7

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND CAMPERS

You’re driving your RV across Kansas, with another 220 miles before the next town. The windshield’s covered with road grime, the microwave oven reeks of burnt popcorn, one of your companions spilled a glass of wine on the carpet, and your neck hurts from all that driving. All you’ve got in the RV is a bottle of Coca-Cola, some lemons, a canister of salt, and a box of rice. What do you do?

How to Avoid Losing Keys with a Fishing Bobber

WHAT YOU NEED

• Snap-on fishing bobber, 1¾-inch diameter
• Needle-nose pliers
• 25-pound-test fishing line, 6 inches long
• Paint, indelible markers, rub-on transfers, or rhinestones

WHAT TO DO

1. Push the red trigger mechanism on the top of the white half of the bobber, and using the needle-nose pliers, straighten the thin wire hook at the bottom of the red half of the bobber.

2. Pull out the trigger mechanism and the accompanying wire and spring.

3. Feed the end of the fishing line through the small hole in the bottom of the red half of the bobber and out the hole in the white half of the bobber.

4. Tie the two ends of the fishing line to each other, making a tight knot.

5. Using the needle-nose pliers, snip off the excess fishing line beyond the knot.

6. Attach your key ring to the loop of fishing line on the outside of the bobber.

7. If desired, personalize the bobber with paint, indelible markers, rub-on transfers, or rhinestones.

HOW IT WORKS

The buoyant fishing bobber keeps several keys from sinking to the bottom of the lake should they be accidentally dropped overboard.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

Fishing for Compliments

Fishing bobbers can be used for several fun craft projects:

• Christmas Tree Ornaments. Make a Santa Claus head or a snowman from classic red-and-white fishing bobbers. To create a Santa ornament, glue some cotton to the bottom white half of a large bobber to make a beard, a small cotton ball on top of the red half to make a hat, and a pair of googly eyes. For a snowman, connect a small, medium, and large bobber by their hooks and then use an indelible marker to give your snowman eyes and shirt buttons. Feed thin ribbon through the top hook to hang the ornaments.
• Christmas Wreaths. Wrap white Christmas lights around a wire wreath form, and cover the form by attaching various-sized red-and-white fishing bobbers.
• Earrings. Attach earring clasps to the top of two fishing bobbers and you’ve got a pair of fashionable earrings.
• Light Pull. Use the hook atop the bobber to attach it to the existing light chain.
• Refrigerator Magnets. Use a hot glue gun to attach a magnet to a fishing bobber.

How to Protect a Trailer Hitch with a Tennis Ball

WHAT YOU NEED

• Knife or pair of scissors
• Tennis ball

WHAT TO DO

1. Using a knife or pair of scissors, cut a large X in the tennis ball.

2. When you are not using the vehicle for towing a trailer, hold the X over the trailer hitch ball.

3. Push hard until the tennis ball pops onto the trailer hitch ball.

HOW IT WORKS

The tennis ball covers the metal trailer hitch ball, preventing it from getting scratched or damaged. The tennis ball cover also prevents you from rubbing up against the greased hitch.

ON THE BALL

• To avoid bumping your head on the latch under the hood, carefully cut a slot in a tennis ball and place it over the latch. Should you bump your head, the tennis ball will soften the blow.
• If you need to disconnect your car’s negative battery cable to work on the engine, it’s important to prevent the live end of the battery cable connector from touching the car frame or other metal surface. Cut a slit in a tennis ball and carefully insert the negative battery connector into the rubber ball. Since the rubber tennis ball does not conduct electricity, you can safely place the encapsulated battery connector aside.
• To keep your car door open without wasting the battery, wedge a tennis ball into the doorjamb to depress the interior light switch.

How to Prevent Mold and Mildew with Kitty Litter

WHAT YOU NEED

• Kitty litter
• 2 plastic storage containers (approximately 10 inches wide by 15 inches long by 6 inches deep) or shallow cardboard box

WHAT TO DO

1. To prevent mold and mildew from accumulating in a locked-up RV, pour unused kitty litter in two plastic storage containers (or a shallow cardboard box), roughly 2 inches deep.

2. Place one plastic container inside the bathtub or shower stall, and place the second container on the floor of the kitchen.

3. Lock up the RV for the season. (If you have cats, make sure the doors to the RV remain closed so the cats don’t use the kitty litter in the tubs.)

HOW IT WORKS

The kitty litter absorbs moisture and musty, lingering odors, preventing mold and mildew from growing.

How to Keep Your RV Cool with Space Blankets

WHAT YOU NEED

• Scissors
• Space blankets
• Scotch tape (or packaging or duct tape)

WHAT TO DO

1. Using scissors, carefully cut the space blankets to the size of the inside of the windowpanes and windshield—with the shiny side of the space blanket facing toward the glass.

2. Using Scotch tape, adhere the space blankets to the insides of the windows—again, with the shiny side of the space blankets facing toward the glass.

3. When you remove the sheets of space blanket from the windows, save the sheets for reuse.

HOW IT WORKS

The space blankets reflect up to 80 percent of radiant heat, rather than allowing it to pass through the glass into the camper. The metallic surfaces reflect the heat of the sun out of the vehicle.

SECURITY BLANKET

To heat the RV with a space blanket, cover the inside of the windowpanes with sheets of the space blanket with the shiny side facing inward to reflect your body heat back inside the vehicle.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

Cool Uses for a Space Blanket

Invented in 1964 after a scientist at the National Research Corporation discovered that the metalized sheets of film used as external insulation on satellites and the lunar module could also keep people warm by reflecting heat back to the body, the space blanket has a wide array of alternative uses.

• Emergency Shelter. In an emergency, use a space blanket to create an emergency shelter, such as a tent, tarp, or lean-to. The waterproof material repels rain and snow.
• First Aid. A space blanket can be used in an emergency situation for its intended purpose of keeping someone warm or preventing an individual from going into shock. To do so, wrap the blanket around the person, tucking in the sides under the body to retain heat and repel cold. To prevent additional heat loss, place a hat on the person’s head.
• Heat Reflector. To combat cold temperatures, hang the blanket behind a fire or radiator so the shiny side reflects the heat back to you to help keep you warm.
• Signal Mirror. If you need to signal for help, use the reflective, shiny surface of the blanket as a signal mirror.
• Snow Goggles. Cut a strip of the space blanket and wrap it around your head as a pair of goggles. The see-through material doubles as sunglasses.
• Sun Shade. Hang the space blanket like a tarp with the shiny side facing upward to reflect sunlight and heat.
• Tent Cooler. To stay cool in a tent pitched in bright sunlight, cover the tent with the space blanket with the shiny side facing upward. The metallic surface reflects the heat away from the tent.
• Windbreaker. To protect yourself from cold winds, wrap a space blanket around your shoulders with the shiny side facing your body.

How to Clean Scuff Marks from Floors with a Tennis Ball

WHAT YOU NEED

• Utility knife or sharp scissors
• Tennis ball
• Broomstick

WHAT TO DO

1. Using the utility knife, carefully cut an X in the side of the tennis ball.

2. Unscrew the broomstick from the bristles.

3. Insert the end of the broomstick into the X in the tennis ball.

4. Use the ball at the end of the broomstick like a giant pencil eraser to erase the scuff marks from tile, vinyl, and laminate floors in your RV.

HOW IT WORKS

The rough texture of the tennis ball erases scuff marks from floors, and the broomstick makes the job easier, so you don’t have to get down on your hands and knees with just a tennis ball. The janitorial staffs of large buildings use this handy trick.

ROLLING ON THE FLOOR

Other ways to remove scuff marks:

• Cooking Spray. To remove scuff marks from the floor, spray the marks with cooking spray and wipe them clean.
• Mayonnaise. Use a dab of mayonnaise to clean black scuff marks from a tile or vinyl floor.
• Nail Polish Remover. Gently rub the scuff mark with a cotton ball saturated with nail polish remover, then wipe any residue clean with soapy water.
• Petroleum Jelly. Rub a dab of petroleum jelly on scuff marks on vinyl or tile floors and buff them with a soft, clean cloth.
• Toothpaste and Toothbrush. Squeeze some toothpaste on a clean, used toothbrush (or sponge) and scrub scuff marks off the floor. The toothpaste is a mild abrasive that quickly cleans scuff marks.
• Vegetable Oil. Put a few drops of vegetable oil on a soft, clean cloth or a paper towel and gently rub the scuff mark away.

How to Clean Carpet Stains with Salt

WHAT YOU NEED

• 1 or 2 disposable diapers
• Heavy object
• Bottle of club soda
• Sponge
• Canister of salt
• Broom (or whisk broom)
• Vacuum cleaner

WHAT TO DO

1. Blot up the stain immediately to prevent the liquid from spreading and soaking into the padding. Whatever you do, don’t let a carpet stain dry. Once the stain dries, it usually becomes permanent.

2. To blot up the spill from the carpet, place a disposable diaper facedown over the stain and place a heavy object on top of the diaper to hold it in place for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Pour a small amount of club soda on the stain, rub gently with a sponge, and then continue blotting with a disposable diaper. Repeat if necessary.

4. If you’re not satisfied with the results, pour a mountain of salt over the stain to cover it completely, wait 15 minutes for the salt to absorb the stain from the carpet, and then sweep up the salt. Repeat if necessary.

5. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining salt from the carpet.

HOW IT WORKS

The superabsorbent polymer flakes in the disposable diaper absorb 300 times their weight in liquid, sucking up messy spills quickly. The sodium bicarbonate in the club soda causes the liquid in the stain to bubble to the surface where you want it, rather than sinking down into the padding, where you definitely do not want it. Salt is amazingly absorbent and sucks any remaining liquid from the carpet.

SWEEPING IT UNDER THE CARPET

Other ways to clean carpet stains:

• Ammonia. To clean stubborn stains from carpet, mix 2 cups of ammonia in 1 gallon of warm water, dampen a sponge with the solution, rub it into the stain gently, and then blot it up with paper towels.
• Baby Wipes. To lift minor stains out of the carpet, gently rub them with a baby wipe.
• Borax. Blot up a spill, sprinkle borax to cover the area, let it dry, and vacuum it up. (Before treating, test an inconspicuous spot on the carpeting with a paste made from borax and water to make sure the borax does not remove any color from the carpet.)
• Cornstarch. To clean spills from the carpet, sprinkle cornstarch over the spot, wait 30 minutes, and then vacuum it clean.
• Laundry Detergent. Mix one tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with 2 cups of water. Scrub the stain with this color-safe solution. Rinse it with cool water, blot, and let it dry.
• Shaving Cream. To remove stains from carpet, spray some shaving cream over the spot, scrub it with a wet scrub brush, and then rinse it with a wet cloth to blot up the extra foam.
• WD-40. To clean grease, tar, or oil-based paint from carpet, spray a clean cloth with WD-40 and scrub the spot. To remove the grease stain from the WD-40 from the carpeting, use a few drops of dishwashing liquid and some water, scrub lightly, and then blot it up with a paper towel.
• White Bread. If you spill oil or grease on your carpet, rub a slice of white bread over the spot to absorb the oil or grease, then vacuum up the crumbs.
• Window Cleaner. To clean food or juice stains from carpet, blot up as much of the stain as possible, spray the affected area with window cleaner, and then wipe it clean with a cloth or paper towel.

How to Protect the Carpeting from Slide-Outs with Plastic Cutting Boards

WHAT YOU NEED

• Safety goggles
• Circular saw
• 2 plastic cutting boards (for each slide-out)
• Duct tape

WHAT TO DO

1. To prevent the slide-outs in your RV from rubbing against the carpet and abrading it, wear safety goggles and use a circular saw to carefully cut a plastic cutting board in half lengthwise.

2. Using duct tape, tape the two strips of plastic end to end.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the second cutting board.

4. Place the first strip under the foot of one wall of the slide-out.

5. Place the second strip under the opposite foot of the slide-out wall.

HOW IT WORKS

When you operate the slide-outs on your RV, rolling them in or out, the carpets generally take a beating. Because most slide-outs do not sit perfectly square, one side presses particularly harder than the other on the carpeting. Plastic cutting boards are thin enough to fit under the foot of the walls, yet thick enough to protect the carpets.

A CUT ABOVE

• A plastic cutting board is better than a wooden cutting board when it comes to preparing meat and seafood. Bacteria from these foods can get trapped in the grain of the porous wood. Plastic is nonporous, and a simple washing with soap and water cleans the surface.
• Placing a damp towel or kitchen cloth under your cutting board keeps the board from slipping, creating a sturdy surface and preventing accidents.

How to Pad Awning Struts with Pool Noodles

WHAT YOU NEED

• Utility knife
• 1 pool noodle for each awning strut

WHAT TO DO

1. Using a utility knife, carefully cut a slit lengthwise in each foam pool noodle.

2. Slip each prepared pool noodle over each awning strut.

HOW IT WORKS

The polyethylene foam creates padding to protect you from injury should you accidentally bump into an awning strut. The foam noodle also prevents the trailer door from slamming against the awning strut.

NOODLE OVER IT

• Pool noodles work well for wedging padding between objects in drawers and cupboards aboard an RV to prevent them from sliding around.
• Using a utility knife, cut a 1-foot length from a pool noodle, carefully cut a slit lengthwise, and slip it around the leg of a dining room table in your RV. The foam noodle protects you from accidently banging your bare feet into the table leg.

How to Clean Road Grime from the Windshield with Coca-Cola

WHAT YOU NEED

• Thumbtack
• Bottle of Coca-Cola
• Squeegee (if available)
• Water

WHAT TO DO

1. Use a thumbtack to punch a hole in the center of the top of a bottle of Coca-Cola.

2. Place your thumb over the hole in the top of the Coca-Cola bottle, and shake the bottle vigorously.

3. Aiming the bottle at the windshield, release your thumb, allowing the Real Thing to spray all over the grease and grime on the windshield, being careful not to let the Coca-Cola come in contact with the paint.

4. Use a squeegee to scrub the grime away.

5. Rinse the windshield clean with water. Be sure to rinse any Coca-Cola from the paint. The acids in the soft drink will etch into it.

HOW IT WORKS

The carbonation, phosphoric acid, citric acid, and ascorbic acid in the Coca-Cola dissolve the greasy film from the windshield.

THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES

• Since 1920, the Coca-Cola sign has been a continuously changing landmark in New York City’s Times Square. The sign has featured neon lighting since 1923. The Coca-Cola bottle unveiled on the billboard in 1991 and displayed for 13 years was the world’s largest Coca-Cola bottle. The Coca-Cola billboard unveiled in 2004 is one of the largest digital canvases in the world, measuring more than six stories high and illuminating more than 2.6 million light-emitting diodes.
• The 1961 madcap comedy One, Two, Three stars James Cagney as a Coca-Cola bottler in West Berlin during the Cold War who tries to prevent his American boss’s daughter from marrying an East Berlin communist.
• In the 1964 Stanley Kubrick movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Peter Sellers instructs his sidekick to shoot the lock off a Coca-Cola vending machine to get the change to make a phone call to the president to prevent a nuclear war. The sidekick warns him, “You’re gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola Company.”
• The 1971 Coca-Cola television commercial, featuring the song “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” was filmed on a hilltop in Rome, Italy, and featured 500 young people from around the world, hired from embassies and schools in Rome. The close-up shots, however, were filmed at a racetrack in Rome. For the commercial, the British group the New Seekers sang the song—written by Bill Backer, Billy Davis, Roger Cook, and Roger Greenaway—and recorded a retitled version of the song for national release as “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony),” which become a top-ten hit. The Coca-Cola Company donated the first $80,000 of royalties earned from the song to UNICEF.
• The 1980 South African comedy The Gods Must Be Crazy follows the adventures of a remote bushman who mistakes an empty Coke bottle tossed from an airplane as a gift from the gods.
• The 1985 Australian movie The Coca-Cola Kid stars Eric Roberts as an American Coca-Cola executive from Georgia sent to the Australian outback to market the soft drink.
• In July 1985, Coca-Cola became the first soft drink consumed in space aboard a space shuttle mission.

How to Make Waste-Tank Cleaner with Borax and Water Softener

WHAT YOU NEED

• 1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
• ½ cup of Calgon water softener
• Bucket

WHAT TO DO

1. Rather than buying toxic and expensive chemicals to clean your RV waste tank, mix 1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax and ½ cup of Calgon water softener in a bucket.

2. After emptying the waste tank, pour the solution into the tank.

HOW IT WORKS

The borax controls odors and simultaneously cleans the tank. The water softener contains a powerful surfactant that boosts the solvency of water, preventing sewage from sticking to the interior walls of the waste tank.

THINK TANK

A few tricks of the road will keep the black and gray holding tanks in an RV odor-free and operating smoothly.

• Use an Enzyme-Based Holding Tank Treatment. Bacteria in the holding tank need air to break down waste. Otherwise, the bacteria begin feeding on the anaerobic sulfates in the waste, producing a foul odor—toxic and corrosive hydrogen sulfide gas. A biodegradable, enzyme-based product provides an energy source for the bacteria, eliminating the emission of hydrogen sulfide and breaking down waste and toilet tissue.
• Use the Proper Toilet Paper. You want toilet paper designed for RV waste systems or household toilet paper approved for septic tank use.
• Avoid Using Excess Toilet Paper. You know why.
• Use Adequate Water for Flushing. Otherwise, too little water in the black tank can inhibit drainage when dumping, resulting in undesirable buildup in the tank.
• Clean Residue from a Black Tank. Fill the tank with water, add a tank treatment or cleaner/degreaser (like Simple Green) and ice, and drive around. The ice agitates the tank contents and cleans the residue from the tank walls.
• Check the Roof. If the tank odor persists, check to see whether the roof vent from the sewer system is obstructed by a bird’s nest, beehive or wasp nest, or some other blockage.
• Eliminate Gray Tank Odors. If the gray tank and the plumbing leading to it emit odors, use the same enzyme-based treatments to clean it.
• Have the Right Equipment. Make sure you have a complete hose kit (a good-quality 10-to-20-foot sewer hose, firmly attached bayonet fittings, and a hose support system) for use at an RV park or dump station.
• Avoid Disease. Use latex medical gloves to protect yourself from contact with human waste (which carries disease) at the dump station.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

How to Find Free Overnight RV Parking

• Be Presentable and Polite. A clean, well-kept appearance and good manners make a favorable first impression and conveys your respect for the property of others.
• Check Out Walmart and Other Stores. Many Walmart locations across the country allow RVs to park overnight in the parking lot for free (without hookups for electricity, water, or dump stations). Find a directory of those locations at www.allstays.com/c/walmart-locations.htm. Double-check with the store manager to make sure camping is allowed, and confirm that the neighborhood is safe. Other businesses that allow RVs to spend the night in their parking lots include Camping World, Kmart, truck stops (including Travel Centers of America and Flying J), casinos, and supermarkets.
• Join an Elks Club or Moose Lodge. Members of the Elks or Moose can park at any Elks Club or Moose Lodge in the country for free.
• Ask the Police. Stop by the local police station and ask where you can park your RV for the night. By introducing yourself up front (rather than having an officer knock at your RV door late at night in a school or church parking lot), the police will identify you as a law-abiding citizen and may invite you to use their parking lot.
• Ask Permission. If you wish to park overnight on public or private property, ask for permission, and make sure you’re not inconveniencing the property owner in any way.
• Ask Locals. In a small town, ask the personnel at the visitor center, the owner of a sporting goods store, the gas station attendant, or the manager of the grocery store where you might be able to park for free in a safe, secluded spot. Many small towns offer a free night’s stay in the city park or campground (with free electrical hookups) to draw tourists to spend money in their business district.
• Declare Your Intentions. Explain that you need a place to park and sleep for just one night, and explain why you’re traveling.
• Avoid the Word Camping. No one wants you setting up a tent, sitting around a campfire, or using the outdoors as your latrine. Insist that you’ll spend the night quietly inside your RV, where you have your own bathroom.
• Befriend Security Officers. If you obtain permission to stay overnight in a parking lot for a store, casino, or public transit station, approach the security guards before they approach you. Tell them how long you’ll be staying, explain what you’ll be doing, and offer the guards a cup of hot coffee. In return for your kindness, the officers will likely guard your RV.
• Remain Inconspicuous. Park along the curb, and keep the noise and the use of your interior lights to a minimum, and spend as little time in the RV as possible. Do not set up an awning, barbecue, or lawn furniture.
• Do Not Overstay Your Welcome. Stick to your agreed departure date and time so the property owner doesn’t feel compelled to ask you to leave or call the authorities.
• Seek Out Festivals. During special festival weekends, towns and cities tend to offer free overnight RV parking in public parks and overflow camping areas near the festivities.
• Consider the Parking Lot of a Bar. Not wanting patrons to drink and drive, bartenders are accustomed to seeing a vehicle left in the parking lot overnight. Just be sure to leave first thing in the morning.
• Never Argue. If an authority figure tells you to vacate the area, apologize profusely, thank the person for informing you of the problem, and agree to leave. Ask the security guard or police officer to suggest a safe and lawful place nearby where you can park your RV overnight for free.
• Show Your Appreciation. Before leaving, thank your host profusely, and if possible, give a small gift to show your gratitude. Or send a postcard within a few days to say thank you.

How to Insulate Camper Windows with Bubble Wrap

WHAT YOU NEED

• Scissors
• Bubble Wrap
• Spray bottle
• Water
• Scotch tape or double-sided tape (optional)

WHAT TO DO

1. Using scissors, carefully cut the Bubble Wrap to the size of the windowpane.

2. Fill the spray bottle with water, and spray a light film of water on the inside of the window.

3. Immediately apply the Bubble Wrap to the wet glass (with the bubble side facing toward the glass) and press it into place.

4. Smooth the sheet of Bubble Wrap against the glass so the water holds it in place.

5. Repeat for each window.

6. If the Bubble Wrap refuses to stick to the windows, use a few small strips of Scotch tape or double-sided tape to adhere the Bubble Wrap to the glass.

7. To remove the Bubble Wrap from the windows, simply start from a corner and pull it free. Neither Bubble Wrap nor water leaves any stains on the windows. Save the sheets of Bubble Wrap for reuse.

HOW IT WORKS

Bubble Wrap creates a radiant barrier of insulation, preventing heat from escaping the camper through the glass. The Bubble Wrap increases the R-value of a single-pane window from less than R1 to approximately R2, cutting the heat loss through the window in half. Using water to adhere the Bubble Wrap to the windows avoids the need for tape, which leaves adhesive residue on the glass.

DOUBLE BUBBLE

To increase the insulation, add a second layer of Bubble Wrap by cutting a second sheet to match the size of the first. Spray a mist of water on the first layer of Bubble Wrap, and immediately apply the second sheet (with the bubble side facing the glass), and smooth it into place.

KEEPING IT UNDER WRAPS

When you remove the sheets of Bubble Wrap from the windows, use an indelible marker to write a number on the upper right-hand corner of each sheet. On a piece of paper, draw a diagram of the trailer, numbering windows to correspond with the numbers on the sheets of Bubble Wrap.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

How to Get Better Gas Mileage in an RV

An RV gets fewer miles per gallon than a car, due to significant weight and increased wind resistance, but here’s how to increase your fuel efficiency with a large motor home.

• Make sure you keep the engine tuned and the air filter clean and new. Clean air filters improve performance and fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent.
• Frequent oil changes (and synthetic oils) with the recommended grade increase fuel efficiency.
• Use cruise control when possible. Keeping the RV at a constant, rather than variable, speed—particularly when traveling around 60 mph—saves gas.
• Avoid using the dashboard air conditioner unnecessarily. The air conditioner puts stress on the engine and reduces gas mileage.
• Empty the water and waste tanks before hitting the road. This lessens the weight you’re carrying.
• Do not overload the RV. Excess weight requires more fuel.
• Keep the tires inflated to maximum pressure (or slightly under). Proper tire pressure increases your fuel economy by up to 3 percent.
• Keep your wheels balanced and make sure the brakes do not drag.
• Use the correct transmission fluid and maintain the proper level. Keep the automatic transmission adjusted to shift properly.
• Drive at slower speeds.
• Minimize the amount of time you allow the engine to idle.
• Utilize low transmission ranges less frequently.

How to Protect Wine Bottles with Beer Can Koozies

WHAT YOU NEED

• Beer can koozie

WHAT TO DO

1. Insert the base of the wine bottle into the beer can koozie.

2. Wedge the padded wine bottle between objects in a drawer or cabinet aboard the RV to prevent it from shifting.

HOW IT WORKS

The foam padding of the koozie helps protect the glass bottle from breaking.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

Getting Nice and Koozie

A few other uses for koozies:

• Prevent Bruised Fruit. Place an apple, orange, or pear inside a koozie before putting it in your backpack or bag.
• Store Lightbulbs Safely. To keep lightbulbs from shattering, carefully insert each lightbulb into a koozie.
• Protect and Store a Camera Lens. Insert the lens inside a foam koozie.
• Prevent Rust Marks on the Bottom of a Shaving Cream Can. Place the shaving cream can inside a koozie.
• Store a Poster. Roll up the poster, and place a koozie on each end of the tube to hold it in place.
• Protect a Car Gearshift from the Sun’s Heat. Place a koozie over the stick.
• Keep Your Hands Warm. In a pinch, two koozies double as mittens.
• Hold Pencils and Pens. Use a koozie on your desk as a pencil holder.

How to Make a Garbage Can with a Collapsible Laundry Basket

WHAT YOU NEED

• Collapsible laundry basket
• Plastic trash bag

WHAT TO DO

1. Set up the collapsible laundry basket.

2. Insert the trash bag inside the laundry basket and fold the lip of the bag back over the mouth of the basket.

3. When you’re packing up camp, remove the garbage bag and discard it.

4. Fold up the laundry basket and store it, or use it for its original purpose—as a hamper for dirty laundry.

HOW IT WORKS

The wire-frame collapsible laundry basket pops open and supports the weight not only of dirty laundry but of trash as well.

BASKET CASES

• In September 2014, Israeli performance artist Yoav Admoni disguised himself as a plant by binding fresh-cut reeds to a collapsible laundry hamper with a spool of wire. The artist waded 13 miles through canals from Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States as the third installment in his A Threesome with Nature thesis project for the Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany.
• In 2012, the Ann Arbor News reported that special effects artist Dave Hettmer bought a green collapsible laundry hamper, sewed silver fabric onto the top and bottom, and added a red sash with the felt letters S-O-D-A sewed onto it—because his daughter wanted a soda can costume for Halloween one year.

How to Make a Tissue Box Dispenser with a Food Container

WHAT YOU NEED

• Low-profile tissue box
• Plastic potluck-size food storage container, 80 ounce
• Indelible marker
• Utility knife

WHAT TO DO

1. Remove the cardboard strip covering the slot in the top of the tissue box.

2. Place the bottom of the plastic container upside down over the tissue box.

3. Using the indelible marker, trace the perimeter of the slot onto the plastic.

4. Remove the tissue box, and using the utility knife, cut out the slot you traced in the bottom of the plastic container.

5. Place the tissue box upside down inside the container.

6. Seal the lid of the container.

HOW IT WORKS

The plastic box protects the cardboard tissue box from getting wet or crushed.

A NOSE FOR MARKETING

Kimberly-Clark Corporation began marketing Kleenex tissues in 1922 as a makeup remover for women. But people started writing to the company raving that the tissues doubled as disposable handkerchiefs. At first Kimberly-Clark executives didn’t want people blowing their noses in their product, but they quickly realized that more people blow their noses than wear makeup.

How to Relieve Back or Neck Pain with Rice and a Sock

WHAT YOU NEED

• Sock
• Rice
• 3 chamomile tea bags (optional)
• Microwave oven

WHAT TO DO

1. Fill the sock with rice.

2. Remove the staples from the tea bags, and insert the tea bags into the sock with the rice, if desired.

3. Tie a knot in the open end of the sock.

4. Heat the rice-filled sock in a microwave oven for 90 seconds.

5. Apply the heated sock to the back of your neck, your forehead, knee, back, or wherever you’re experiencing pain.

6. Reheat the rice-filled sock as needed.

HOW IT WORKS

The heated rice inside the sock works as a heating pad, conforming to the shape of your body and remaining hot for approximately 10 minutes. The chamomile tea provides soothing aromatherapy. The homemade heating pad is reusable.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

A Royal Pain

Here are a few other ways to reduce back and neck pain:

• Bubble Wrap. Cut rectangular sheets of Bubble Wrap and stuff them into an empty pillowcase or a gallon-size ziplock freezer bag. Place the pillow behind the small of your back when driving.
• Green Peas. Wrap a plastic bag of frozen green peas in a paper towel and use it as an ice pack for 10 minutes.
• Mustard. Rub regular yellow mustard over your back to allow the heat from the condiment to relieve the pain.

How to Deodorize a Microwave Oven with Lemon Juice

WHAT YOU NEED

• Lemon juice
• Coffee mug
• Water

WHAT TO DO

1. Pour 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a coffee mug.

2. Fill the rest of the mug with water.

3. Heat the cup of lemon water in the microwave for 1 minute on the high setting.

4. Use a sponge to wipe down the inside of the microwave oven.

HOW IT WORKS

The steam from the lemony water infuses the inside of the microwave, deodorizing it.

MESSING AROUND

• To stop food from splattering on the walls and ceiling of the microwave oven when cooking, cover the food with a microwave safe lid, waxed paper, plastic wrap, or a paper towel during cooking. Do not use paper or other flammable materials to cover the food if you are using a heating element or browning dish to brown the food.
• Clean up spatters and spills when they happen. Use a damp cloth and mild soap. Do not use harsh detergents or abrasives. Continuing to use the microwave oven after food has been spattered inside the oven can cause the oven to work less efficiently and causes that food to bake into the floor, walls, or ceiling of the oven.
• To help loosen baked-on food particles or liquids, heat 2 cups of water (add the juice of one lemon if you desire to keep the oven fresh) in a 4-cup measuring glass at high power for 5 minutes or until boiling. Let it stand in the oven for 1 or 2 minutes. The resulting steam helps loosen baked-on food or liquids.
• Remove the glass tray when cleaning. To prevent the glass tray from breaking, handle it carefully and do not put the glass tray in water immediately after cooking. Wash the tray carefully in warm, sudsy water or in the dishwasher.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

Getting Fresh

Here are some other cool ways to deodorize a microwave oven:

• Coffee Grounds. Put 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds in a small bowl, place the bowl inside the unplugged microwave oven, shut the door, and let it sit overnight. The coffee grounds absorb smells as potent as burnt popcorn. Or mix 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds in a mug filled halfway with water, and cook it for 2 minutes on the high setting.
• Vanilla Extract. Pour 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract in a coffee mug, and cook it in the microwave for 30 seconds or more. Leave the microwave door shut overnight. In the morning, remove the coffee mug, and use a damp sponge to wipe down the inside of the microwave oven.
• Vinegar. To deodorize a smelly microwave oven, pour 1 cup of vinegar in a bowl, and cook it in the microwave oven for 5 minutes, allowing the vinegar to boil. The steam from the vinegar wafts through the fan mechanism, neutralizing the smells in the microwave oven.

How to Deodorize a Cooler with Vanilla Extract

WHAT YOU NEED

• ¾ cup bleach
• Hot water
• Sponge
• Vanilla extract

WHAT TO DO

1. Mix ¾ cup of bleach and 1 gallon of hot water.

2. Using a sponge, wash the inside of the cooler with the solution.

3. Rinse the cooler clean with water, and let it air dry with the lid open.

4. Saturate the sponge with vanilla extract and wipe down the insides.

5. Let the cooler, coated with vanilla extract, air dry with the lid open.

HOW IT WORKS

The bleach sanitizes the inside of the cooler, and the vanilla extract masks any lingering smells.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

Come Out Smelling like a Rose

Here are a few more ways to neutralize odors with vanilla extract:

• Deodorize a Refrigerator. Dampen a cotton ball with vanilla extract, and place it on a saucer in your refrigerator to neutralize odors.
• Freshen Musty Rooms. Saturate a cotton ball with vanilla extract, place it on a saucer, and set the saucer in a musty basement, bathroom, or closet.
• Deodorize Paint Fumes. Before painting interior walls, mix 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract into a gallon of paint.
• Deodorize Your Home. Before vacuuming, dab your vacuum cleaner filter with a few drops of vanilla extract to infuse your carpet with the pleasant aroma.
• Freshen the Air in Your Home. Before turning on the lights (when the bulbs are cool to the touch), smear 1 or 2 drops of vanilla extract on the glass lightbulbs. When turned on, the bulbs will warm the vanilla and send the scent wafting through your home.

How to Prevent Ice on a Windshield with Vinegar

WHAT YOU NEED

• Vinegar
• Water
• 16-ounce trigger-spray bottle

WHAT TO DO

1. To avoid getting an icy car windshield overnight, mix 12 ounces of vinegar and 4 ounces of water in a 16-ounce trigger-spray bottle.

2. Spray the glass with the solution.

HOW IT WORKS

The thin coat of vinegar solution freezes to the glass before the rain or frost does, preventing ice from forming.

CHILL OUT

• Household hints newspaper columnist Heloise advocated this idea in 1980: “Vinegar also helps retard frost on those cold mornings if you pour it on the windshield the night before (three parts cider vinegar to one part water).”
• Some people caution that vinegar sprayed on the windshield will pit the glass. This claim is false. Vinegar is sold in glass bottles, and the weak acetic acid does not pit that glass, nor will it harm a windshield.
• To avoid scraping ice off your windshield, use scissors to cut a broad sheet of plastic from a clean, used shower curtain to cover the windshield and overhang each side. Place the plastic sheet over the windshield, and close the car doors over the edges of the plastic to hold it in place. When you’re ready to drive, brush off any snow and peel off the plastic for an ice-free windshield. To make a more elaborate windshield cover, use a sewing machine to hem the plastic with strong magnets inside the hems.
• If you don’t have a shower curtain, cut open a large plastic trash bag, place it over the entire windshield, and close the car doors over the edges of the bag to hold it in place.

How to Make a Portable Trash Can with a Plastic Cereal Container

WHAT YOU NEED

• Small plastic bag
• Plastic cereal container

WHAT TO DO

1. Place a small plastic bag inside the cereal container as a liner, folding the top of the plastic bag over the edge of the container.

2. Snap the cover in place.

3. Pop open the flip top, shove your trash inside, and seal the flip top shut.

4. Store the homemade trash can on the floor in front of the passenger seat.

HOW IT WORKS

The small container stores trash conveniently and compactly, the flip top prevents trash from falling out, and the container takes up little space in your vehicle.

EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK

How Do You Contain Your Enthusiasm?

• Diaper Hamper. A cereal container lined with a trash bag makes an excellent travel hamper for dirty disposable diapers.
• Hamster House. Remove the flip top, place the cereal container inside the habitat, and the hamster will climb inside the transparent container. Or to give a rodent inhaler treatments for respiratory distress, place treats inside the container, and when the animal climbs inside, spray the inhaler through the opening, and close the flip top for a few minutes.
• Pet Food Dispenser. Store pet food inside a cereal container for easy dispensing. Just make sure to label the container so family members do not mistake cat food for some sort of snack.

How to Trigger a Broken Gas Pump Handle with a Tennis Ball

WHAT YOU NEED

• Tennis ball

WHAT TO DO

1. If the hold-open clip or clamp is missing or broken from the handle of a gas pump, insert the nozzle into the gas tank.

2. Activate the trigger and wedge a tennis ball between the trigger and the handle.

HOW IT WORKS

The tennis ball, jammed between the handle and the trigger, blocks the gas pump open, so you don’t have to hold the gas pump and inhale the gas fumes.

RUNNING ON EMPTY

• Perform this travel secret at your own risk: if the pump gets jostled or if gasoline backs up from the gas tank with any force, the tennis ball may not jar free—allowing gas to gush from the nozzle.
• Never use a tennis ball to prop open a gas nozzle when filling a gas can for a lawnmower or snowblower. The weight of the nozzle will likely tip over the entire gas can.
• In 2013, police arrested Neal Grubbs, 20, for plotting to blow up movie theaters in Indianapolis with “tennis ball bombs”—a tennis ball filled with BBs and capped with a fuse.