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

[doxiluvr]

I usually am the last one to take a shower, so I squeegee it and since our shower is very slippery I have a shower mat in there and I pick it up and give it a shake and lay over the rim of the tub and then I use a small sponge to wipe off the area the squeegee doesn't get go. Take maybe a minute at most and then once a week I clean it with a bathtub spray and wipe down.
I also bought a couple of the under the bed containers to put in the storage area under the bed and it keeps the extra shoes/miscellaneous stuff neat. I also bought plastic square Rubbermaid containers to keep under the sink or in cabinets for some of the small stuff that gets lost otherwise. Also bought a key holder for those keys my DH likes to leave on the kitchen table. 😞

[pasusan]

^^We've just got the 2 little plastic thingys also. Still working, maybe someone else has an idea.

[Tvov]

Do you have a good way to secure your range vent? Mine just has two little plastic thingys that are supposed to hold the vent closed for travel, but they always slip down.

[pasusan]

popeye59 wrote:
We though the chip clips were a good idea once. The we found them to be fragile and had less pressure are spring loaded clothes pins. Now that's all we use on our chip bags and they even work well on bread bags. Twist the bread bag closed and fold it over on itself and clip it. I'm always "losing" the twist tie thing and those plastic clips they put on some bread bags rip the bags and really frustrate me.

If you want a good chip clip get the Good Grips kind. They are strong and last forever. But, gotta have those clothespins!

I also put a clothespin on the outside of my range vent to hold the flap open. That way I always see the clothespin when we are doing our walk-around and I remember to clip the flap shut.

[fleetwoodmac]

I have my daughter paint clothespins with acrylic paints in bright colors with polka dots, flowers, stripes, etc. They are cute and make me smile when I use them 🙂

[bakerkids]

I'm a fan of these collapsible fabric cubes for storage:

[popeye59]

We though the chip clips were a good idea once. The we found them to be fragile and had less pressure are spring loaded clothes pins. Now that's all we use on our chip bags and they even work well on bread bags. Twist the bread bag closed and fold it over on itself and clip it. I'm always "losing" the twist tie thing and those plastic clips they put on some bread bags rip the bags and really frustrate me.

[Tvov]

pasusan wrote:
Clothespins. When I forget to bring chip clips I use clothespins to keep snacks and other bagged food fresh.

Clothespins! We always have a bag of them in the camper. From closing snack bags, to hanging towels, to securing awning lights... it is amazing how handy they are.

[pasusan]

Clothespins. When I forget to bring chip clips I use clothespins to keep snacks and other bagged food fresh.

[jaysplace]

My DW and I are Iced Tea drinkers, so, as not to have to open the Fridge. all the time, we use a 2gal. Igloo beverage cooler. She fills butter dishes with tea and freezes them for keeping the Igloo cold. She also uses a 12volt crock pot (sitting in the sink) to warm up lunches while I drive.

[tomman58]

We bought an inexpensive one on line. It is made of plastic with metal legs that go under the couch. DW uses it cinstantly for her sewing and knitting stuff. It also just folds and lies on top of the couch when we move.

[tvman44]

We have a couple of old hospital over the bed tables but they don't tilt like that one. Real neat. Another item for the wish list.

[AtlantaGuy]

A Couch Potato’s Dream: The Perfect Table for your Laptop When Camping

I got one of these a few years back and absolutely love it:

http://www.wisdomking.com/product/medline-tilt-top-overbed-table

The table (known as an “Over-Bed Table”) is perfect for all kinds of tasks while camping.

For example, it has a tilt-top so I put a Velcro strip on the table and back of my laptop so now I can ease back into my lounge chair with the laptop tilted toward me for hours of comfortably surfing the net.

Secondly, when not doing that, the table is great to have between my two Lafuma lounge chairs under the awning. It’s casters slide under those chairs for when eating and I’ve been known to use it for hours with the laptop in a fully reclined position outside as well.

It’s also good for just about any and everything outside your RV. ….A great table for keeping your cooler or grill off the ground and all sorts of other things. (Be sure to get the Medline brand. I’ve tried some of the others and they are not as good.)

I like it so well, I bought several for my stick house and use them there too. It’s nice being able to sit back in my lounge chair at home and be on the internet during commercials while comfortably watching TV.

Yes, I’m a couch potato and this table is a couch potato’s dream. If you get one, I bet you’ll end up getting another one later for other locations.

Happy Camping!

[ctpres]

Shaving mirror for shower. Normal suction cup attach, but mirror is hinged to suction cup bracket allowing easy cleanup behind mirror. Same feature allows mounting to horizontal or vertical surface. Under 10 bucks at Garden Ridge Pottery.

[popeye59]

Check out the modification forum too to see what other things there are to do too.

http://www.trailerlife.com/cforum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23032824.cfm