[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Finding space in an RV, 5th Wheel, or a camper can be a real pain, especially in the kitchen. When we moved from our 1,800 square foot home to our 375 square foot 5th Wheel, we were immediately hit with a sharp realization: we didn’t have a place to store our food. The result was that we were forced to go grocery shopping 1 – 3 times per week, instead of 1 – 3 times every two weeks.
It was a real tough adjustment at first, but eventually we were able to stretch our grocery shopping out to once a week. The key, come to find out, was in how we utilized our space, and the different types of storage we found to fit in our cupboards and other places.
The best part was that the things we were using were all super cheap – since we found all of them at the local Dollar Tree.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_single_testimonial testimonial_style=”bold” color=”Default” quote=”We were forced to go grocery shopping 1 – 3 times per week, instead of 1 – 3 times every two weeks”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”What follows is a list, not exhaustive, of the 9 most helpful items we’ve found at the Dollar Tree that made the biggest impact in our kitchen:”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3429″]Sliding Plastic drawers, small and medium sized – not the egg ones! They are the perfect size for your fridge, and they slide in and out of their spots super-easy-like. I don’t recognize the egg drawers because they just don’t fit enough eggs for a family of six. We load these drawers with items that might spill or make a mess. It makes clean up easier, since you just have to clean out these small drawers instead of the bottom of your fridge. The drawers slide in and out so easily, they are great back and neck-savers too! Just quickly pull them out and take a look at what’s in the drawer. If you don’t need it, just slide it right back. No bending required.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3452″]Dollar Tree place mats: They really just fit at your table and they serve two purposes. First, they make the ugly inside of your fridge look much nicer. Second, if something spills, you just need to pull out the mats and wipe them off real quick and then put them back.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3451″]Dollar Tree Tupperware: this Tupperware is great for separating different items in your cupboards, keeping like things together, and also for keeping the bottoms of your cupboards cleaner. Just like in the fridge, the messes “stick” to the inside of the Tupperware, and not the bottom of the cabinets. The also help keep things from sliding around your cupboards while you’re traveling. We noticed that once we started using the Tupperware things stopped falling out of the cupboards when an unsuspecting victim would open the doors right after a trip.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3447″]Tan organization baskets: they are small, like the slide-out drawers we put in our fridge, but also sturdy and nice to look at. They slide in and out quickly and make getting to the stuff in the back of the cabinets super easy and convenient.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3446″]3 and 2-quart Dollar Tree Canisters: These are great for storing our dry-goods, like sugar, flour, and grains. They are easy to pull in and out of the cupboard, and they are large enough that they only need to go 2-deep before you get the back of the space. This makes it really easy to get things in and out without having to pull too much stuff out of the way.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3450″]Dollar Tree shoe bins: Fun fact, we don’t use these as shoe bins. They fit just above our cupboards, and they store things like medicine, vitamins, water bottles, cooking utensils, and several other random things. They allow us to keep things clean, they don’t fall off, and we are also to use what would otherwise be a whole lot of dead space for something really useful. We also purchased some cheap labels so we could see what is in each box.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3449″]Dollar Tree planter bins: these were super cute, so the easily doubled as decorations and storage compartments. We bolted them to the side of our cupboards and they hold things like potatoes and garlic, to fruits and other foods. They usually come out during the spring time, and they can stay on moving days.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3445″]Dollar Tree hanging baskets: They hold our produce, oatmeal, potatoes, squash. We install them with S clips and are able to hang them from the ceiling rack. We’ve been able to leave them up during travel days, and they have never fallen down. We love them because every morning our kiddos are able to grab the first part of their breakfast in the mornings, allowing us night-owls to catch a couple of extra winks in the morning.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”image_icon” icon_image=”3448″]Dollar Tree glass storage jars: they are great for storing things we don’t need as much of – like baking powder, salt, dill, powdered sugar … the best part is that they have two flat areas, allowing the jars to stand straight up, or at an angle.[/text-with-icon][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
So, there you have it. Organizing your kitchen doesn’t have to be a pain in the neck, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm or a leg. You just need to be resourceful, and don’t be afraid to try something new.
My favorite thing to do is walk down the storage aisles at the dollar store and visualize how the different storage items can make my space work even better.
If you liked these ideas, check out our Youtube channel, where we have other tips and tricks for RVs.
Also, don’t forget to sign up for our email list where we send weekly emails with tips about RV storage and organization ideas, RV living ideas, and homeschooling ideas.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]