Organization Gadgets for RVs: RVing in Retirement

No matter the size of your RV, there will never be enough room to comfortably fit everything in a way that is organized without creative thinking.

Use wall space to maximize tight spaces

We started with a small trailer where organization was essential, moved into a larger motorhome where space was not scarce and recently downsized into a smaller but newer class A motorhome. However, when traveling all scenarios require creative organization before a traveler hits the road. The following list shares the items and strategies I have found that keep me sane.

Velcro

Don’t leave home without it. A small strip holds items in place that are permanent figures in our home on wheels. My favorite use is on the bottom of the soap dispenser and the hand sanitizer. Items that are used often and need to be easily accessible but can fall to the ground when driving need to be adhered to a surface. Velcro is the answer and it allows me to remove the bottles and refill them when necessary.

Plastic bag holder

These space savers are available in multiple styles, but a simple, inexpensive design works for me. It adheres to the wall in a corner of our RV and eliminates the search as well as the secures the overflow of bags that tumbled out of drawers and cupboard prior to this simple device.

Broom/mop holder

You may notice a pattern is starting to develop; I stick a lot of item to the walls. Find the empty spaces and use them to your advantage. An inexpensive clamp screwed into the wall holds cleaning tools in place and are within easy grasp when needed.

Command hooks

Command hooks are a brand that allow products to be adhered to the wall and can be removed without scaring the walls. They can hold the dishtowel, a picture, electrical cords, etc. Available in different sizes and styles.

Towel holders

In the bathroom, explore the area beside the sink or near the shower. A typical towel or washcloth holder allows items to be hung to dry and remain out of the way when not in use.

Soap/shampoo dispensers

During the beginning of our travels, we had a bar of soap in our shower that would slip off the shelf and bang around while driving. Though it is nice to have a bar if you choose to visit a resort’s bathroom or wash in the lake, we usually just use the facilities in the RV. A space saving and useful tool is a dispenser that hangs on the shower wall. These are easy to refill and efficient to have products within reach. A must have.

Expandable clothes drying rack

It’s a mystery how I never had one of these until recently. Over the last 40 years, our rigs have changed as our family grew and then again when we became empty nesters and retired. The last RV we purchased came equipped with this type of drying rack. It is permanently attached to the shower wall above the shower head and has become indispensable for swimwear, wet towels, and other items that typically take up room to dry or fly away when hung outside.

Hanging wall racks

In the bedroom area of our RV, we had limited storage space for the stuff that doesn't seem to fit anywhere else. Again, walls provided us usable space. As you plan how to utilize this space, think about how items will ride when the vehicle is in motion. The more they are self-enclosed to secure materials, the more functional they will be. I used a wire basket as a wall rack for electronics: portable Bluetooth speaker, battery charger, iPad, Kindle, etc. I tied the cords and earplugs on the sides to make them accessible.

My husband complained that he needed a place for his stuff: pocketknife, a few household tools, his golf watch, etc. A similar shelf in a different size fit his needs.

Shelves with elastic

Shelves are also valuable features. However, there is a risk that whatever sits perfectly when stationary will tumble when the rig is moving. In our bathroom, we hung a shelf for the numerous toiletry items. To hold them in place my husband attached a length of elastic across the front. This allowed us to secure the contents while making them easy to withdraw and replace.

Baskets or Bins

Explore baskets and what they have to offer to your situation. They can be used throughout the RV. A wicker basket behind the driver’s seat holds our dog’s toys. Organize drawers to separate the socks from the underwear. I purchased some collapsible boxes from IKEA that are great.

In the kitchen, separate small items in bins. Those important papers that you wish to have readily available gain accessibility in a shelf divider. I placed a basket in the bottom of our closet for dirty clothes. After purchasing several different hampers that failed our needs, it works for us. A tisket, tasket, put everything in a basket.

Hope some of these ideas take some of the headaches out of your travels. But remember as long as you are in an RV, life is good.

For more RV ideas or to read stories that will make you laugh while hearing how we learned the hard way, check out other articles by Brenda Mahler.

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