Nightstand Laundry Hamper
I had two nightstands in the bedroom of my motorhome. One three-drawer stand was rarely used, so I decided to make a clothes hamper out of it. I began by taking all the drawers out and removing the bottoms from the top two drawers, leaving the bottom drawer intact. I then attached a piece of plywood behind the drawer fronts so all three drawers would pull out as one section. I then put hooks on the inside to hang the laundry bag from and to make the bag easy to lift out. This certainly solves the problem of what to do with the dirty laundry.
Henry Nunez, F204106
Griffith, Indiana
Campground Favorites Folder
As full-timers, there are several campgrounds that we frequently visit. To help us feel more at home when we arrive, we keep a folder for each campground that includes information about the campground, a list of the local TV and radio stations, and menus from area restaurants.
Eric & Bernadette Berland, F270976
Hollywood, Florida
Electronics Compartment Vent
I became concerned about the heat buildup in the compartments above the motorhome’s dashboard that contain a VCR and other electronics equipment. I wanted to provide some cooling without leaving the doors open all the time. There wasn’t an easy way to vent the compartments by drilling holes or installing fans, so I decided to provide ventilation by creating a gap around the doors.
I started by obtaining two wooden stir sticks from the paint department of the local home improvement store and gluing them together to make one 1/4-inch stick. I removed the doors from the compartments and cut shims from the stir stick that matched the size of the hinges and catch, and could fit between the hardware and the door “” not the hardware and the cabinet. I then drilled holes in the shims to match the hardware and reinstalled the doors using new screws that matched the old ones but were 1/4-inch longer.
Now when the doors are closed, they are away from the cabinet, leaving a ventilation space. The doors work the same as before, and the change can be seen only when looking at the doors from the sides.
Steve Garrett, F261054
Pensacola, Florida
Fixing A Leaky Flush Valve
Replacing a leaking toilet flush valve can be expensive, costing as much as $55. However, with a Phillips screwdriver, a pair of pliers, and a couple of 34-cent O-rings from the hardware store, the repairs can be made in just a few minutes. And the feeling of accomplishment is great.
The existing washer can be removed and reversed, and the star-shaped retainer on top of the valve can be removed and saved. Note the order in which the parts are removed. Replace the O-rings, reverse the washer, and reassemble. If for some reason the star retainer was not salvaged, a new one is a minor investment.
Bernard O’Hara, F4992
Naples, Florida