp.
3. Make a dust-lock entry
Put a mat outside and a boot tray just inside the door, with a horsehair brush to knock off boots. Shoes come off at the door. A shade wall on the windward side helps: canopy sun wall.
4. Seal what you can't wash
Bedding, clothes and electronics go in sealed bins or zip bags when you're not using them. Dirty clothes go in a separate hamper, never on the bed.
5. Daily five-minute sweep
A dustpan and brush each morning and a rechargeable air duster for vents, seams and electronics. Wipe surfaces before the dust builds up.
6. Protect yourself too
Sealed goggles, N95s and a gaiter for outside. Or grab the Dust Defense Kit.
7. Clean-out before return
Shake out mats away from the rig, brush and blow out vents and window tracks, wipe every surface, and empty tanks if your agreement says so. Then take after photos that match your before photos. Full method: how to clean festival dust out of gear.
Related
RV-Friendly Festivals 2027 · US festival RV packing list · UK/EU campervan packing list · desert dust protection list · Dust Goggles & Masks
Shop the kit: our Festival RV Kit pulls the basics into one page, with an Upgrade tier too. Then run the Pack Planner.