Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos

[GizmosMom]

Another member suggested a new forum section with new products but it doesn't look like it will be feasible. So I thought I would post this here under General RVing Issues. If enough people post (even if you have mentioned it before in another post) we can keep it near the top?

Do you have a handy hint, a new product or an old product that makes your RVing or Camping much better?

(Sorry, no commercial advertising allowed)

I'll start:

Someone in the Camping Van posted a reference to using a Super-Chamois to wipe down their shower. I have been using an icky old thick sponge and I like the chamois idea so much more.

Now I want to hear what works for you

[we3peas]

I think they put the license plate on it for checkins. I always try to remember my dh's book that he writes gas mileage in because I wrote our plates in it. They always seem to need this info.

[RE_Todd]

Bobbo wrote:

Tizi wrote:
Where ever we go camping, they always ask for certain information at check in. Because I cannot remember my license plate numbers on my truck/camper/boat and I got tired of walking back outside to write it down, I made a "Note" in my PDA phone with all of the pertinent information. Now, I just turn on the phone, open the note, and all the information is there (I now have a "Wallet" program that has the information in it, including insurance info etc.).

I went to a pet store and bought a dog tag. Instead of putting the dog's name on it, I put the license plate number on it, and put it on the keyring.

Our's has my cell phone number on it, but I like the license plate number idea.

[Bobbo]

Tizi wrote:
Where ever we go camping, they always ask for certain information at check in. Because I cannot remember my license plate numbers on my truck/camper/boat and I got tired of walking back outside to write it down, I made a "Note" in my PDA phone with all of the pertinent information. Now, I just turn on the phone, open the note, and all the information is there (I now have a "Wallet" program that has the information in it, including insurance info etc.).

I went to a pet store and bought a dog tag. Instead of putting the dog's name on it, I put the license plate number on it, and put it on the keyring.

[Dutch_12078]

wborst wrote:
Instead of using the expensive elastic straps that clip on to keep your sheets tight on your RV mattress, buy a pair of suspenders. They do the same thing and are a lot less expensive. $5.95 at Walmart vs. $14.95 at Bed Bath and Beyond.

I'm looking at a package of sheet garters from Walmart that we have as spares. The price tag is marked $4.99...

[wborst]

Instead of using the expensive elastic straps that clip on to keep your sheets tight on your RV mattress, buy a pair of suspenders. They do the same thing and are a lot less expensive. $5.95 at Walmart vs. $14.95 at Bed Bath and Beyond.

[PGR_Skye]

I would think some of that earthquake sticky putty like stuff would work, too. Haven't tried it, but I know people use it for all kinds of things and think I've even read in these forums about RVers using it.

[B_Traveler]

happy2rv wrote:
I was looking for a liquid soap dispenser to go in the "utility" compartment by the outdoor shower, but everything I found was either $50+ or had "features" that made it inappropriate. For instance, Home Depot had a wall mount soap dispenser about the right size, but the lid just sat loosely on top.

So I finally gave up and made a bracket to hold a dial soap bottle. I used a Simpson Strong Tie L bracket from Home Depot, drilled and then punched a hole big enough for the threaded part of the the soap bottle to go through and then sandwiched the bracket between the bottle and the screw on top. Hopefully the top won't vibrate loose while traveling.

Total cost 51 cents...

I just use small pieces of sticky-back Velcro on the sides and bottom of the liquid soap dispenser, with the corresponding pieces on the shelf and wall - for both the kitchen and the bathroom sinks.

[MrWizard]

I do have one question on your terminology here. I see "my DH" or "DW" used a lot and infer that the H means husband and W means wife, but what does the D stand for? I'll guess "Dear" for the sake of politeness, as my mind tends to wander towards some far less pleasant possibilities in the absence of the truth.

DD =dear daughter
BIL bother in law
etc..

most are easy to figure out

some get a little odd like the "the TV in my TV" doesn't work

the television in my tow vehicle

[Tizi]

Where ever we go camping, they always ask for certain information at check in. Because I cannot remember my license plate numbers on my truck/camper/boat and I got tired of walking back outside to write it down, I made a "Note" in my PDA phone with all of the pertinent information. Now, I just turn on the phone, open the note, and all the information is there (I now have a "Wallet" program that has the information in it, including insurance info etc.).

[Lyman]

Denise in Ark wrote:
OH and I just remembered one more: The mattress wants to slip on its platform, and we lose the pillows between the mattress and outside wall during the night. A generous amount of shelf lining stopped that from happening. It works on a regular mattress now, and it worked GREAT when we replaced the awful matt that came in the trailer temporarily with an air mattress.

Interesting. On mine, there are 2 large elastic type straps that hook around the corners on the foot of the mattress that keep it in place.
They loook something like this:


Only instead of being connected to the mattress, the ends are connected to the underside of the platform.

[Dshultz50]

WOW! Denise -- what GREAT ideas! And I learned something - hadn't thought about the stuff getting dusty and being too dirty to "cling". THANK YOU!

[Denise_in_Ark]

OH and I just remembered one more: The mattress wants to slip on its platform, and we lose the pillows between the mattress and outside wall during the night. A generous amount of shelf lining stopped that from happening. It works on a regular mattress now, and it worked GREAT when we replaced the awful matt that came in the trailer temporarily with an air mattress.

[Denise_in_Ark]

I wish we could have a subfolder in here for items that have such great **multiple uses** that we cannot live without them.

One of my favorites is non-slip shelf liner or even the non-slip mesh that goes under rugs. It's cheap and I use it in these ways (and of course the obvious as a shelf liner.)

1) We hung a tabletop fan from the wall (some of them have mounts in the bottom) so I put liner between it and the wall. Now there is less vibration of the fan.

2) Attached some small pieces to the backs of some pictures and clocks I've hung. Now they won't swing during travel and leave marks on the walls.

3) Placed it under the dinette seat cushions so they don't worm out from under us while we're sitting.

4) Cushion glass pie plates (another amazingly multi-purpose item) to protect them during travel.

5) Place under throw rugs so that they stay put. I don't use rubber backed rugs because I've seen them discolor lino and also because I hate the mess when they start to deteriorate. The liner needs to be washed when the rug is washed because it loses its adhesive properties when it gets dusty.

6) Towels slid off of the plastic towel hook rack we use, until I hot glued some pieces to the knobs on the hooks.

7) Cut a rectangle as long as a clothes hanger and about 4" wide. Cut a hole in the middle and thread the clothes hanger through the hole, and then hot glue the liner to the shoulders of then hanger. Presto. Nonslip hangers. It also allows you to use a wire hanger to hang dry items without worrying about rust stains.

😎 If I store items in the bathtub while we're traveling, I can stack one on top of another and they will stay put while moving if I put a piece of liner between the stacked items.

Lots of good uses for an inexpensive and easily acquired/stored item.

Denise from Ark

[HappyTrailsRVin]

We stopped using the antibacterial soup, as we were told that it is not good for your holding tanks. Still use the liquid soup that isn't antibracterial. I like your idea, it is always good to get things up out of the way and always in the same place.

[Alaska_Annie]

happy2rv- Pretty neat. Will be my next project.