$3 Kmart item that makes caravanning chore ten times easier: 'Saves bench space'

Ask any caravan owner what the biggest downside is to travelling in a house on wheels and there is a good chance they would say the lack of space. Although more and more Aussies are choosing to sell everything they own and take to life on the road, or simply invest in a caravan for weekend adventures, it's an endeavour that requires some sacrifice and a lot of out-of-the-box thinking.

Kmart shoppers, in particular, are gaining a reputation for having the answer to almost every problem that caravanning life serves up. From tips on how to whip up delicious meals to how to do laundry while in transit, it seems they really have an answer to every question out there.

As for what to do about the very limited space one might have in their van, Kmart customers have hacks for that too.

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Take the rather tedious chore of washing up, for example. Bench space in caravans is typically pretty sparse, which can make the task extra frustrating. However, a handy $3 item seems to be just the ticket, with several shoppers singing its praises online.

Kmart shoppers rave about 'handy' $3 gadget

The budget retailer's extendable colander can be adjusted depending on the size of your sink, making it a game-changer in tiny caravan kitchens.

"I’ve been looking for a little extra bench space, Kmart has it sorted," one person shared in a popular caravanning Facebook group.

"Having that extra space really helps," another said. "Love the colander."

"I am loving my $3 ‘extendable Colander’ from #kmart," said one caravanner who has been travelling around Australia with her partner and two kids since August. "I find it so handy as I usually wash up as I go & it's great to sit the cloth, etc, in when there are no dishes in there. Saves bench space & having soggy tea towels on the bench for drying dishes."

Another family who is travelling around the country also raved about the item, sharing the find on TikTok.

"$3 Kmart colander👌," they captioned a video of the product. "Never enough bench space in a caravan."

"Yes! Such a good idea," someone replied.

$3 Kmart colander not just for caravan owners

Even if you are not currently living your best van life, the $3 Kmart discovery could still be a valuable purchase if space is limited in your home.

"I love this," one customer raved about the colander on the Kmart website. "So handy. Fits both the small and large sides of a double sink, then stores away easily with my cooking trays. Although it is nice enough to leave permanently in the sink if you wanted. Highly recommend."

"Love this colander and how it adjusts to fit your sink. Easy to store as it is adjustable in size. I use this for washing fruit, such as grapes and cherries and leave this to drain over the sink," another said.

"This is so useful," a third added. "I only have 1 small sink in my tiny old kitchen, so I use the colander to rinse and drain more than fruit and vegetables."

Kmart shoppers love $12 drying rack for carvanning

And, if you're looking to complete your caravan kitchen setup while maximising what little space you have, Kmart customers have also been raving about the $12 drying mat with rack.

The foldable product provides cushioning support for delicate dishes and an absorbent mat to soak up any water or detergent residue. Better yet, it is machine-washable (minus the rack) so it's super easy to maintain.

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“Had one for years in motorhome and now have one in camper. So easy to dry outside and put away in cupboard,” commented one buyer.

“This was a great purchase. We bought it for camping and it was wonderful. Takes up hardly any space and prevents whatever surface from getting wet. After you have used it you can easily wash it and dry it,” said another.

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