Laundry seems to pile up twice as fast in an RV than a regular home or apartment. Maybe you’re lucky, and your RV’s already equipped with its own washer/dryer. But if you’re like most RVers, you’re probably stuck relying on coin-operated machines at campgrounds and resorts or finding the local laundromat. At times it can seem almost impossible to keep everything clean and organized in such a small space, but these DIY hacks make the chore a lot easier.
1. Mount a collapsible drying rack in your shower to hang-dry clothes.
Not all clothes can be thrown in the dryer, and without much space to hang them, this is the next best solution. Mount folding drying racks in the shower and you can hang-dry shirts, coats, bras, or dresses with clothespins. The racks can be adjusted depending on how much space you need, as well as collapsed and put away when you need to use the shower again.
2. Use suction cups on the outside of your RV to dry towels and coats.
Make sure you get suction cups that lock. They can bear more weight (like heavier coats) and will stay on even through heavy winds.
3. Keep your clothes off the ground with this DIY hanging laundry bag.
These open laundry bags will keep your clothes out of the way, without the fuss of a drawstring like other bags.
To make one, grab an embroidery hoop (at least 14 inches in diameter) and slip a pillowcase over the inner hoop. Then place the outer hoop over it and tighten the screw. Slip a ribbon around the screw, and hang it on the back of your bathroom door or wherever you have extra space.
4. Save dryer lint to start campfires.
Don’t just toss dryer lint away, stuff some inside empty TP rolls and you’ve got an easy fire starter. You can just set it in the middle of your kindling and light a match to start.
5. Invest in a Scrubba Washbag or Wonderwash
These portable laundry bags do a machine-quality wash in six easy steps. You don’t even have to leave your RV to use them, and when you’re all done they can be folded to a pocket size for easy storage. The Scrubba Wash Bags are about $50 on Amazon.
You can also read more about the compact Wonderwash on our recent article here.
6. Make a DIY mobile laundry station
These small laundry stations are perfect for keeping everything organized. The baskets can be used to store dirty clothes, clean clothes that still need to be folded, and laundry supplies like detergent and dryer sheets. Get the full instructions how to make one from Hoosier Homemade.
7. Make your own laundry detergent
Regular detergent is full of chemicals, but you can easily make your own natural laundry soap with four ingredients. All you need is a bar of shaved soap (you just can use a vegetable peeler), a cup of Borax, a cup of washing soda, and 30-40 drops of your favorite essential oil (like wintergreen). Mix them all together, and keep it in a labeled mason jar.
