Mark Polk: Hi, I’m Mark Polk with RV Education 101. When you go camping in your RV, there are items that are essential, like a drinking-water hose and RV sewer hoses, and there are nice-to-have items, like a GPS designed for RVs and a portable barbecue grill. Today, I wanna talk about consumable items that you should keep on hand in your RV. In no particular order, here are my top-seven consumable items that we keep in the RV at all times.

Number one, for starters, you need holding-tank treatments to treat the blackwater-holding tank after you empty it. There are dry and liquid-type treatments available. I suggest products that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. It’s a good idea to treat the graywater-holding tank too. After you empty the graywater-holding tank, you can add some liquid dish soap or a graywater tank treatment down the sink and shower drains. Run the water long enough to get the dish soap or treatment past the P-traps and into the tank. The dish soap and water will help control odors and assist in cleaning the tank.

Number two, while we are on the subject of holding tanks, it’s a good idea to stock up on toilet paper designed for use in RVs. This is one consumable item you don’t wanna leave home without. Tip, to see if toilet paper is compatible with your RV wastewater system, put one sheet of toilet paper in a glass of water. If it starts to break down and fall apart within a short period of time, it’s suitable for use in RVs.

Number three, laundry soap and dish soap are must-have consumable items. Clothes get dirty and need to be washed, especially if your camping trip is more than a weekend excursion. You can purchase these items at the campground store, or stock up on these items where you normally shop, and leave them in the RV.

Number four, next on the list is a well-stocked cabinet of first-aid supplies and over-the-counter medication. You never know when an accident will happen or when somebody will get sick. If you are boondocking miles from the closest town or store, you’ll be glad you have these consumable items along for the ride. If you or anyone else is on prescription medication, make sure you have an ample supply for the duration of your trip. Don’t forget the sunscreen and any pet medications too.

Number five, next on my list is hand sanitizer and a spray bottle with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. I keep a bottle of the hand sanitizer in the compartment where the sewer connection is made, so it’s handy when I do my wastewater management chores. I keep a spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide in the same compartment so I can disinfect the hose bib prior to connecting my RV drinking hose to the water connection at the campground. Inside the RV, we keep hand sanitizer at each sink, and a hydrogen peroxide solution is used for general cleaning and disinfecting in and around the RV.

Number six, another consumable item I always have in the outside storage compartment is a supply of disposable gloves. They are inexpensive and can be used for all kinds of chores and routine maintenance on the RV.

Number seven, in my tool storage compartment, I keep a can of spray lubricant available. It should be a dry-type lubricant like graphite that won’t attract dust, dirt, and other contaminants. I personally use Boeshield T-9 spray lubricant for everything on the RV. It cleans, lubricates, and protects whatever you use it on. Twice a year, I spray inside all the lock mechanisms on the RV. This keeps the locks operating properly and helps prevent them from freezing during cold winter months.

Mark: Well, there ya have it, my top-seven list of consumable items to always have in the RV. There are many
other consumable products that could or should be on this list, but you can use this as a starting point and add to it to come up with your own list of consumable items to keep in your RV. And, remember, when you dispose. of consumable items, recycle whenever possible.

Happy camping.