What to do with dirty pots and dishes when you are camping? You can't just put them away and reuse them. Disposable tableware, on the other hand, is not practical, because otherwise you will have to drag the garbage bags with you everywhere. Fortunately, there are ways to get clean dishes back despite not having the comforts of home. Read this article to find out.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: With the Detergent
Step 1. Spread a thin layer of biodegradable detergent on the outside of the pots before cooking
This will prevent them from scorching and it will be easier to wash them.
Step 2. Boil the water you will use to wash them while cooking on the camping stove; if you have lit the fire, do it while you eat
It is much easier to clean them immediately after cooking, otherwise the food will cool and crumble inside them.
Step 3. Prepare three tubs, pots or buckets:
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Wash tub: contains hot water mixed with a few drops of biodegradable detergent.
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Tub to rinse with warm, clean water.
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Tub to rinse with cold water. Mix a few drops of bleach, or a similar product, with water to eliminate bacteria (read the “Tips” section to find out more).
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Step 4. Remove food residues from dishes and pans before washing
Use a spoon to remove most of the remaining particles. This will prevent the water from getting dirty too quickly.
Step 5. Wash the dishes in the first tub
If you do this right after cooking, you won't waste much time, unless you have completely burned the pans during cooking.
Step 6. Immerse the dishes in the tub filled with hot water, holding them with tongs, like the one for ice
This is important because it allows you to remove all detergent residue, and it will be safe to eat us again.
Step 7. Soak the dishes in cold water for 20 seconds
Step 8. Arrange the dishes on a clean waterproof tarp or aluminum foil to allow them to dry
If you have time, allow them to air dry, otherwise use a paper towel. For air drying, place the dishes in a dry, clean mesh bag, and hang it on a branch or elsewhere with the string. The air and sunlight will dry everything quickly without touching dirty surfaces. The bleach will evaporate.
Step 9. Discard the dirty water by carefully filtering it through a colander to remove all food particles
Step 10. Bring the water 60m away from the campsite and the source you got it from; throw it in a large area or use it to put out the fire if you have one
Step 11. Remove the filter and empty it into a garbage bag which you will close and take with you
Step 12. Pour the rinse water into the empty tub used to remove the soap residue
Throw it away in the same place you did it with the wash water.
Step 13. To sanitize tubs, pour cold water mixed with bleach into the rinse bucket and then into the wash bucket
Finally, throw it in the same spot as before.
Method 2 of 4: Without Detergent
Step 1. Collect sand or gravel (you can find some in a stream or river bed; it is likely to have little or no organic content)
Step 2. Heat the water as described in the front section
Step 3. Spread a small amount of the leftover fat from cooking on the plates, add some ash left over from the fire you started and mix them with a few teaspoons of hot water, until you get a thick detergent solution
This soapy mix is aggressive (read the “Warnings” section to find out more).
Step 4. Use a handful of sand or gravel, which will act as an abrasive for cleaning the dishes
Use one tub for washing and another for rinsing.
Step 5. Let them drain or air dry
Step 6. Reheat dishes immediately before cooking to sterilize them
Method 3 of 4: Other Method without Detergent
Step 1. Before starting the fire, clean the spot where you will do it
Don't use it to burn garbage. Wood ash is ideal for washing dishes. Once you are done cooking, allow the fire to gradually reduce to ashes.
Step 2. Choose a large enough metal pot; opt for the crusty or greasy one, which you used to cook
Step 3. Use a long-handled serving spoon to insert hot coals and ashes into the pot
Generally, two cups are enough to wash the dishes.
Step 4. Add enough water to create a subtle, full-bodied mix that is warm to the touch but not hot; mix it with ash
Step 5. Spread the hot ash mix generously on all dirty dishes, pots and utensils
It will look ugly, but this method works. Use charcoal to scrub foods that have stuck together. For stubborn deposits, let the solution work for a few minutes.
Step 6. Collect plenty of water from a spring
Bring the dirty dishes and the tub full of water at least 60 meters from the source. Stack what you will be washing as much as possible inside the tub and rinse one item at a time to save water. Place each rinsed piece in a dry, clean spot until you're done. Make sure you wash your hands.
Method 4 of 4: Spray Wash
Step 1. Use non-stick grills and pans and develop an inexpensive set of camping cooking utensils so you don't have to worry if they get scorched outside
When the pots are still hot because you have recently cooked, quickly pass a paper towel over them, using tongs to avoid burning yourself. If necessary, repeat with additional wipes until there is almost no residue left.
Step 2. Spray a window cleaner or other product (it doesn't take much) on the utensils and let it work while you eat
Once you're done, sprinkle it on the rest of the dishes.
Step 3. After spraying the product, wipe the plates with paper towels so that very little residue remains
Step 4. Rinse with clean water
Step 5. Why does it work?
Not so much water will be contaminated and you will not have to throw it on the campsite grounds or nearby. Residues in the water used for washing will not rot, attracting colonies of ants and / or rodents. Food is wiped off with a wipe and thrown in the trash or burned, not thrown into the earth or rivers. If you want your impact to be almost nil, spray the window cleaner product, wipe with tea towels and then wash them at home; this way, you will hardly leave any residue at the campsite or in the waterways.
Alternative Method: Lick the inside of the dishes you ate from before the food hardens. Pouring in the water to help you get rid of the particles and then swallowing it is another good idea. The second solution should also be used for pots and pans. Taking a sip like this allows you to leave no footprints when camping, although this method is not for everyone.
Advice
- A bunch of pine needles or leaves can allow you to create a sponge that is useful for removing food residue from a pot, especially if it is caked.
- A cap of bleach will sterilize 20 liters of water, while to sanitize 4-8 liters you will only need a few drops. 1/5 of a cap is less than a tablespoon. 10 drops of bleach are enough for a 7-liter bucket. Remembering this will help you minimize what you bring with you, because you will only need a bottle with a dropper in order to clean several times.
- To clean easily and not weigh too much (which is important for going to particularly remote areas), try using plastic camping dishes. Once you're done using them, you can easily wash and dry them and put them back right away.
- You should follow a certain washing order: the glasses and dishes should be washed first, the pots last, because they are dirtier and because you will heat them when you cook, killing potential bacteria.
- Don't have enough tubs or buckets for washing or rinsing water? All you need to do is use a couple of garbage bags, to put in a sturdy box.
- The warmer the water, the better it will do its job. It will allow you to wash the dishes more effectively, ensuring their sterilization.
- Always wash your hands before using dishes to limit the spread of bacteria.
- If you don't have detergent and can't find sand or gravel to use as an abrasive, mud will be ideal for removing food encrustations from dishes. Make sure you wash everything in boiling water.
- Some prefer to skip the bleach part. If the water is hot enough and you use detergent, the dishes will be washed well.
- Teflon pans should simply be cleaned with a paper towel and sterilized.
Warnings
- The mix created by mixing ash and fat can be quite aggressive on the skin. In extreme cases, this basic solution can cause chemical burns, just like an acid. If you will use it, put on gloves or proceed with a swab, then rinse your hands thoroughly once you're done.
- Do not rinse soapy dishes in the lake or river, even though the detergent claims to be biodegradable: this harms the water ecosystem.
- Using bleach and other detergents can have deleterious effects on the environment. It is forbidden to use them in protected natural areas.
- Food attracts bears and other animals. Never leave food, snacks, candies, leftovers and scraps near the tent and the campsite.
- Do not use standing water, as it is likely to contain harmful parasites.
