7 Steps to Organize Your RV- For Good!

#organized #rvlife

One question I get asked a lot (and I think it's a common question for RVers) is "How do you live in such a small space? My family could never do that."

I think when people imagine living in small spaces, they think of their already cluttered homes (dishes piled in the sink, sticky countertops, dirty floors) and shrink that into an RV. What a nightmare! I wouldn't want to live in that either.

Thankfully, my family (i.e. my mother) was already very big on cleanliness and organization, even before moving into the rig.

However, some things did have to change to accommodate the small space. When you change lifestyles, you have to change habits too!

So without further ado, here is my foolproof system for making your space (any space!) as tidy and clean as possible.

Step 1- Pick A Messy Space

One thing at a time people! Where is a space in your home that can never seem to stay tidy, no matter what you do? Is it your closet, entryway, or bathroom counter?

If your answer is "That would be my whole house" then well, still pick a spot. Maybe pick a place that isn't quite as trafficked through, like the laundry room or the hallway closet, and start there.

Step 2- Take Inventory

You have to know what you have to keep it clean! If possible I recommend taking everything out of the space at one time, so that you can get the full scope of what you have, and what locations you have to put the stuff back into. If you're unable to take absolutely everything out (like if it's your garage perhaps) then just take a section at a time.

Step 3a- Sort Through

Now is the fun part, what to keep? My family has four options for cleaning out things- keep, give away, sell, and throw away.

This can be a difficult step for some, maybe because they have a hard time making decisions or they just don't want to get rid of any of their things. If this is you, I will tell you that I have gone through thousands of items in all my organizing years, for myself and others, and when there is something given away (that is rarely or never used) it is never missed.

Having more stuff will never make you happier! It is when our environments are clean, tidy, and minimal that we are able to function our best.

The best questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to get rid of something are these, "have I used this item in the past year? Do I see myself using it in the next year? Is it possible that when the time comes to use this item, I will forget I even have it? Is the space this item takes up worth what use it provides me? Can someone else benefit from this item more than I ever will?"

Some people might not want to get rid of an item because it was expensive for them to get. They think that because they spent "hard-earned money" on the item they shouldn't get rid of it. If this is you, I ask you, has this item brought you any value in the last year? If you spent money to acquire it, then shouldn't it provide that equivalent value? In other words, was the item worth it? If it is not giving you any continual value, then you may consider getting rid of it. Also, you don't just have to give it to charity. If this item was expensive but you don't use it, say a boat or a kitchen appliance, think about reselling it on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. That way you can at least get some of your money back!

Another reason why someone may not want to get rid of something is because it has sentimental value. I think there is a line between keeping items that have true sentimental value, and items that are just junk with the illusion of sentimentality.

I try to ask these questions about sentimental items, "how much did this event in my life, that this object reflects, mean to my life? was it a memory that I will always treasure in my heart? Or one that I'm probably going to forget in 20 years? Will this be something my children or grandchildren would want to keep?"

These questions help keep things in perspective, really, your kids probably don't want to go through hundreds of tacky snowglobes from your travels, or every single piece of homework that you did in 5th grade (I've seen it) when you die! Things that are truly sentimental should be few and far between. That's why they're special!

Step 3b- For RVers and travelers

For us minimalist travelers, the above steps must be taken to the extreme. We have very little room for error, very little room for anything! However we have enough room for what we need, and I think that's all that matters.

Clothes for example, will you really need that 4th designer scarf, the 7 sweatshirts, or all of your hats? No, you really don't. In a house, you can have the luxury of having many different outfits and styles, but in a small space like an RV, shrinking is 100% necessary.

Some people can bring more or less than others. For example, ask yourself, "Will I need clothes for multiple seasons? Will I be going anywhere that I need formal or specialized clothing? Do I need outdoor adventuring clothes?" Some RVers only travel in the summer and so only need to pack summer clothes, some people travel to cosplay events, and some people only want to go hiking. Think about what you will be doing on your travels, and ditch the clothes that you won't wear in a 6-month period.

As an RVing family, one of our rules is that expensive appliances have to serve at least 2 purposes. For example, we used to have a toaster, but the only thing it did was toast bread. We quickly replaced it with an air fryer, something that serves about a million and one cooking purposes (in fact we loved the air fryer so much, we got a second one. I highly recommend these machines if you can make it work and have the power supply to do so!).

One thing about RVing that we've learned is that going through our things is a constant. We've gotten rid of so much stuff since getting on the road. Even things we thought we would need, turns out we didn't. This is normal! No matter how much you may have your stuff pared down, you'll still have to go through stuff if you want the place to stay nice and neat.

Step 4- Categorize

Now that all of the "give away", "sell", and "trash" items are out of your way, it's now to look at all you've kept and categorize it. Then sort the items into the categories.

For example, when I go through my nightstand/shelf by my bed I have these categories: books, journals, jewelry, chargers, and chapstick.

Sometimes if you're going through a larger area, you need to categorize and subcategorize. Like in the kitchen you go from:

food to

fridge, freezer, and pantry.

And from there:

fridge- meat, cheese, condiments, produce

freezer- family meals, desserts

pantry- canned items, snacks, spices, baking items

See? Not too hard. Sometimes you have to be creative, but generally, this is an easy step.

Step 5- Imagining

Now that everything is organized into categories, but not put in place, you must again take inventory of your space, and imagine items going into the space, before actually putting stuff in the space.

Do I have drawers, cabinets, or shelves? I have some tall items here, how can I configure them in the space? Will I need to move or configure items differently to get them to fit?

When imagining, remember to keep the categorization in mind! Try to put like with like. This will make it much easier to keep it organized in the future.

Step 6- Trial and Error

Okay, so now you have a pretty good idea of where everything should go. Start testing! Sometimes I find that something will fit better than what I had originally imagined. Just find and implement what works!

This step is usually the easiest and most fun if you like designing your space to look better. It's such a thrilling feeling to put everything back, without all the added clutter you got rid of!

Step 7- Repeat as Necessary

Yay! All done! you've cleaned out and made your space beautifully organized. Organization is such a big part of my life, and it's truly a skill that will bring so much value to your life!

Truly, when your environment is clean, you are happy!

Enjoy!

-Kayla

(Want to know how to keep your newly organized space beautiful, for longer? Subscribe and I'll email you more tips!)