

Do you suffer from Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)? Never miss another issue of Solo Woman RV when you subscribe for your Kindle. Try it two weeks free.
Speed Limits Make Greener, Cleaner RV-ing
You need time to chill, and I don’t mean just when you’re making Jello. We aren’t talking about highway speeds. It’s the pace of RV life. Here’s how to take it easier to make it easier.
* Take time to remove shoes at the RV door and slip into “house” shoes. The RV will stay cleaner and healthier.
* Scrape dishes with a flexible spatula. Rinsing dirty dishes wastes water and flushes grease into your holding tank.
* Take time to experiment with travel toiletries. Shampoo, body wash and other personal products react differently as you travel because local waters vary greatly. You may need a different conditioner to go with your shampoo or a different moisturizer. Some sun blocks have been banned in Key West and other coastal areas because they destroy reef life.
* Buy cleaners formulated for RV’s. They work better and they also won’t pollute the environment or damage holding tanks. Give products time to penetrate, spread or bond. (Exception: some cleaning products should not be allowed to linger too long. Read directions.)
* Concentrated products save weight and space in the RV. Liquid laundry detergents come in full strength, 2X and 3X. Use only as directed or you can fade fabrics, require more rinse water, and leave fibers stiff.
* A 20-minute laundry soak does the work of a longer power wash yet doesn’t require elbow grease or electricity.
* When using very powerful degreasers or penetrating oils, allow time for them to creep and soften. They need hours, not minutes.
* Stains in the RV’s upholstery or carpeting? It takes time and patience to blot repeatedly, then apply dry cloths to “wick” stains out of fibers. Save soft, absorbent fabrics (such as old linen or cotton towels) and weight them down with a heavy pot or pile of books.
* Some stains in porous materials (teak, plastic, granite, marble) require a poultice. First, note whether the stain is oil based (grease, tar), organic ( tea, coffee), metallic (rust, copper), biological (pet stain, blood), or chemical (hair dye, nail polish, marker pen). Then get expert advice for the material. Mix up a paste that is (1) safe for the material and (2) suitable for the stain.
Saturate a piece of fabric (gauze, old toweling) with a paste recommended for the purpose. Put the poultice on the stain, cover with plastic wrap, and weight it down. Let it dry completely. With luck, some or all of the stain will be drawn up into the poultice.
* Soap scum cleaners work better in the shower if they soak in for 10 to 15 minutes.
* When cleaning RV windows, keep them wet as long as possible before rinsing. You’re trying to remove a powerful blend of highway grime, greasy stains from diesel exhaust and perhaps stubborn water spots from the campground’s sprinkler system. Give cleaners time to emulsify greasy soot and soften mineral spots.
* Burned-on food stains ruin a cooking pot? Fill the pot with enough water to cover the stain, add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and let it cool completely. Most of the carbon will lift off with light scraping. Repeat if necessary.
* To remove odors in carpeting, vacuum well and sprinkle generously with baking soda. Brush it in with a broom, then let it sit several hours or overnight before vacuuming it away. Baking soda also neutralizes odors in the vacuum bag.
See new and easy recipes for camping and RV travel every week at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com