Meals on the go

After a day of travel, it is really great to sit down to a good meal without having to wait for it to cook. This is especially true if it’s been a long day. Our motorhome has a large inverter that powers all of the electrical outlets when it is turned on. We take advantage of this by putting together a crock pot meal; setting the crock pot in the sink; and letting it cook throughout the day as we travel. The alternator keeps the house batteries charged as we drive, and the meal is ready when we stop for the night. Add a salad, sit down, and enjoy. If your inverter doesn’t have the capacity to power the motorhome’s outlets, you also can run the generator to cook your meal as you drive.

Rich and Sandy Stuntz, F297545, Conneautville, Pennsylvania

Editor’s Note: Just about any motorhome can be equipped with a 12-volt-DC-to-120-volt-AC inverter that can power a crock pot or many other 120-volt-AC-powered devices. Should you wish to add an inverter to your motorhome’s electrical system, find an experienced automotive/RV electrical technician to perform the installation.

GFCI outlet trouble

I own a 2002 Winnebago Adventurer. Just inside the entry door there is a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet. When I pushed the “test” button, it would not trip to turn off the circuit. Perhaps other motorhome owners should do a function check on the GFCIs in their coaches to determine whether they’re operating correctly.

Oren Nelson, F199540, Bend, Oregon

Editor’s Note: If the GFCI does not test “OK,” replace the entire unit. Do not disassemble and attempt to repair.

Laundry coin storage

After using empty peanut butter jars, glass jelly jars, plastic sandwich bags, and everything in between to keep my change for the self-serve laundry, I finally came across the ideal vessel. I now use a simple, small plastic medicine bottle. I cut a slot in the screw cap just large enough to pass a quarter through. I drilled a hole through the cap and used a tiny nut and bolt to keep the cap’s inner seal from spinning and closing off the slot.

Frank Woythal, F291956, Andover, New York

Cleaning carpet spots

We had some spots on our carpet but weren’t sure of the source. I tried using some rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth to rub the spots. The spots came right out and the alcohol evaporated. I have found this works on other spots and stains, too. Always test this on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure the alcohol does not discolor the carpet.

Gerald Upchurch, F149198, Metropolis, Illinois

Flag stand

Being a proud American, I love the Stars and Stripes and always want to display my flag. I know that you need to have a light on it to display it at night, so my husband created this flag stand using PVC pipe and a solar-powered light.

Della Waynick, F326896, Warren, Michigan