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How to Wash Dishes in CampNo sink? No problem. Here's a step-by-step guide to backcountry dish scrubbing.Captions by Genny Fullerton, Photos by Katie Herrell
Just finished eating, and the dishes need doing. Get your soap and washing rag ready. Use a camping-friendly, biodegradable soap, such as McNETT Smart Suds shown here.
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READERS COMMENTS
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What happened with leave no trace ? Tossing the water out in the manner shown will leave an imprint. Also, doing the cleaning on the lichen covered rocks is another example of not following the leave no trace pracitices.
— Patrick
Also don't exhale any CO2. Leave NO trace.
— Ed
Have to admit I just cook in the pot, usually insulating it to cook the meal from when I brought it to the boil. Then I often eat out of the pot. That way it gets emptied easily while it's still warm. Then I boil water in it for a Continental cup of soup and finally I make a hot chocolate malted drink with another lot of water boiled in the pot. I wipe out the pot with a scrap of toilet paper which can be used for "other purposes" later. This way you don't have to carry all that extraneous stuff in and avoid discarding soapy water in the environment. I have read if you dry things effectively, they will remain hygienic. I did this for 54 days in a row, traversing Fiordland National Park in New Zealand.
— Honora
Some people drink the water after cleaning their dishes but i perfer to toss it like shown. Thats the most trace i leave.
— Leanna
If you dip your soapy utensils into the clean pot, then you have 2 soapy pots. You should pour the clean water on the utensils over the soapy pot. If you use the utensils for dinner with soap you may get diarrhea.
— Robert
I ran into a NOLS group in the Gila Wilderness; they and my Outward Bound instructor both recommend using "nature's scrub brushes" as the NOLS cookery book describes it, "sand, pinecones, snow, pine needles, and bunches of grass, and give them a good rinse with water just prior to eating." Google search for NOLS washing dishes will lead you to that section in Google Books. In deciduous environments, old dead leaf litter. Just fill the dirty pot with leaves and mash and swirl. Repeat. You might need to rinse, but you were going to do that anyway.
— Luke
I make it a habit to dip all of my eating utensils in the pot of boiling water before I add the food to it. Just an added layer of protection in case some soap or other contaminants were not completely removed at the previous washing.
— Dewayne
My friend and I came up with a meathod that eliminates all that stuff. We simply precook everything for the whole trip and then vacuum seal it in vacuum bags. All we do then is boil water with whatever bag of food we want to eat. The food reheats in the bag and we eat our meal right out of the plastic bag. No mess, no dirty dishes or dirty water. The food will last for days vacuum sealed and gives off no sent while in your backpack.
— Kenny
We eat out of the pot and then let the dog lick out any leftover particles (he's a pro). Reboil a little hot water, wipe with bandana, voila. Next meal please.
— MJ
I agree with Honora: no need for soap, just use scalding water and ensure NO residue left stuck to pan or dishes. Then, if possible, SUN-DRY and it will be clean. I've done this for over 30 years with no ill effects nor any observed in my fellow backpackers.
— Michael
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