Having a fully functioning bathroom is another one of the huge perks (and one of my favorite perks) associated with a camper. You don’t need a ton of stuff for your bathroom. BUT! Before you leave for any trip, make sure you have toilet tabs and RV safe toilet paper. Without these, you might end up needing some very expensive (and very unpleasant) repairs…
First, you buy the camper. Then, you stock the camper. Although this is the fun part, it can seem overwhelming at first. But fear not! We got you. This post is the fourth in a series about stocking your camper. With these posts, you can easily make your camper comfortable and functional. Check out our previous posts about stocking the kitchen, the bedroom, and the fun, unnecessary stuff here.
RV Toilet Tabs. The black tank on your RV does not function like the toilet at your home. It needs a little TLC to function properly. These toilet tabs dissolve the waste in your black tank, which will allow the waste to drain when you empty the tank. Before we leave for a trip, I add a little water to the black tank and toss in one of these tabs. That allows the water to fully dissolve the tab while we are en route to our destination. We use one tab per tank. In other words, if you empty your black tank mid-trip, make sure you add another tab.
RV Safe Toilet Paper. This is another item that is very important to the maintenance of your black tank. This isn’t my favorite TP in the world, but I’d rather use this than have to repair a clogged black tank (because… GROSS!)
Toothbrushes and toothpaste. I like to keep all of our toiletries in our camper, so I don’t have to pack them. We each have our own camper toothbrush and we keep a toothpaste in there, too! And don’t forget the floss!
Facewash. A must-have if you have super sensitive and acne prone skin, like me!
Hairbrush. Another must-have if you have long, easily tangled hair, like me! Also, has anyone else tried these wet-hair brushes? They are AMAZING! So much less breakage. That’s not a camping tip… it’s a life tip. Highly recommended.
Sunscreen and bug spray. We keep sunscreen and bug spray in the bathroom so we never forget to put it on. Don’t forget face sunscreen, if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Shampoo & Conditioner. As I mentioned above, I have long, thin hair. That means it tangles easily and requires a little extra love in the shower. I am very particular about the shampoo and conditioner I will use, and I personally really like Herbal Essences. If you are going to a remote area or an area with a lot of bugs, I’d recommend getting something much less aromatic, as this will probably attract those little critters!
Body Wash or Soap. There is nothing better than washing your feet after a long, dirty hike. For that reason alone, body soap is so nice to have. We also have a decently-sized shower (with a bathtub!) in our rig, which makes showering downright pleasant. We live and camp in Colorado, where it is extremely dry, so I need something with some moisturizer. Again, however, if you are going to a remote area or an area with a lot of bugs, I’d recommend an unscented soap.
Hand Soap. I know this was on our list of kitchen items, but I just wanted to remind you!! You can put it in your bathroom or by your kitchen sick. Either way, you can wash your hands anytime. It always makes me feel so much cleaner, particularly after a long hike. Washing your hands with soap and running water is so much better than using wet wipes. As I mentioned in the kitchen post, we buy our hand soap in the nearest town when we run out. Of course, you can also grab something from Amazon. Just make sure the pump locks, so you don’t end up with soap everywhere while you’re driving. I keep ours in the kitchen sink while we drive. That way, even if it does explode, it won’t ruin anything.
Shower Towels. If you plan to use the shower, make sure you pack towels! We have one large bath towel for each of us. We store the towels on an over the door hook. We also keep a hand towel in the bathroom, which you will need if you plan to wash your hands in there.
Outdoor Shower. If you anticipate being short on water, or if you just don’t like your rig’s shower, we recommend one of these outdoor showers. We can get two showers out of one bag – but you do have to be careful to preserve water. We usually hang the shower over a tree (you will need some rope), but not all campgrounds allow that – so make sure you check the regulations before you head out for your next trip. We both wear bathing suits while we shower, so we don’t have worry about nosey neighbors. If you’re camping somewhere warm, the water will warm up quickly in the sun. If the sun isn’t out, you might be in for a very cold shower. But at least that’s refreshing!?
Now, I am sure you are thinking – again – how do I store all of this stuff?! We put most of the toiletry items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrush, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.) in the medicine cabinet above our bathroom sink. We store all of the shower supplies (shampoo, conditioner, body wash) in the cabinet under the sink. I’ve seen many other people use a hanging shoe organizer to store these items (plus more).
