A Tubular Idea
The tubes in the center of toilet tissue and paper towel rolls can be used as storage containers. Roll up your light-duty household extension cords, flatten them, and slide them into a short tube. Place a tube or two inside your silverware drawer to keep your knives sharp and manageable. This organizing method could apply to anything from pencils to pantyhose, as well as rubber bands, wrapping paper, soda straws, yarn, or craft supplies.
Bill Hendrix, F761S
Erie, Colorado
Closet Rod Support
A closet rod in our motorhome was sagging. To provide extra support, we obtained a suitable length of PVC pipe. We used a cut-off wheel to cut a V-shaped notch into one end of the pipe and then rounded off the cut area with a metal file. The closet rod is cradled in the notch. We then drilled two holes into the pipe and secured the pipe to the rod using a cable tie. At its lower end, the pipe rests on a square piece of wood into which we drilled a round indentation the same size as the pipe. The smooth pipe never snags our clothes, and it can be removed easily as needed. The total cost was just a few dollars.
Ray and Meme Wagner, F429127
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Sanitary Hoses
Accidental sewage spills, leaking sewer hoses, and careless flushing of those hoses often results in contaminated ground around the water, sewer, and electrical hookups at RV parks. Keep that in mind when you roll up the water hose and drag it along the ground in such areas. Hold the male end off the ground and start rolling from that end, as the female end is less likely to pass the contamination into the hose. Sanitize the hose and the ends frequently with a spray bottle containing a solution of 1/4-cup of household bleach to one quart of water. Always thread the ends together to keep out crawling creatures, and be sure to wash your hands.
Bill Hendrix, F761S
Erie, Colorado
Family Motor Coaching magazine welcomes any ideas that can save money, time or effort. Email your tip, along with diagrams or photographs illustrating your idea, to techtips@fmca.com. Or, mail to Teach & Travel Tips, FMC Magazine, 8291 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45244. For each tip chosen for publication, you will receive $25.