Genius Solutions To Your RV's Limited Bathroom Storage
Traveling around the country in an RV can be nothing short of dreamy. However, for folks whose bathroom toiletries extend beyond a single three-in-one shampoo-body wash-conditioner product, navigating the tight storage in an RV bathroom can be anything but. And if you're the kind of person for whom a vacation wouldn't be a vacation without a collection of smell-good toiletries and a handful of fluffy towels, finding plenty of space to stash your shower essentials can be particularly frustrating — if not downright impossible.
Luckily, necessity is the mother of invention, and nobody knows how to maximize space like the fine folks who spend their vacations cruising in a rig. For those of us who can't fathom taking a road trip without our collection of Bath & Body Works products on deck, the internet has solutions. From Reddit recommendations to TikTok tips, here are some of our favorite genius RV bathroom storage hacks for dealing with limited storage.
Invest in a shower tension rod
Maximizing the limited space in an RV is all about taking advantage of the vertical space you've got at your disposal. Shower curtain tension rods provide a budget-friendly and easily installed way to get more vertical space in your bathroom instantly. These curtain rods can be picked up at most discount stores and can typically hold up to 20 pounds with no drilling required.
Melina of The RV Canucks recommends stretching a rod between your RV bathroom walls and then adding a handful of S-hooks for hanging swimwear on to dry out in the shower, among other things. "We use it to support our large shower caddy so it's not hanging on the cheapo RV shower head," she explained. "And we also use it outside the shower to hang our organizers and caddies." S-hooks are also handy for hanging things like bath sponges, loofahs, washcloths, and soap-on-a-rope.
A word of caution, though: Tension curtain rods are typically meant for use with bathroom tile or drywall, and RV construction can be a little less sturdy. When selecting the two points for inserting your shower curtain, make sure they are near the RV frame, where they can withstand whatever pressure is applied. A well-placed piece of cardboard can also act as a buffer so you don't crack your RV walls.
Throw a shoe organizer over the door
You can pick up a basic soft-side plastic or canvas over-the-door shoe organizer at most discount stores for under $10. While they tend not to be great for storing some pairs of adult shoes (especially bulky outdoor sneakers or hiking boots), these organizers transform your RV bathroom storage. With as many as 24 pockets available depending on the size of your shoe organizer or bathroom door, there's plenty of room for stashing clean washcloths, deodorant, moisturizers, and any makeup you might want to bring along. Hairbrushes, ponytail holders, and other necessities can be neatly tucked away. Everything is accessible and completely visible, so you don't end up digging through your cabinets and disrupting your organization over a missing scrunchie on day three of your trip.
If you dislike the idea of a bulky, full-length shoe organizer taking up your limited bathroom space, try splitting your shoe organizer. Courtney from the RV lifestyle YouTube channel A Dreamin' Life did this by cutting off the bottom two rows of a shoe organizer and placing it on the RV screen door to stash cloth grocery bags and pet supplies. She then placed the top three rows in the back of her camper's wardrobe closet, where it housed cleaning and laundry supplies. As she put it, "For the purchase of one over-the-door shoe organizer, we got a multitude of storage in two different places in the airstream."
Use wall-mounted storage whenever possible
Dig deep enough on Amazon, and you will find a wall-mounted storage solution for just about every small item you need in the bathroom. When things are stuck to the wall, you don't have to worry about them rolling around in a cabinet as your camper navigates the stop-and-go headaches of city traffic and mountainous terrain. It's also easier to keep track of everything and makes cleaning your RV bathroom just a little bit simpler, which can be a huge blessing when you're rolling into campsites at ungodly hours. Most of these bathroom storage solutions are relatively cheap and can be installed with a minimal skill level that requires no drilling.
Wall-mounted disposable razor holders and toothbrush holders with a separate slot for each toothbrush are a must-have. While some toothbrush holders come with a shelf for storing toothpaste that will be useless when you're in motion, Carolyn from the YouTube channel Carolyn's RV Life has a genius solution: Velcro. A full-time RVer, Carolyn uses sticky Velcro strips to attach things she doesn't want to lose to her cabinets. Take a page from Carolyn's book and Velcro a cup or small basket to your wall to stash your toothpaste. If you want to get really Velcro-happy, you can attach Velcro strips to all sorts of smaller bathroom essentials like hairbrushes, hand sanitizer, and tissues. Throw in a few Command hooks to hang things like loofahs or ponytail holders, and you're golden.
Repurpose kitchen storage solutions
Making the most of your limited RV space can often mean reimagining common household storage solutions in new and innovative ways — and the kitchen section of your local home store is a gold mine for creative solutions. In a cramped RV, every square inch of empty wall space is a missed opportunity. And few things are more ideally suited for the open spot above your RV toilet than a wall-mounted kitchen spice rack, which makes an outstanding storage solution for bars of soap, menstrual hygiene products, and other small toiletries.
You know those game-changing magnetic knife strips some folks use in their kitchens? These make a fantastic solution for keeping track of metal bathroom necessities like bobby pins, metal hair barrettes, and manicure supplies. You can even use a carabiner to corral your ponytail holders and stick it to your magnetic strip. Just about anything meant for organizing kitchen cabinets and drawers, from cleaner bottle storage to lazy Susans, can be repurposed for your RV bathroom, so don't be afraid to think outside the box.
Display your toilet paper
Next to towel storage, toilet paper is one of RV life's biggest challenges. Fortunately, TIkTokker Birdie Wood has a solution that solves both your problems simultaneously: a hooked towel rack. If you plan to be on the road for a while, you'll need to ensure you've got plenty of TP at the ready, which means buying in bulk. Since most RV bathrooms don't have much room for storing more than a couple of rolls, you run the risk of having to get into your under-camper storage when there's a TP emergency unless you can find a way to stash a few rolls up top.
Pick up a narrow, hooked towel rack and mount it to your RV bathroom wall. However, instead of using all those hooks for towels, reserve some for stashing toilet paper, spiking one individual role per hook. This way, you'll always know exactly how much toilet paper you've got left, which means no unpleasant surprises when you're miles from the nearest Wally World enjoying the perfect view of the Pacific Ocean at your campground. Just be sure your wall can support the weight of your towel rack first before installation.