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

[Ralphie_Boy]

W4MBG wrote:
a mr. clean (or generic) magic eraser will clean hard water spots and bugs from window glass very quickly. just use it wet and dry with a paper towel. note: glass only, not plastic!

I recently watched a video on detailing cars, which showed how the use of grade 4 steel wool to polish the glass. They also used RainX in the process. Sorry, but I no longer have the link.

[W4MBG]

a mr. clean (or generic) magic eraser will clean hard water spots and bugs from window glass very quickly. just use it wet and dry with a paper towel. note: glass only, not plastic!

[Gene_Ginny]

Poppy & Nana wrote:
....I really like the idea of the shower curtain.....think I'll have to look for one to match the colors of the TT!

.. or a nice scene. This fabric shower curtain keep the sun off the table for breakfast and then gets folded and put away.

[Eastwacamper]

Thank you for the 3-2-1 recipe. I figured you can add blueberries to the mix in the mug too. Or nuts or something like that.

Also thanks for the idea of using a sheet, guessing light color would be best, to shade from the sun.

[Poppy___Nana]

Okie in Wyoming wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:

RaenMark wrote:
JiminDenver, what an awesome idea with the sheet. As soon as i read that I was, DOHH, why didn't i think of that. Thanks, we'll be trying that one.

Thank you. I can tell you that it was a lifesaver when we had record breaking heat that week. Not only did I have morning shade, it kept the TT cooler longer.

The table was in the was in the way or we would have put a second one up to completely cover the front. Twin sheets would make 1/2 shades.

Tom

You are right, I have seen the shades in the CW catalog since then, I'm sure they would look nicer than a sheet. That week we were a hour from a town and I had to come up with shade or drink my coffee in the TT with the AC on. With the morning sun being so low, a half shade or see thru shade wasn't going to work.

The guy next to us had a electric awning and did it after checking ours out. The early sun was worse for him because his awning was much higher and didn't tilt. His seemed to roll right up.

I like your use of a bed sheet. I use a fabric shower curtain. I clothes pin (or binder clip) it to the flap on the awning. Easy on, easy off. Or I also have awning hooks that slide in the groove on the awning and then hook through the holes in the shower curtain for a more secure hanging - but they take longer to take down if a sudden Wyoming "breeze" comes up.
I'll have to stock another bed sheet in the 5er. Good idea! Thanks for sharing.
Okie

I really like the idea of the shower curtain.....think I'll have to look for one to match the colors of the TT!

[Okie_in_Wyoming]

JiminDenver wrote:

RaenMark wrote:
JiminDenver, what an awesome idea with the sheet. As soon as i read that I was, DOHH, why didn't i think of that. Thanks, we'll be trying that one.

Thank you. I can tell you that it was a lifesaver when we had record breaking heat that week. Not only did I have morning shade, it kept the TT cooler longer.

The table was in the was in the way or we would have put a second one up to completely cover the front. Twin sheets would make 1/2 shades.

Tom

You are right, I have seen the shades in the CW catalog since then, I'm sure they would look nicer than a sheet. That week we were a hour from a town and I had to come up with shade or drink my coffee in the TT with the AC on. With the morning sun being so low, a half shade or see thru shade wasn't going to work.

The guy next to us had a electric awning and did it after checking ours out. The early sun was worse for him because his awning was much higher and didn't tilt. His seemed to roll right up.

I like your use of a bed sheet. I use a fabric shower curtain. I clothes pin (or binder clip) it to the flap on the awning. Easy on, easy off. Or I also have awning hooks that slide in the groove on the awning and then hook through the holes in the shower curtain for a more secure hanging - but they take longer to take down if a sudden Wyoming "breeze" comes up.
I'll have to stock another bed sheet in the 5er. Good idea! Thanks for sharing.
Okie

[PGR_Skye]

I got this recipe some time ago from the "Cooks,...." forum on here and have shared it with my friends on the Cooking forum on Gardenweb. They love it for a quick fix and for children to make. We've had the Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate cake mix combined with the Angel Food cake mix in the motorhome ever since although I'm getting ready to add bags of other flavors. DH even used it recently on a short trip by himself. We use the 45 second timing and it is absolutely perfect. You can drop a few flavored chips on top or it it after mixing, but we just like it plain.

[Bit_Bucket]

pigroaster wrote:
321 Use any brand of angel food cake mix you like. Pick any other cake you like. I suggest chocolate. Mix the 2 mixes together in a zip lock bag!, Measure out 3 tablespoons (level)of the zip lock mix into a mug. Add 2 Tablespoons of water. Mix it (stir with a spoon) and make sure you get the dry mix in bottom edges of mug. Place in a microwave oven. Set for 60 seconds on high (some people suggest 45 seconds) I use 60. Remove, let cool for a few minutes. Enjoy with a spoon or add fruit and cool whip or whatever you wish! It is that easy. This is my first and last posting of a recipe hint. Back to other gizmos right????

Will try it! Thanks for you patience!

[pigroaster]

321 Use any brand of angel food cake mix you like. Pick any other cake you like. I suggest chocolate. Mix the 2 mixes together in a zip lock bag!, Measure out 3 tablespoons (level)of the zip lock mix into a mug. Add 2 Tablespoons of water. Mix it (stir with a spoon) and make sure you get the dry mix in bottom edges of mug. Place in a microwave oven. Set for 60 seconds on high (some people suggest 45 seconds) I use 60. Remove, let cool for a few minutes. Enjoy with a spoon or add fruit and cool whip or whatever you wish! It is that easy. This is my first and last posting of a recipe hint. Back to other gizmos right????

[JiminDenver]

RaenMark wrote:
JiminDenver, what an awesome idea with the sheet. As soon as i read that I was, DOHH, why didn't i think of that. Thanks, we'll be trying that one.

Thank you. I can tell you that it was a lifesaver when we had record breaking heat that week. Not only did I have morning shade, it kept the TT cooler longer.

The table was in the was in the way or we would have put a second one up to completely cover the front. Twin sheets would make 1/2 shades.

Tom

You are right, I have seen the shades in the CW catalog since then, I'm sure they would look nicer than a sheet. That week we were a hour from a town and I had to come up with shade or drink my coffee in the TT with the AC on. With the morning sun being so low, a half shade or see thru shade wasn't going to work.

The guy next to us had a electric awning and did it after checking ours out. The early sun was worse for him because his awning was much higher and didn't tilt. His seemed to roll right up.

[Bit_Bucket]

pigroaster wrote:
321. The angel food cake mix has all the stuff you need. Just add another cake mix of your choice. No eggs , milk or anything but water! Neat right????

This sounds like a suprise treat for daughter and her friends!

Exactly what do you do?

Sorry for being dense, but could you give me a more detailed example?

What type of cake mix do you use?

You say the angel food cake mix has all you need, what brand is that?

[Dutch_12078]

pigroaster wrote:
321. The angel food cake mix has all the stuff you need. Just add another cake mix of your choice. No eggs , milk or anything but water! Neat right????

Yep! We have a bag of lemon 321 mix along with us right now. Sometimes we double it and make it in a cereal bowl. Neither one of us remembers where we first heard/read about the recipe a few years back. Yum!!! :B

[pigroaster]

321. The angel food cake mix has all the stuff you need. Just add another cake mix of your choice. No eggs , milk or anything but water! Neat right????

[tomman58]

JiminDenver wrote:
I came up with this last year when the morning sun was too low for the awning to provide any shade. I didn't know of sun screens that attached to the awning back then so I made one.

We used a clean queen sheet and ran clothes line thru the hem. Work the sheet and line into the track on the awning and you have a instant sun shade.
On the bottom I used two coiled dog ties with one end clipped to a corner and the other a weight. This allows me to pull the bottom out but the coils allow the wind to blow the sheet back and forth without straining the awning.
When it's time to put up the awning I just unclip the tie downs and let the sheet roll up with the awning.



Now of course you can pick up one in just about any color at most flea markets for just a few bucks.
I am worryed though that with the electric awnings , winding it up might not be shuch a good idea.

JinD

[RaenMark]

JiminDenver, what an awesome idea with the sheet. As soon as i read that I was, DOHH, why didn't i think of that. Thanks, we'll be trying that one.

JiminMich, the contents of the Angel Food cake mix supply the leavening and egg products you need for the cake to work. Might try wiping the inside of the cup with butter or spritz with PAM.