Plastic Clothespin Reminders

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In the beginning, I was intimidated by everything an RV'er has to remember.

Open this, tighten that, push this, pull out that, etc. etc. etc.

Then when breaking camp, you have to reverse the procedure:

Shut this, loosen that, pull this, push in that, etc. etc. etc.

Now, lots of folks have published lists of how to remember everything ... but problem is, when I started, there weren't that many lists ... and I'd always lose any list I tried to write.

As a matter of fact, the Number 1 on any list I wrote was:

1. Find list

And since I couldn't find the list, well, lists don't work for me.

So, I purchased a bag of colorful clothes pins, and would carefully

Pin a red one on the gas bottles when I opened them.
Pin a green one near the shower valve when I opened it.
Pin a white one on the trim ring when I opened the stove flap.

Well, you get the picture.

Then, when it came time to break camp, I just walked around the trailer and collected the pins after performing the necessary step.

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Now, I've been doing this a long time.

Most of my brightly colored clothes pins have been long since retired.

Some of them actually hold up clothes on our camp clothes line.

But there's one thing I keep forgetting ... and that's to close that darn stove vent flipper.

I just noticed that while trying to take an "artsy craftsy" photo of the Great National Sand Dunes ... I also caught my white clothes pin in action.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3f1850f9e7f07MVC-610S.JPG/>

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Quick ...

Is my stove vent open or closed?

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Now, I don't want to tell you how many times I've forgotten to not only close the stove vent, but also forgotten to remove the clothes pin when we're breaking camping.

I'll be driving along several hours after breaking camp, look in my review mirror and see that darn white clothes pin still proudly attached to the trim ring.

And I'll have to stop to close the vent and remove the clothes pin.

Then while I'm stopped, I'll remember that I forgot to tighten the sway bar.

I forget what the point of this message was going to be.

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Perhaps you are recommending switching to a blue (or red?) clothespin for that spot, since you've retired the colors in the other places?

Blue (or red) would be much easier to notice, on your final trip around the trailer, where you double check that jacks are stowed, hatches closed, etc.

:sunny

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how bout a big red arrow and some text that reads "close the stove vent, dummy". I'm thinking of putting those messages all over my trailer.

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>>you dummy!

Herb, that's what my wife says to me! I don't need a sign!

>>other colors

Well, Mary, I tried different color clothespin for the stove vent ... but see ... when the vent is closed, I clip the pretty white plastic clothespin up inside the stove vent cover, to help hold the little flipper in place when I roll down the road.

When the clothespin is stored in the "closed" position, a little bit shows beneath the pretty white plastic stove vent cover ... so a pretty white plastic clothespin just blends in, whereas a colored clothespin showed.

I like it when everything is nice, white, crisp plastic and fiberglass ... well waxed ... well used.

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Originally posted by Charles Watts

>>other colors

Well, Mary, I tried different color clothespin for the stove vent ... but see ... when the vent is closed, I clip the pretty white plastic clothespin up inside the stove vent cover, to help hold the little flipper in place when I roll down the road.

When the clothespin is stored in the "closed" position, a little bit shows beneath the pretty white plastic stove vent cover ... so a pretty white plastic clothespin just blends in, whereas a colored clothespin showed.

I like it when everything is nice, white, crisp plastic and fiberglass ... well waxed ... well used.

You obviously need to use two clothespins, then. Because that one in the OPEN position needs to be an eye-catcher... :wak

Hmmmpf. I was just trying to help you figure out what the reason was for your post. :jester

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>>reason for post

There's a blue clothespin attached to my monitor (as I type this) ... maybe that's to help me remember why I started this thread. I forget.

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Gee ... and all these years I really thought clothes pins were to hang up all our unmentionables etc on a rope in the backyard for all the world to see. Ours use to dry strongly in the breeze... kind of stiff as I recall.

Charles - you have again opened my eyes to a whole new world.

:yep

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Good grief, Carol! What do you keep your breadwrapper closed with? Surely not the twist tie that came on the loaf when you bought it!

My grandmother taught me about clothespins. :o

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Charles that looks like one of those new fangled spring loaded things on you trailer.

I thought this discussion was about real clothes pins.

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Charles, why not use some of those multi colored PAL lights as reminders? You could even hook and unhook in the dark then. (Now don't tell me you don't have enough of them). James

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I was thinking you picked up all the clothes pins, then counted to see if any were missing. if so you search to see what you forgot. wouldn't matter what color except to find them. maybe a little glow in the dark spot for those late night moves.

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>>in the dark

When it gets dark, I'm in bed.

No exceptions.

No setting up or breaking camp.

Jana ... the "number" of clothespin varied with what services we had ... so your idea of "counting" wouldn't work, because I would have forgotten how many I put out!:)

I did used to reserve the use of red clothespins for really, really important things, like turn off the gas or disconnect and store the power cord.

As I said, it was a long time ago ... with the exception of that pesky stove vent flapper.

Nick>>real clothes pins

I prefer plastic pins over wooden pins, Nick ... I know you know that!

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Hi Mary :wave

Yes, I'm afraid I do use those little tie things that come on the bread - the little square ones too. Reason: We can't remember to take anything else off before throwing old, stale, yucky bread away - I've lost lots of clips, clamps, etc..... We just open the drawer - see the old stuff and toss..... Bad, huh?

I'm going right out and purchase some of those colorful clothes pins - just to keep my bread fresh.... they will definitely be noticeable. :feet

Charles .... Here's another great use from Mary, use your clothes pins to keep your bread fresh .. :wink

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Charlie great Idea.... I say great because I have been using them
for years saved a lot of vent covers and tv antennas. I hang mine on the inside door handle when vent open when closed I hang it on vent handle. ect.

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Based on a suggestion from a friend of mine, whenever I turn on the headlights of my '82 truck (no buzzer), I take the clothespin off the headlight switch and clip it on my keys. That way if I am checking my pockets in parking lot or store, I will find the pin and know that I screwed up again.

Pete in the RatHaus

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Orginally posted by Charles Watts

>>in the dark

When it gets dark, I'm in bed.

No exceptions.

so what are all those flashlights for? huh??

to find all those glowy clothes pins. :yep

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There was a big run up on Wal Mart's stock on the NYSE today. Said there was a huge demand for clothes pins, more than offsetting weak shopping for school supplies!

Must be a lot of people reading this web site!;)