I need help with how to control messy TT

[djblu883]

How do you guys keep a handle on all the stuff everyone needs for their stay and not have it insane messy? My daughter and grandaughter just came down for a week long visit and the entire time they were down the inside of the TT looked like a tornado because of all our belongings had no where to go ....arghhhhhhhhh I'm not a not a neat freak but this was def. way out of control messy...there is just so little space for each individual needs and with a 2 year old even more with toys, diapers, etc.I'm thinking of using rubbermaid tubs to keep outside under our folding table for extra clothes, toys and laundry as well as staples...ideas?????

 

[FloridaTeacher]

We have a 37 ft. motorhome, so fortunately we have a good bit of storage space. Nonetheless, there are some specific things we do to keep a handle on the "stuff" since there are 4 humans and 2 dogs.

1. Get rid of packaging. For example - don't take a box of laundry detergent, put portion size amounts in zip lock bags and take only as many as you need.
2. Pare down on the clothes and (when possible) wear things more than once and plan to do the laundry while on your trip.
3. Like you mentioned, Rubbermaid is our friend! We should own stock in the company. We use them for all kind of stuff and put them underneath the motorhome, under the bed in the motorhome, even in our jeep that we tow behind the motorhome. You can even color code them for each person or by what's in them.
4. Another thing you can do with the tubs is just stick them in your tt while traveling and once you arrive at your destination, move them to your tow vehicle (that way they won't get rained on, etc.).
5. Finally, have a specific place for specific things and make everyone follow that rule. I only had to use my "teacher voice" the first few trips - after that everyone kinda got used to where things were to be put.

Happy Camping!

 

[djblu883]

I'm laughing at the teacher voice thing...cute...I'm on the road in my camper for work much of the year, so much of what you suggested I already do... but was overwhelmed when 2 others joined and what to do with all the extra stuff! I guess with all my things already there and with it being a residence of sorts there is no place for them to put away things easily...I won't know how to act when I finally get to go home to live will I? ( with so much more room lol) I guess I'm a bit spoiled in this small space to have all my Disney stuff with me as well...so that it makes living in cramped space more like home... in the next few months I'll have to really think about space for their things too to make it bearable for us all...it's a 29 footer with some but not enough storage....my last TT had more storage...maybe I need a good organizer to come in...thanks for the advice

 

[Mickster]

We visit my parents for a week (myself and my 2 kids) while they are at the Fort for month. They have a pop up camper.

But, we bring stuff! Oh my. Clothes, blankies, just stuff. Not to mention 3 extra bodies. My parents have a tent that they put up on their site to act as a garage. In it goes things they don't need right now, stuff we've bought, clothes, shoes. You name it. It's in the garage. It works pretty well. I really try to keep our clutter to our end on the bed. We all get along pretty well (even at the end of the week. ) Good luck!

 

[terri01p]

I know exactly how you feel, that was me at WDW...whenever we camp at the beach we hang around camp more so it's no big deal to run the vacuum or make beds, freshen up the bathroom etc...but whenever we were at WDW, I didn't feel like getting up and making beds, vacuuming, doing dishes, the most I wanted to do was laundry, it's not as if we vacation 5 times a year, we have one big vacation a year and I don't want to spend it cleaning, I do that ever other day of the year and holidays. I just wanted to get ready and go to the parks, and then we would come home and the tt would look like a tornado hit it and I was to poop to clean, we took a couple of days off from the parks during the week to clean etc, but the next day, same ole same ole..I stayed feeling tired the whole time at WDW, I felt like I worked myself to death...our tt was so bad at the end of our trip, our FW neighbor came over to help us load our golf cart into the back of our truck and I was opening the camper door just enough for dh to sweeze out. God forbid he saw the inside of our tt, they would have probably called Martha Stewart personally.

 

[Escape Artist]

How do you guys keep a handle on all the stuff everyone needs for their stay and not have it insane messy? ...

I'm not normally a neat-nick, but when we're camping, it's so easy for things to get waaaay out of control!

So, I am the duffle bag queen! Almost all of the personal stuff that comes thru the door of my popup has to come in in a duffle, and I want the personal stuff back in the duffles when nobody is using it. I like duffles because they collapse down and get smaller as stuff is used up, and they expand a bit to hold all the souveniers and treasures we pick up during our stay.

My personal pet peeve is clothing laying around...I hate it, hate it, hate it!!!! So, if they haven't worn it yet, it's in their duffle. If it's on their bod, it's ok. If it's dirty, it's in the laundry duffle. Toys have to stay on the kids' beds if they're being used, and put in their original place if not. Each kid has a side of the bed, that's where their stuff goes. I don't allow little stuff like Legos (too messy, and I don't want to step on them barefoot in the middle of the night), but Duplos work great. We have a tub of them my kids have been playing with for almost 15 years, and even the big kids still play with them when we camp.

I bought each of us a different colored "Koala" caddy for little personal stuff (keys, glasses, cell phones). They all hang from the ceiling, and that keeps the little stuff out of the way. I also bought a little carrier at Wal-Mart to hold all our pharmacy stuff, which also hangs from the ceiling by the kitchen sink. I have a plastic basket with a handle that holds the shower stuff (shampoo, soap, etc.) so whoever needs it just grabs that one basket goes. I keep my food in a laundry basket and kitchen tools in a big Rubbermaid tub, so they're all contained, too.

My newest thing is these wonderful new BIG Ziploc bags! They are expecially great for dog food, towels and toys. I pack almost every square inch of my popup, including my bucket of laundry supplies, RAID and cleaners that I leave inside the potty/shower area, since we use the comfort stations at FW instead of the one in our pup.

With 5 people and 2 40-pound dogs in a popup, we gotta stay organized!

Good luck with your organizing...you don't need to hire someone, just tackle your areas one at a time and plan to spend some $$$ at Target and Wal-Mart. You'll be so glad you did!

Sue in Texas

 

[carolinacamper]

I bring my DH aka "the camping Nazi" LOL. He makes everyone pick up after themselves.

 

[camreesmom]

I bring my DH aka "the camping Nazi" LOL. He makes everyone pick up after themselves.

HAHA!!!!!! That would be my DH also!

 

[djblu883]

lol was married to a man like that....told the kids he would toss thier stuff if they didn't keep it cleaned up....one day son came home and all his stuff was gone....told him it was thrown away....wasn't but sure made him think....he did better after that...i ended up cleaning out 2 of my 3 closets...now each girl has a closet...still doing the rubbermaid thing too....those giant ziplock bags are good but no place to put them after I filled them unless they go on a top bunk...trying not to so that...so the tubs go outside...and kaos will not reign here hopefully...I'm still cleaning after a week with them here lol