Not Quite FullTimners, but kitchen question...

We keep everything in totes. Just switched to Rubbermaid Roughnecks. Mice like to explore RV basements, even with non-food items. The flip-tops we were using, all cracked bouncing down the road.

Inside food items, I put in food storage bags and then into Tupperware canisters. We stay in places for 2-6 mos at a time. I try to not stock up right before we are planning to leave. Partly a weight issue and partly because of space overflow.

If you are in an Extended Stay, you'll have a well equipped kitchen. So I imagine many of the food items would just follow along with you. At least, that's what we would do. We've stayed in an Ex-Stay in the past, but much prefer living in a 4-season RV year round. It can be hard to find northern campgrounds open in the Winter, but so far, we've been lucky where we are assigned.

I have been buying the smallest bag of flour and sugar. I keep the bag closed with a rubber band and then put into a zip lock bag. I have never had anything get into the bags. The brown sugar I have in a tupperware container. Noodles, pasta, cereal, chips, etc in the bags or boxes they come in. Dry dog food bag closed with rubber band and none left sitting out. I guess I have been lucky as I haven't had any ants but had mice until I figured out they were eating the dog food left sitting in the dogs dish on the floor. All of the above items are stored in upper cabinets.

Use the same thing you use at home. I have had my Tupperware for well over 40 years now and they are airtight, bug proof. Besides, when they crack, I get them replaced. Go online to the official Tupperware site and you can order from them direct. Great people to work with. Rubbermaid works too, but not sure they are as airtight, and they crack if you drop them.

I would not use ziplock bags for longer term storage. They can attract mice, and it is VERY easy for the mouse to chew into. Locking, airtight, heavy duty plastic is the best.

Stay away from the containers that slide to get larger and smaller. Those grooves are NOT air tight and I learned that the hard way when I pulled it out of the cabinet and little tiny ants had gotten into the container. Looked like moving black pepper inside the container. NASTY.

Zip lock bags are okay if you want to store things in a container that gets smaller as you use it up. I've never had bugs or critters get into a double lock zip lock bag. Air tight is the key. Squeeze the air out and zip it.

I use oxyClean to sterilize/deodorize glass and plastic containers. Just a Tablespoon of OxyClean powder in a cup or two of HOT water... shake well. Let sit a bit. Use a stiff brush, rinse and it keeps it looking brand new. Next time the potato chips get rancid in a plastic container... try this.

In addition to plastic storage containers, we buy in smaller quantities and not restock when we know we're going to be at our home base for a month or so. That way we can throw away small amounts of some things without feeling guilty.

We are just starting too and at our home we have a food saver that my husband uses the container which is heavy plastic with a special lid that sucks out the air. If you have the space.

yes to tupperware and rubbermaid, but any heavy duty plastic container with well sealing lid will be ok. I use a variety of plastic containers, from 1 pint size to 2 gallon size, jar shaped or rectangle box shaped.
You can also store your dry mixes in plastic containers to keep the mice away.

Yes, Tupperware or Rubbermaid is the way to go for all dry products. They'll keep a very long time.

Also, if you're starting from scratch you can purchase them from one manufacturer so they'll all stack nicely and will save a lot of shelf space. Tupperware has it all figured out if you're able to find a dealer. Look one up. They have a list and know exactly what size container you should buy to carry say, a 5lb bag of flour versus a 5lb bag of sugar. (They both take different sizes) They're expensive but we've had ours for 30 years!

We fulltimed for 9 years. I decanted most nonrefridgerated items into plastic canisters and other containers. Keeps things fresher and nearly varmint proof.