We made a huge list of motorhome essentials so you don’t have to! Get all our top motorhome essentials + free packing list so you don’t forget a single thing!
This post may contain affiliate links to support the upkeep of this blog - at no extra cost to you! Please read my disclaimer for more info.As you know, RV life can sometimes be a challenge when it comes to organizing. Small space and movement of the vehicle set your limits on what and how many items you can take with you. Have a look below for 27 fantastic ideas on how to organize your RV, motorhome, camper, or a caravan, easy and stress-free. For even more organization ideas for your RV: You might also be interested in► How To Store Wine Glasses in an RV or a Caravan► How to Make Your RV Feel Bigger A few organizing tips Take stock on everything that you have. And when I say everything, well, I mean everything. How many pillows, how many mugs, how many vegetable peelers. Think on every item, when have you used this item last and how many do you actually need. For full-timers, a good guideline is 6 months. If you haven’t used it at least once in the last 6 months, you probably won’t need it in the next 6 months either. Go quality over quantity. Instead of tons of mismatching plates, mugs and bowls, for instance, invest in one nice, unbreakable dining set and toss the rest. One in, one out. One of the easiest ways to keep your RV uncluttered after you have gone through it all. Another cushion for the settee? A new coat? A new set of wine glasses? Give the one you already have to the charity/sell it. Baskets Baskets are your best friend in RV. Not only you can organize your stuff effectively, but they also prevent your stuff from sliding all over the place. Look at these simple, pretty metallic baskets Heidi from All that brings joy hung on her wall. Tip: Sometimes you can find shower caddies super cheap, especially from flea markets – with a little of bit spray paint you can quickly make fantastic fruit and veg holders. Another good way to use baskets in RV is inside your drawers for tidy organization. By the way… Have you seen our new t-shirts yet? 2. Under-shelf baskets To get every inch in your cupboards used, use these under-shelf baskets. DON´T MISS 40 Superb Ways to Get Your RV Bathroom Organized - The Ultimate Organization and Storage GuideAnother handy way to make more space in your crockery cupboard is to hang your mugs/cups from an under-shelf hanger like this or alternatively just with a few hooks. 3. Baskets over the cabinet doors These handy baskets can be used behind any door, in the kitchen and the bathroom. You could also use a suitable size shower caddy. Tip: All your RV doors offer more storage space than you’d believe. You can use traditional hooks to store clothes, towels, and jewelry, but you can also use over the door baskets like shown above, get a trash can or a bag holder that goes over the door, use a shower caddy or install a towel bar to hang your spray bottles or your pot lids. Towel holder like this work as well and have been must-haves for me wherever I’ve ever lived. 4. Under table drawer trays Especially if you are working on your dinette table, with handy under the table drawer trays like these you can transfer your dinette to a work desk in seconds. Find me on Amazon. Towel bars 5. Towel storage Your towel bar is not limited to one traditional way of storing towels! Put two next to each other and fold your towels inside. Looks nice too! 6. Hang baskets You could also use towel bars to hang little baskets. Bathroom sorted! 7. Secure your shampoos What a superb idea to hold your shampoos in place when driving. 8. Under the sink I know this is not exactly a towel bar, but a bar nonetheless and it works wonders! This is a great way to utilize your under-sink space. Magazine/file folders work many ways 9. Use them as a veggie storage To keep your potatoes and onions in good shape as long as possible, use meshed file folders to store your veggies. 10. Store your cans in them This is probably one of my favorite hacks. Cans are so awkward to store, especially in RV and this is a cheap way of storing them. By the way, here are 12 craft ideas for your RV with used tin cans. Of course, if you want to invest in handy storage a bit more, these fantastic shelves from Amazon always slide the next one closer to the front. DON´T MISS 8 Ways to Make Your RV Feel Bigger Than It Actually Is11. Handy toilet roll holder Easy to slot next to the toilet seat, the magazine folder works wonders as a toilet paper storage. 12. Other uses Basically you could store anything in them as they are so handy being so slim. If yours are wooden, you could stack them sideways to create shelves. Some people attach them inside their kitchen cupboard doors for extra space for things like chopping boards. They are an easy way to store: ► all your slim shoes like flip flops► (water) bottles► kitchen paper goods► towels► food container lids Underneath your kitchen cupboards 13. Fruit hammock or a basket Pretty way to store your fruit if you don’t have any available wall space. 14. Spice jar/Mason jar storage Attach your spice jars or mason jars underneath your kitchen cupboards with a magnetic strip or drill a screw through the lid to the bottom of the cabinet if you are worried about anything falling down. 15. Install under cabinet shelf You can find these for different purposes best suiting your style. This one works as a knife block but there are ones meant for any kitchen utensil or even a cookbook. Hook it up Different hooks: Magnetic, Suction cup, Mug and Command hooks There are a few different hooks you can use in an RV. Magnetic ones you can only use on magnetic surfaces like fridges and magnetic strips, but they are easy to relocate and hold pretty strongly. Suction cup hooks work well on clean, smooth surfaces, best on smooth plastic like on shower walls and windows. Also easy to move without leaving any marks. Command hooks should technically be removable but some surfaces may suffer like newishly painted. (In our old rental flat I actually made a hole to the wall when I tried to pull them off. Oops) Depending on the quality, surface, and usage they may not hold very heavy items. “Mug hooks” with a vinyl coating are like screws with hooks and they hold the best if you are able to make holes in your RV. 16. Simple kitchen paper towel rack Karen from Sew Many Ways created this simple, handy under the sink towel rack. 17. Food wrap storage You could use a similar idea to food wraps. Some food wrap packets have holes on their sides you can push in and with two hooks hang them up as they are. DON´T MISS 12 Best RV Organization Ideas From Our Tiny RV (In Which We Live Full-Time!)18. Hang utensils inside cupboard doors Use hooks or a towel bar with some S-hooks. Tip: This works in a bathroom as well. If you attach small mug hooks sideways, you can hang your toothbrushes from them. If you use hooks and binder clips, you can hang your tubes from hooks too. Kitchen sink 19. Cover the sink By using a big cutting board or one made for this purpose as above you can cover your sink when you don’t need it and get more working space this way. Other handy purposes for your sink is a roll-up dish drying rack and a little sponge holder. 20. Rack over the sink If you have space, this is a handy way of drying and storing your kitchen kit. It also has a safe knife storage rack. Go square 21. Square storage containers Square storage containers use way less space than round ones as they use every inch available. 22. Dividers Cami from The Crafting Nook created a similar setup with just cardboard, you can see her tutorial here. Other miscellaneous 23. Use broom holders Broom holders don’t only hold your cleaning supplies, but your spice jars in the kitchen, flashlights by the door, and all your tools in your RV storage basement. Mount them on the ceiling to save space! 24. Vacuum sealed bags Vacuum sealed bags are a fantastic way of storing your extra pillows, duvets, and seasonal clothes, especially if you are doing full-time RVing. 25. Seat organizer Many RVs have their driving seats hidden behind a curtain so you could take advantage of this storage place. 26. Use garden hose reels Use garden hose reels to store you freshwater and sewage water hoses and electric cables if they are long. 27. Collapsible items Collapsible and nesting items are great in RVs as they go in such a small space. Some good examples: Here you go, I hope this post gave you some organization inspiration! If you are still hungry for more, check out these RV kitchen and bathroom organization and storage posts! Pin me for later!
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Carl’s conversion is in full swing. I can’t believe it’s actually happening! Can’t wait to start exploring
This post may contain affiliate links to support the upkeep of this blog - at no extra cost to you! Please read my disclaimer for more info.Laundry, the joy of life! Or not… Whether you like it or not, the clothes keep getting dirty, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors as most campers tend to do. However, with these tips, the laundry day doesn’t have to be a nightmare! You Might Also Be Interested In► 12 Best Rv Organization Ideas From Our Tiny Rv (In Which We Live Full-Time!)► 17 Effective Ways To Make Your Rv Smell Awesome – No More Musty Smells!► The Best Manual Household Gadgets For Rv Boondocking And Freedom Camping 1 – Going to the laundromat This is usually the most convenient way of doing your laundry when you travel or live in your RV or a van. With these tips you’ll make sure your laundry day will be a success! 1 – Choose a good laundromat. When you are in a new town, check google, yelp, or your local camping app for reviews. Quality standards vary, from somewhere really nice and clean to an absolute nightmare – dirty, old machines, rubbish all over, expensive prices, you name it. 2 – Check the machine before using it. Have a quick look inside the machine. Someone’s underpants left behind may not be the nicest surprise, but there might be something even worse: a red sock, a pen or a lipstick and your white clothes could be ruined. Also, have a quick sniff in case someone has used bleach just before you – good to know if you intend to wash dark colors. If you are using the dryer, check the lint trap. A clean machine will dry your clothes quicker, giving more bang for your buck. Another good idea is to use a dryer after someone else, if possible. Already warm dryer will dry your clothes quicker too. 3 – Bring your own detergent. Many laundromats sell their own, but it is usually overpriced, over-scented, and poor quality. 4 – Keep a laundry money box in your van or RV. Most laundromats are still coin-operated. Make sure you always have some coins in hand to avoid the hassle of looking for a change. 5 – Don’t leave your stuff unattended. Take a book or do some work with your laptop while you wait. If you have to go to do something else, leave your empty clothes basket or a bag close to the machine, in case the laundromat is busy and someone needs to use the machine after you. You don’t want to find your clothes chucked somewhere you don’t want them to be. 6 – Check the machine settings carefully before pressing start. DON´T MISS 8 Ways to Make Your RV Feel Bigger Than It Actually IsSome machines reset after the previous user but some don’t. Always check carefully to protect your delicates. 7 – Go to the laundromat at off-peak times This lets you do all your washing as fast as possible, and in case you are working, you can enjoy the quieter environment. Usually the best times are the weekdays during the day or very late in the evenings. 2 – Doing the laundry by hand When the whole load is not needed, smaller items are quick and easy to wash by hand in a sink or a (collapsible) bucket. 1 – Make sure your detergent is suitable for hand washing and delicate enough for your clothes. 2 – Separate lights and darks and start with light ones. 3 – The easiest way is to fill two tubs/buckets, with a touch warm water. Too cold won’t clean your clothes and too hot may damage them. Add the detergent to the other bucket. 4 – Make “a swishing” action with the clothes, don’t rub or twist too much as this may cause damage. 5 – Rinse the clothes in the other tub. If your skin is sensitive, you might have to do this at least twice. 6 – Avoid twisting the clothes after washing, as this may also cause damage – especially delicate items should be dried flat. 7 – A good place to do a hand wash is by the water filling and emptying station, this way you don’t have to worry about running out of the water, plus disposing of dirty water will be easy. 8 – Of course you can also use the water from rivers and lakes if it is clean enough, but make sure no grey water goes back in. 3 – Manual gadgets for laundry If hand washing sounds like a lot of work, you are not wrong. Luckily there are a few manual gadgets you can buy to make it a bit easier. 3.1 – Scrubba Bag Scrubba bag – essentially a bag with a “flexible washing board” inside. Fill the bag with clothes, detergent and water, rub and you are done. + Very easy to store, easy to use, doesn’t require a lot of water, serves well as a laundry bag– You can only do a few items at the time, physical effort, the price is pretty steep for essentially just a bag. Mainly designed for campers 3.2 – Clothes Washing Wand Clothes washing wand. Super simple idea, just push down and pull up in a bucketful of clothes, water, and detergent. + Easy to store, simple to use, fairly cheap– Physical effort, you need a bucket + Do it yourself -version Five gallon bucket ideas had this great idea – Just get a five gallon bucket, drill a hole through the lid and a few holes through a normal plunger, put the handle through the hole and get plunging. Cheap and cheerful! DON´T MISS 12 Must-Make Tin Can Crafts For Your RV3.3 – Portable Clothes Washers Portable clothes washers are handy if you have space, a big water tank and you need to do laundry more often. 1 – Manual washer-dryer, 2-in-1, after washing your clothes you can spin them to be less wet. + Manual, no electricity, doesn’t use lot of water, easy to use, spins, compact size– Shakes when spinning, physical effortPrice $ 2 – USA-made Lavario Portable Clothes Washer works with a very simple idea – you put the water and detergent in, load your clothes to the holder, and with up-and-down motions, you keep plunging your clothes in the water. + Manual, easy motion, doesn’t use loads of water– You can’t take the handle apart so trickier to store, doesn’t spin, physical effortPrice $$ 4 – Electric portable washing machine This one is an electrical one, so it is easier to use if you are hooked up in electricity often. It is also pretty big so mainly recommendable for big RVs. + Easy to use, doesn’t require physical effort, also spins– You need a big battery pack or be connected to electricity, quite bigPrice $ 5 – My thoughts and tips for choosing an RV washing machine This is the washing machine we have. Although I couldn’t see that it was available in the US, I thought I’d share a few of my thoughts concerning electric washing machines, as this has the very basic, general working idea like most washing machines for this purpose in the US. 1 – You want your washing machine to have a spinning option. I looked at a few different models before purchase, and one of the options didn’t have the spinning option. I’m soo glad I went for this – even though the spinning option is not amazing 1000 rounds per minute, it still makes a massive difference to the drying speed. Also like mentioned above, twisting your clothes may damage them, so the spinning really helps removing most of the water. 2 – Prepare to spend a lot of time doing laundry. Even though this is an electric washer, it’s not automated and as it’s not connected to mains, all the work is down to you! I have created a pretty good routine with it, but basically it still takes a while, especially when you think that a normal washing machine can fit 6-9 kg of clothes per wash and this only 3 kg. 3 – It takes more water than you’d think. Especially items that have been “exposed to elements” like t-shirts often need at least 3 rinses until the water is clear. 4 – Be careful not to use too hot water If you think about the normal recommended clothes washing temperature 30 to 40 Celsius, it’s more or less a body temperature. It can easily feel “too cold”, so I’d strongly recommend getting a thermometer. DON´T MISS How to Hide and Protect Your Valuables in an RV or a Camper6 – How to store your dirty clothes between the laundry days? Get a large, airtight bag for smellier items to prevent the smell from spreading all over your van or RV. It is a preference question though, I usually have two different bags, the other, tight one, for the smellier items and a mesh/open bag for less smelly, to air them out. A clean, open bag is nice when you empty your clothes at the laundromat and take your clothes back to the van. Bags with handles are the most convenient as you can just grab them and go. 7 – How to dry your clothes This is very important, especially in a van or an RV. If you fold away your clothes when they are still a little bit damp, this may cause mildew and the clothes start to smell very bad (and spread the smell to your other clothes). Avoid drying anything inside the van, even if you have a heater, as this only spreads the dampness to the places you definitely don’t want it to go, like your bedding. Check out these easily portable drying racks and clotheslines for your clothes. I love especially one of these “chandelier drying racks” for drying just a few items or small items like socks. They are easy to hang and store in a small space. 8 – How to be more environmentally friendly? Always wash a full load (this will save you money too), use bio-based detergent, prefer cold wash and choose front load machine over the top load one if possible, as they use up to 50% less water! If the weather is nice enough outside, leave the dryer and hang your clothes outside instead. Disposing your dirty laundry water Dirty laundry water is cast as a grey water and should be disposed accordingly. What kind of detergent to use? As for most van lifers enjoying the nature is important, you might want to look out for a more environmentally friendly options. Look out for biodegradable, chemical free, plant-based detergents, not animal tested, preferably in a recyclable bottle or as a powder as this saves water in manufacturing process. You Might Also Be Interested In► 12 Best Rv Organization Ideas From Our Tiny Rv (In Which We Live Full-Time!)► 17 Effective Ways To Make Your Rv Smell Awesome – No More Musty Smells!► The Best Manual Household Gadgets For Rv Boondocking And Freedom Camping How are you washing your clothes in your RV? Let me know in the comments! 🙂 Save me on Pinterest!
Van Sprinter 416 extra longa 14 m³
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This post may contain affiliate links to support the upkeep of this blog - at no extra cost to you! Please read my disclaimer for more info.A van kitchen can sometimes be a bit limited compared to what you can do in a house. The biggest challenge being the lack of storage space and sometimes the electricity. Check out my list below for essential van life kitchen accessories you can’t live without and leave me a comment if you think I’ve missed something! Here is a list of some of my absolute favorite van kitchen accessories. In the end you’ll also find a check list to make sure you’ll have everything you need in your on the road kitchen. You might also be interested in7 Ways To Stay Clean Whilst Living In a Van or an RV Without a ShowerThe Ultimate Van Life Laundry Guide 1. Whistling Stove Top Kettle This is a must, even if you are not avid tea or coffee drinker! Kettle won’t only boil your tea water quicker, it also heats the water for your hot water bottle (one of the best ways to stay warm in bed in a van!) and helps warming up your dish water if you don’t have a water heater. If you are having a scrub with a bucketful from cold river, it feels great to add some hot water there too…. When we were camping in New Zealand, I saw so many people heating their water on a hob in a pot with no lid. This is such a waste of time and gas, save yourself from the hassle and get a kettle! Find me on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE 2. Camping Toaster Unfortunately electric toaster is not always an option even for those van dwellers who have leisure batteries in their vans. Admittingly there are some low wattage 12v toasters for sale in camping stores nowadays but they can be quite expensive and pretty slow. DON´T MISS 15 Fresh and Easy RV Bathroom Makeover IdeasThis is a camping toaster you can use on your gas hob and which we used and loved. Shop the toaster on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE 3. Cutting boards An everyday essential to every kitchen! Although this is where different van lifers have different opinion on what is the best option. You’ll find some people recommending flexible, plastic cutting boards as they are light, easy to store and they bend into the sink – and whilst I agree, I would also buy a hard one that covers the sink and therefore gives you more counter space! You’ll find the wooden one on Amazon US | CA | UK | DEand plastic ones US | CA | UK | DE Or this one looks pretty cool, a wooden one in which you can store all your plastic ones inside! US | CA | UK | DE 4. A good knife And this is all you really need. When you are short on space, one quality knife is handy and will last you a long time. US | CA | UK | DE 5. Non-stick pan Again, a good quality pan will save you from loads of trouble. As you need to be careful with your water resources, the easier to do the dishes the better! These ones you can just wipe down and they shine like new. US | CA | UK | DE (similar) 6. Durable Crockery Durable and preferably silent crockery! If you have bought porcelain plates and metallic cutlery and you start your first drive over some countryside roads you will know what I mean…. It is an uncomfortable feeling to be listening your stuff rattling and sliding all over the place while you are driving. Also sometimes cupboard doors open, things been forgotten to put back…. picking up broken porcelain and glass in a van is not fun, believe me. (How on earth does it get everywhere?!) DON´T MISS 27 Fantastic Space Saving Ways to Organize your RV or a Camper (That really work!)Luckily there are some great options out there to avoid this. Check out bamboo, melamine, BVA-free plastic and enamel. Bamboo set on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE (similar)Enamelware on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE Absolutely love these prints on these melamine sets: Blue flower set on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE Green palm leaves on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE White set on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE Wood grain set on Amazon US | CA | UK (similar) | DE (not available)Marble set on Amazon US | CA (granite pattern set here) | UK | DE (not available)Blue set on the bottom right on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE These cool glasses look like the real deal but are in fact made of plastic. Tumblers you will find US | CA | UK | DE (similar) andwine glasses on US | CA | UK | DE (similar) Or if you are like me and unable to drink your wine from a plastic cup (not snobby, just doesn’t feel right! 😉 ) the MotorHome – magazine had a handy tip – use a fishing rod rack to hang them up! 7. All things collapsible These are amazing when you are short on space. Everything from a colander to a washing bowl, drying rack to food containers, you can make sure all you need is with you. Storage tip: Use magazine holders to keep them tidy in your cupboards. These are handy, they work both as storage containers as well as prepping bowls! Find these on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE (similar) Just for some extra storage. US | CA | UK | DE (similar) DON´T MISS 21 Ways to Use Self-Adhesive Contact Paper in Your RV Decor This one is a basket, washing bowl and a cutting board, 3-in-1. US | CA | UK | DE This collapsible drying rack is easy to store away when not needed. US | CA | UK | DE Even some smaller items can be even smaller like these measuring cups, strainer and the funnels. Measuring cups US | CA | UK | DEStrainer and the funnels US | CA | UK | DE 8. Manual food processor This handy food processor lets you chop, prepare, blend and pure your ingredients without electricity. Find me on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE 9. Omnia oven This one is a classic! If you don’t have an oven in your van, this one is a great option. You can use it on any kind of stove top, including gas, electric, kerosene, camp stove or a grill. Find it on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE 10. Anti-slip drawer liner Just a small detail but makes a massive difference in a moving home. No sliding, no rattling. Cut to any size! I’ll be on Amazon US | CA | UK | DE Grab your RV/Camper KITCHEN CHECKLIST now Finally I have included a handy checklist for your RV or Camper kitchen so you won’t forget anything important before hitting the road! Don’t forget to pin for future use! 🙂 You might also be interested in7 Ways To Stay Clean Whilst Living In a Van or an RV Without a ShowerThe Ultimate Van Life Laundry Guide Pin me for later!
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Best Small Motorhomes with Slide Outs. When looking to purchase an RV that will complement your adventure needs, a small motorhome with slide-outs is a good option to consider if you are bringing the family
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