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I'm overbooked

April 21st, 2017 at 07:01 am

Ok, so this project... slowly but surely, it is moving along. However, as it moves along, I am ending up with less and less space to work with. All the floor space I have left for all my clothes and also my dirty laundry is literally the size of a tall kitchen trash bin. Yeah.

It reminds me of that amazing scene from the movie Apollo 13, where the chief engineer guy says, "Ok, the boys from upstairs have handed us this one, and we have got to come through. Basically, we have to make this... fit this... using nothing but that." That's how I am feeling right now as I work on this.



Lucky for me, laundry is very pliable, and especially if I am just carrying summerwear, I am sure something can be worked out. Winter will be much tougher, but I have a bit more time to work on that later.

So, as I write this, I am asking for any suggestions you guys may have. Picture a regular, plastic kitchen trash bin. Then picture 2 weeks worth of shirts, shorts, socks, and underwear that has to somehow fit in there, along with space for dirty laundry. How would you go about it? They don't have to be neatly folded or anything, but I obviously would like to separate the dirty stuff from the clean stuff somehow. Also, a bit of organization would be nice too. What do you think?

10 Responses to “I'm overbooked”

  1. starfishy Says:
    1492776415

    could you: create one or more dividers in the container to separate clothes, find a similar size container that already has a divider(s), stash or hang a plastic or laundry bag somewhere else in the car for dirty clothes, do laundry more often so that you only have to contend with one week's worth of clothes or less? find a storage container of similar size that is a stack of drawers rather than a bin that only has one top opening? might be easier to keep thing separate and accessible without digging around. not sure if you have room to open drawers. no idea is this is correct size, but something like this http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?sku=12715&gclid=Cj0KEQjw2-bHBRDEh6qk5b6yqKIBEiQAFUz29ncEfed2ndEKz2woZVN9mS3p3PAHTsQcxJlMcenBtGYaAjPS8P8HAQ
    or like these stackable drawers which would be more versatile https://www.containerstore.com/s/storage/storage-drawers/small-tint-stackable-drawer/12d?productId=10008469 again not sure if dimensions are correct, but there are tons of similar storage options in many different sizes. good luck!

  2. Debt-free by Thir-ty Says:
    1492777537

    Since you seem to be crafty and creative, I was envisioning something like a regular trash bin with an extra hole drilled halfway down, and a built-in shelf/divider above it. Regular clothes get folded/thrown on top, and then dirty clothes go in the bottom compartment. The only issue would be getting the dirty clothes back out, but you could also do a larger hole or one towards the very bottom of the bin instead.

  3. creditcardfree Says:
    1492780668

    I love that movie! I'm assuming that you are referring to the size vertically, rather than horizontal, but I imagine you could cut into the sides (although maybe not easily) to create another way to access clothes. I would roll the clothes for ease of finding things and stack either vertically or horizontally. You might see if a pop up laundry hamper would work too since it could be more pliable.

  4. Carol Says:
    1492786381

    What about using something like those bags they sell for keeping things separate in your suitcase? Try with extra large size (gallon) plastic bags? One for each category--tops, bottoms, underwear, sox, dirty etc.
    Also I would definitely consider laundry more often.

  5. CB in the City Says:
    1492786742

    You know, I would just go with one big plastic bag, like the kind they give you at Kohl's. It folds down to nothing when you don't need to use it, but you could put your dirty clothes in it (inside the bin), thus keeping your dirty clothes separate, but all your clothes in the same bin. I don't see any need to separate by category; you can do that at the laundromat.

  6. snafu Says:
    1492789144

    Experienced RVers, are very mindful about managing apparel. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=military+roll+clothes+to+pack
    As Carol says...Waterproof, packing cubes, of different colors or fabrication, that fit your storage dimensions may be most practical. Each cube designates contents ...shirts, trousers, socks, briefs. Dirty/worn garments are effectively contained in a heavy weight, drawstring plastic bag to avoid/ensure no smell transfers. Rain gear likewise containerized in suitable footwear briefs & socks which dry on 'blow-up' type hanger near window for sun.

  7. snafu Says:
    1492789737

    sorry, my MacAir contracts sentences to nonsense. Trying to say... Consider double duty daily shower time to also wash yesterday's brief's & socks. Hange to dry on a blow-up type hanger, near a window and sunshine

  8. rob62521 Says:
    1492806070

    Someone already suggested it, but I was going to say roll your clothes instead of folding them.

  9. PatientSaver Says:
    1492815758

    You could fly your undies from the radio antenna like a flag! Oh, right, no antennas anymore. Scratch that. Smile

  10. Tabs Says:
    1492842206

    Wow I wasn't expecting so many responses, so thank you for all the interesting ideas. This will take days I think to test these ideas and find the best solution.

    One thing I need to clarify is that I am literally working with a plastic trash can, and yes, I have to work with the hole above, not the sides, because things are so tight that I don't think reaching from the sides is practical, at least from the inside of the car.

    Another reason is that it helps to jam the cooler in place, so that it does not fly everywhere if I ever brake hard.

    Bags, suitcases, and rolling my clothes. Great idea, will definitely look into it.

    Cubes, I love them and use several of them now, but alas, I don't think they will quite fit this time.... But some kind of hanging organizer might work just as well, I don't know yet. However, that is a fascinating thought about shower and laundry at the same time haha. Pretty much what people in jail does lol.

    ccf, Apollo 13 is probably one of my favorite movies. Certainly the one I watch the most often. I don't know why. To me, it's a great feel good movie that celebrates ingenuity to overcome disaster. Also helps that it's based on a true story.

    PatientSaver, that comment made me laugh so much. I'm crazy, but I'm not... CRAZY. However, the pragmatic side of me can not deny that it would technically air dry said underwear, and fairly quickly at that.

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