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Dedicated to those of us who still work for a living, RV on weekends and vacations, and dream of the day we can enjoy the RV lifestyle full time.

RV Tidbits

In RVing as in life, sometimes the simple solutions are the best. With that in mind, let's take a glance at some tried and true "home brewed" remedies to some of those nagging little annoyances that all RV travelers encounter. Gleaned from the experiences of many seasoned RVers, these hints and tips have made the rounds of many a campfire conversation. Hopefully, you will find something here that will make your RV travels a little easier and maybe even save you some bucks.

Cleaning

A quarter-cup of bleach and a bucket of water are great mildew killers. Just brush on, let sit a few minutes, then rinse off.

Wiping down venetian blinds with rubbing alcohol keeps them clean longer than regular dusting.

A sponge mop and a bucket filled with one part vinegar and five parts water makes the perfect RV ceiling cleaner.

To remove oil that has splattered onto your RV from freshly covered roads, spray furniture polish on the oil and rub it clean with soft rags.

Waxing your fiberglass shower, toilet, and sink surfaces with carnauba car wax every month will keep them shiny and clean.

Two-sided denture brushes are perfect for cleaning in those hard-to-reach places in your RV.

Filling sinks, tubs, and toilets with warm water and one-third cup of automatic dishwashing soap makes them whiter and brighter. Just soak overnight, empty, and rinse.

A half-cup of Liquid Tide dissolved in a gallon of water is an inexpensive way to remove black streaks from your RV. Just rub on gently with a soft cloth.

A cup of water microwaved on high for three to four minutes and allowed to set for a few more minutes will create enough steam to make wiping the microwave clean a very easy task.

An old toothbrush is the perfect tool for cleaning lint from the vent screen of your hair dryer.

Maintenance

A few drops of dish soap added to a wet sponge makes a good source of soapy water to drip on a propane connection if you need to make a quick check for leaks.

Spraying a few coats of non-stick cooking spray onto the top and sides of your freezer makes the ice fall right off when you defrost.

Placing kitty litter glued to a Styrofoam meat tray in your refrigerator will remove bad odors.

Wadded newspaper placed in your freezer and refrigerator between trips will keep out mold and moisture. Keep the door ajar.

Storage

Storing bananas in a vacuum-sealed Ziploc bag will keep them fresh for a week. Suck the air out of the bag with a straw just before sealing to preserve the vacuum.

A thumbtack stuck into your roll of paper towels is a great way to keep them from unrolling while on the move in your RV.

Rolled up plastic bags can be neatly stored in an empty Kleenex box. They can be removed through the slot when needed.

Wrapping pieces of non-skid shelf liner around your mattress corners before putting on the sheets will prevent them from slipping off.

Plastic lids that have stopped fitting snugly on their containers can be dipped in hot water to soften them up for a perfect fit.

Forty-gallon leaf bags make an inexpensive alternative for covering your tires during storage.

Cheese can be stored up to five weeks by placing it in a Ziploc bag with a paper towel dampened with vinegar.

Food odors can be removed from Tupperware and other plastic containers by washing, drying, and then placing them in the freezer overnight.

Travel Tips

Hanging a rubber glove over your smoke alarm will keep it from going off while you are cooking. Remove promptly when finished.

To make sure everything is done before breaking camp, use the acronym WAGERS - Water, Antenna, Gas, Electricity, Refrigerator, Sewer.

To avoid being bothered by gnats, pin dryer sheets under your hat when you go outdoors.

You can remove pine pitch from your dog's paws with bacon grease.

A two-inch splotch of wheel-bearing grease high on your power cord will prevent ants from using it to crawl into your RV. Just wipe off when you're ready to go.

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