Managing the clean up afterward. Weekend travel is more enjoyable when I have a routine for when we get back home.
Our weekend RV trips are a cherished family tradition, offering us moments of adventure. We all enjoy outdoor exploration, and I relish the change of pace and scenery. Our weekends away teach us valuable lessons in adaptation and togetherness.
In this weekend travel series we have discussed:
- Planning weekend trips so they actually happen: Planning the Weekend Away (part 1) – 6 Quick Tips
- and The Weekend Away (Part 2) – 5 Tips for Prep & Enjoying Your Trip
A major roadblock to weekend travel is the clean up after. Returning home can be a let down and a bunch of extra clean up.
Arriving home & the day after the trip –
The day we are headed home I try to make the most of being at the campsite in the morning. We tend to linger until check-out and go on “just one more” long walk.
Then we take the last hour to clean up, pack up, and get the RV hooked up to go. The drive home usually includes a stop for lunch, something fun in the area, and listening to an audiobook on the drive. We try to stay laid back and relaxed as we head home. I call it “staying in vacation mode”. 😉
Once we get home it is “all hands on deck”. Everyone pitches in to help.
Quick tips for cleaning and unpacking the camper:
- Divide your RV into zones and clean one entire zone at a time: Kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, storage, pantry food, and fridge.
- Have a specific list. This helps with memory and with communication with your little helpers.
- Have a simple standard of cleanliness in your mind. We’re not aiming for perfection, but we’re also not letting it stay gross and dirty.
These are my RV Re-set Lists:
- Cleaning the RV
- EHAP – Everything Has A Place!
- floors vacuumed and swept
- organize papers and stuff put away
Kitchen Zone:
- dishes washed and put away
- kitchen counters deep cleaned
- stove wiped down
- trash emptied
Bedrooms:
- beds made and sheets washed
- reorganize clothing storage
- gather laundry and extra blankets
Bathrooms:
- shower wiped down
- sink, counter, & toilet wiped
- trash emptied
- clean towels
Then we tackle the mess in the house and I plan ahead to show kindness to my future self.
- Laundry
- clothing
- towels & hand towels
- blankets & sheets
- swimming towels
- Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping
- Thinking ahead to our next trip:
- make meal planning lists for next trip (what worked and what didn’t)
- make a grocery shopping list for my next trip
- Looking at this week:
- What is needed this week?
- clean out the fridge and the pantry (including vacation leftovers)
- decide what to make for dinner tonight
- make a quick meal plan list for this week
- write out a grocery shopping list of what is needed for this week
- Thinking ahead to our next trip:
When we get back home from a weekend trip I have a fresh appreciation for my house and my weekly routine. What was beginning to feel boring now feels life-giving and comforting. I am happy to greet my many animals and get back to schoolwork, writing, and household tasks.
I am appreciative of simple things like electricity, running water, and unlimited ice from our normal size fridge. We do enjoy the close quarters of the RV and the togetherness it brings. But coming home to more space and more privacy is nice. The master bathroom that I use daily without thinking about is now on my gratitude list. It is good for me to get out of my routines and shake me up a bit.
Weekend travel creates resiliency and flexibility in me and in all of us. Then, in the midst of a busy week, when things go wrong I have more depth and skills to draw from.
My kids often share crazy stories from our trips when ordinary life reminds us that we are not in control. “Hey Mom, do you remember that time when the old RV roof was leaking in the middle of the night and we had to set up buckets near the skylights? At least this rainstorm is not that bad and we are safe and dry in the van. We can change our plans for this afternoon. It is fine.” 😜
What steps do you take for your weekend camping trips?
I hope that breaking down the weekend trip into manageable pieces keeps you from overthinking and feeling overwhelmed.
I would love to hear from you!
Where are you headed for your next weekend trip?