Anyone who lives full-time in an RV will quickly realize the need create a "System." An RV clutter control system is something that each RV traveler develops to avoid going crazy on the hunt for lost bottle openers, journals or even toilet paper.
Working out an organization system is a defense mechanism against time wasted searching; that tiny living space has an incredible capacity for attracting chaos. A single shipment from an RV mail forwarding service can propel clutter to epic proportions.
Simple Techniques for Controlling Clutter in an RV
One very simple clutter-busting technique is to use stackable plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Those lids are very important; while the RV is in motion the effect on its contents is roughly equivalent to a magnitude 5 earthquake. Anyone who has ever forgotten to latch an RV closet while traveling will know that the resultant "avalanche" is not pretty.
In the US, suitable containers can be picked up cheaply in Target and Dollar Tree; maximize storage capacity by matching boxes carefully to the space where they will live. Transparent containers save the trouble of labeling. Sort possessions by type (portable office, books, electronic gewgaws) and try to keep each set in its own box. Sometimes it makes sense to create “kits”; a “coffee kit” containing sugar, spoons, coffee and even the cups is a boon first thing in the morning.
Maximize Limited Closet Space Inside an RV
Don't skip on containers for the closets. Correctly-sized boxes expand the storage vertically as well as horizontally. RV closets aren't always closed at the back and have a habit of absorbing items, creating annoying rattles and potential damage and mess as loose possessions end up deep inside the vehicle. It's much harder for a plastic box to fall down the back.
When the time comes to use what's inside a container, it takes only a few seconds to pull out the whole box and examine its contents in less cramped quarters. Cleaning is easier, too; move the boxes and clean what's underneath. Items enclosed in a plastic container gain little to no dust, and do not need to be moved one at a time for cleaning.
Every couple of months it makes sense to pull out all the containers and take stock. Sometimes there is simply too much of an item, or it's in the wrong place. Several months' worth of magazines may have been hidden in a box; if they haven't yet been read, chances are they never will be. It may be best to just leave them at the next laundromat or campground.
Clutter-controlling Systems in RVs Create Extra Time for Fun
As time passes, the RVer will learn what items are in which box and how to lay hands on them quickly. The RV clutter-control system becomes automatic through simple daily use. Any required adjustments will quickly come to the fore; the solution is as simple as switching an item to a different box.
After all, the reason most people choose to start RVing is to see the country, and to relax. Nobody wants to waste hours looking for lost items and cleaning instead of savoring a glass of wine or beautiful view. Using containers is a simple and inexpensive way to reduce time spent cleaning and hunting for lost items, and to control RV clutter.
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