Picnic Basket
As summer wanes, your priority might be to plan as many picnics as possible. Consider dining alfresco with the Koozie picnic basket/cooler that sports the Family Motor Coach Association logo.
The black basket — 11 inches wide, 9 3/4 inches high, and 19 inches long — is insulated and watertight and features sturdy aluminum handles. It collapses for easy storage. It’s available for $25 from the FMCA Store.
Family Motor Coach Association
8291 Clough Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45244
(800) 543-3622
(513) 474-3622
www.fmca.com
Solar Bottle Lights
Lightning in a bottle? No, but the LightCap 200 and LightCap 300 from Davis Instruments do produce light from a bottle. The LightCap 200 can turn any water bottle with a 2-inch mouth opening into a solar lantern. The LightCap 300 comes with a BPA-free, 32-ounce plastic water bottle. Both caps incorporate four white LEDs, a solar cell, and an internal storage battery. The 300 also has a single red LED.
Both models provide light for up to 15 hours on a full charge. They turn on automatically when the sun goes down and turn off when the sun comes up. A manual on-off switch also is included. They are available in red or smoke colors. The LightCap 200 costs $24.99, and the LightCap 300 sells for $29.99.
Davis Instruments
3465 Diablo Ave.
Hayward, CA 94545
(510) 732-9229
www.davisnet.com
Traveler’s Pillow
Napping upright while traveling can literally be a pain in the neck. That led a doctor to devise NapAnywhere, a portable head-support pillow.
Although small enough to fit into a purse or laptop bag, the NapAnywhere provides more support than U-shaped neck pillows, its maker says. It comes as a flat disc that users fold at the top to support the head and neck; the bottom molds over the shoulder. It can then be folded flat again for storage. It wipes clean with mild soapy water or a light solvent such as rubbing alcohol.
The pillow is available in small, medium, and large sizes and comes in tan, blue, green, red, or black. Its suggested retail price is $59.
NapAnywhere LLC
(757) 947-4501
www.napanywhere.net
Key Finder
Anyone who has wasted time searching for keys at the bottom of a purse or a backpack might well have grumbled, “There must be a better way.” Turns out a former flight attendant found such a way, and it’s called the Finders Key Purse.
Simply attach your keys to the clasp and slip the Finders Key Purse over the edge of your bag. Keys are then within quick, easy reach. There are more than 100 styles to choose from, including hearts and flowers, college logos, animals, and holiday themes. The Custom Finders Key Purse allows you to incorporate a logo of your choosing. The Silver Plain Finders Key Purse can be engraved. Prices range from $5.95 to $9.95.
Just Pat
6433 Topanga Blvd. #111
Woodland Hills, CA 91303
(818) 340-2620
www.isntthisclever.com
Adhesive Frames
Fodeez Adhesive Display Frames allow motorhome owners to hang pictures without being concerned about damaging a wall surface or packing clunky frames.
The peel-and-stick Fodeez frames can be applied to any smooth surface and can be reused hundreds of times. What’s more, the dry-erase feature of the image area means it also can serve as a dry-erase board for posting checklists or the like. Various styles are available in these sizes: 2-inch-by-3-inch wallet ($7.49 for a five-pack); 4-inch-by-6-inch ($3.99, one frame); 5-inch-by-7-inch ($5.99, one frame); and 8.5-inch-by-11-inch ($8.99, one frame).
Fodeez
P.O. Box 639
Western Springs, IL 60558
(708) 579-1360
www.fodeez.com
Personalized Welcome Sign
One way to convey the inviting spirit of your motorhome is with a welcome sign. Canterbury Creations makes hand-painted signs to match an RV. They can be used indoors or out. The signs are made of oak-stained resin, and the lettering comes in a choice of colors: black, burgundy, hunter green, navy blue, and country blue. Other colors can be added to help personalize the sign.
You choose the wording for your plaque. Large signs, 11 inches by 16 inches, cost $32 plus shipping. Small signs, 11 inches by 6 inches, cost $19.95 plus shipping. Sign stands, designed to hold either size, are available for $12.95, plus shipping. The stand simply sticks into the ground wherever you make your temporary home.
Canterbury Creations
P.O. Box 122
Davison, MI 48423
(810) 513-3094
www.craftvillage.com
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Gtech markets its AirRam cordless vacuum as an efficient combination of power and portability. The company says it performs well on carpet, hardwood, and tiled floors — with no settings to change — and does a good job of picking up pet hair. The vacuum’s low profile allows it to maneuver under tables and chairs, and the slim design makes it easy to store when not in use.
The 7.7-pound vacuum weighs about half that of most upright models. It’s powered by a lithium-ion battery that provides up to 40 minutes of cord-free cleaning. It can be recharged 1,00o times, which should be good for five years under normal usage. The AirRam is bagless and is fitted with lifetime washable filters. Dirt is collected in the vacuum head and compressed; a removable tray lifts out for emptying dirt into the trash.
The AirRam sells for $349.95. Gtech offers a 30-day risk-free trial.
Gtech USA
66 York St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 416-0066
(855) 483-2440 (orders)
www.greytechnology.com
Exterior Wax
Graphics go a long way in giving a motorhome a certain visual pizazz. So, when it comes to waxing your coach, you want something that will preserve that special look. Life Industries says its new product, Graphix Wax, fits the bill, because it contains no solvents or petroleum products that can degrade or destroy graphics during the waxing process.
Graphix Wax is a liquid wax that cleans and offers protection from ultraviolet rays. You simply wipe it on, let it dry, and wipe it off. It’s available directly from Life Industries. The cost of an 8-ounce bottle is $12.18; a 16-ounce bottle sells for $18.62.
Life Industries Corp.
4060 Bridgeview Drive
North Charleston, SC 29405
(800) 382-9706
(843) 566-1225
www.rvbylife.com
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Wrinkle Releaser
Some people are adamantly opposed to ironing clothes. (Often it is not hard to spot these folks.) Then again, there are times when the iron just isn’t handy. One alternative: a few spritzes of Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus.
After spraying clothing, you tug out any wrinkles, smooth the fabric, and allow it to dry. The product coats fabric with silicone, relaxing the fibers so they slide apart instead of being frozen in a crease. The spray also can be used to reduce wrinkles from pillowcases, bedsheets, tablecloths, and other items. Plus, it helps remove odors and static cling.
The suggested price is $4.19 for a 500-milliliter bottle and $6.99 for a 1-liter bottle. A 3-ounce size costs $1.99.
Nehemiah Manufacturing Co.
1130 Findlay St.
Cincinnati, OH 45214
(513) 351-5700
www.downywrinklereleaserplus.com