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There are countless camping ideas available to make outdoor activities more enjoyable. But what if you could make your trip more efficient and less messy? Because camping storage is limited both during and after the trip, it’s critical to consider what goes where and why.
It’s also a good idea to take a few extra precautions before your next trip to ensure that everything stays fresh and bug-free. Have you ever opened your tent box only to discover it moldy and incomplete? Camp gear that has been improperly stored stinks, deteriorates quickly, and becomes totally unusable far faster than equipment that has been properly stored.
Do you know what it’s like to head back to your tent after an action packed day and trip over clutter? Unorganized campsites are unappealing and require more effort than is necessary.
But fear not. These camping organization ideas and hacks can help you stay organized before, during, and after your next camping trip.
Camping Organization Before Your Trip
Store Camping Gear in Clear Plastic Storage Bins
It’s tempting to toss everything into a duffle bag and call it a day when preparing for a camping vacation. Instead, place all of your belongings in transparent stackable boxes that will fit easily in the rear of your vehicle.
Plastic containers are weather-resistant, long-lasting, and will help you organize your belongings and get to things a lot faster when you need them. Duffle bags should only be used for clothing and personal stuff (toiletries etc.)
Give Kids Their Own Camping Supplies Bag
Give each kid a different color duffle bag if they are accompanying you. Allow them to bring a few personal items with them. Remind them to put their items back in their bag at the end of the day. This way, you won’t have to worry as much about keeping track of children’s belongings on top of everything else.
Packing Organization Tips for Camping
When camping, space is limited, so you must be selective about what you bring. You want to be comfortable at the campsite, but you don’t need to bring too much clothing or cumbersome items that you won’t use.
Consider the following to make your travel more efficient:
- Instead of folding your clothes, roll them. This method makes it easy to find clothes and saves a lot of room.
- Make sure essentials like the tent, flashlights, and other necessities like bug repellent and sunscreen are easily accessible as you pack the car.
- Instead of haphazardly stuffing items into a bag, create an inventory.
- When you do go camping, keep track of the items you take but then don’t use. To save space, cross these items off your inventory for the next time.
Create a More Organized Camp Kitchen
The easiest method to stay organized while camping is to make sure that everything has a place and that everyone at camp understands how to return items to their proper places. The camp kitchen, which holds a variety of odd items, is one of the most difficult areas to maintain.
Here are some food prep organization suggestions for camping:
- Toss utensils, dish rags, and anything else you’ll need to create a meal into a plastic shoe organizer or a cloth tool belt.
- Have two coolers, one for food and the other for beverages.
- Using cooling racks to provide a barrier between melting ice and food in the food cooler. To do so, fill the cooler with ice, then line it with cooling racks and lay the food on top.
There are also numerous ways to make your life easier while camping by utilizing items already in your home.
- Toilet paper should be stored in an old coffee can to avoid getting wet or falling to the ground.
- Using a wire clothes hanger, hang a roll of paper towels.
- Pre-mixed pancake batter can be stored in an old ketchup container.
- Dry snacks should be stored in old Coffee-mate containers.
Storage and Organization After Your Camping Trip
Dry and Clean Your Tent Before You Store It
Set up your tent when you get home, if the weather permits, and let it dry completely. Prepare to deal with mold, mildew, and rot if you store your tent while it is still damp.
Clean any dirt or sand from the tent once it has dried. The tent stakes and poles should be treated the same way. It may seem ridiculous to thoroughly clean outside equipment, but doing so assures that you won’t track mud, dust, or bugs into your storage area. A clean, well-kept tent can help ensure that your next camping trip starts off on the right foot.
Air Out Blankets and Sleeping Bags
Shake sleeping bags to get stray stuff out of the folds on the inside. After that, air out each bag by hanging it or laying it flat. UV rays can harm the nylon, so avoid hanging the sleeping bag in direct sunshine. Cotton blankets on the other hand can be hung in full sun since the light disinfects them.
Post Camping Storage Tips
Remove All Those Batteries
Always remove batteries from any flashlights, headlamps, GPS devices, or other electrical equipment before storing it for less troublesome camping storage. You won’t have to deal with rust or leaks if you go the extra mile.
Batteries should be kept in a sealed plastic bag near to the camping gear.
Store Camp Cookware in Resealable Bags
Before putting pots, pans, utensils, and camp stoves into plastic resealable bags, scrub and clean them well. After a thorough cleaning, your gear is free of stray food drippings and crumbs that could attract insects and bacteria, and the plastic bags ensure that no grime or dust gets into your camping cookware.
Store Camping Gear the Right Way
It’s ideal to keep all of your camping gear in one place. Make sure the location you chose for storage is cool, dry, and free of UV rays. If you don’t have enough space in your house, try renting a self storage unit – even a small one will keep all of your belongings secure, dry, and out of the way.
Because camping storage is frequently limited, it’s important to get creative with what you currently have. Having specific camping organization techniques in place can allow you to spend more time enjoying the great outdoors when camping.
Need help with any home, office or life organization project? Book a free 15-minute Zoom call here and let’s chat about how Just Organized by Taya can help you.
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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