Spring Cleaning for Full-Time RVers

Spring cleaning takes on new meaning when you live full time in an RV—especially if you stay in one place for the winter months. It’s easy for items to accumulate and take up precious space in your rig. Without closing and opening RV slideouts, it can seem like there’s more than enough room for both your existing and new belongings. 

When travel looms, however, RV owners are forced to find homes for things that could be in jeopardy if left out during relocation. This can be a stressful endeavor with space at a premium. 

Although Bob and I have been full-time RVers for four years, staying stationary for about five months during the winter, we still haven’t mastered the “one-in, one-out” methodology to introducing new items to our fifth wheel. As a result, we end up dedicating one day a year to minimizing our accumulations before hitting the road.


Eradicating Extras

Admittedly, the purging process has gotten easier. We’ve definitely learned to acquire less than we accumulated after two years of travel. To be fair, though, some of those items were leftovers from our sticks and bricks.

We take a structured approach to the eradication process, going through all of our clothing, drawers, and cabinets. But because we start out with less than we originally did, we have a better idea of the extras we’ve gained. That makes paring down easier. 

Our biggest challenge tends to be finding permanent locations for larger items we obtain, such as a pasta maker, food sealer, and toaster. 


Protecting a Pasta Maker

Removing the pasta maker from its box proved to be a good decision, significantly minimizing its footprint. But we had to be strategic in the placement of the appliance to ensure its safekeeping during transit. 

I found the optimal spot behind our recliner loveseat. After verifying that the gadget would be out of harm’s way with the recliners both open and closed, I had to determine what to do with the pasta maker’s accessories. Lacking weight, they could get jostled and lost if we stowed them with the machine. 

I put them in a gallon-size zippered plastic bag and looked around the rig for the ideal location. Bob suggested a kitchen drawer where nothing could slide into them. The solution worked perfectly. 


Finding a Home for a Food Sealer

Moving on to the food sealer, I came up with a plan to stash it in an out-of-the-way interior corner near our dining table. The device fit there beautifully. But I still had to stow four rolls of plastic wrap for the machine. 

Examining the interior of our upper rear cabinets, where we had previously found evidence of a mouse invasion, I discovered some empty space in the plastic, lidded bins we had purchased to protect our dry goods from another rodent attack. Moving some things around and removing items we knew we wouldn’t use provided just enough room for all four rolls. Problem solved. 


Tucking Away a Toaster

When we started our RV life, we gave up our toaster, thinking it a fire hazard in an RV. Plus, it consumes a significant amount of electricity when we’re running on batteries. 

After three years of making “toast” in an iron skillet when we wanted the indulgence, we invested in a used toaster from a thrift store. It weighed little, cost little, and fit well in a deep kitchen drawer. The only problem? It took the in-transit space of our coffee French press and a saucepan we use for boiling water. 

We had planned to leave the toaster behind before we hit the road, but we had grown to enjoy the occasional delicacy it provided. With travel approaching, we had to find a more permanent solution for housing the appliance. 

As a general rule, we strategically pack our cabinets and drawers to minimize items shifting during transit. Because of that, we had limited options for our treasured device as most drawers and cabinets lacked space for something its size. But then I had an idea. The shelf in the cabinet under our bathroom sink could work. Sure enough, the toaster fit in that spot. 

The travel toaster solution may be a bit unconventional, but it allows us to keep the toaster. Once we arrive at a location, we remove our water-boiling saucepan and French press from its kitchen drawer, and the toaster takes up residence there for easy kitchen access.

There’s something liberating about having few possessions to weigh us down. Because of that, we’ll continue to set aside time for spring cleaning. It’s well worth it for the freedom it gives us to go where we want, when we want, and spend time with the people we want. 

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