Camp Dishes

RBBailey

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
This is a question I've been meaning to get around to asking, and now that I've been out on the first camp trip of the season, it's front and center.

What is your process, gear, and best tips for actually doing dishes in a dry camp?

I usually try to use as many paper plates as I can, then I just burn them. But you can't avoid using some dishes some of the time.

Right now, when it comes to doing dishes at camp, I use as little water as possible in two tubs. I heat the water as much as I can handle. I first use a paper towel to wipe all the dishes down as much as possible, getting all the food off. Then I begin to wash by starting in one tub, them dropping them in the next. Usually I have to dump the first tub, then use clean, soap free water in that tub again for the final rinse.

This works OK. But I'm just wondering what methods others have come up with that I might learn from.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bhcmbailey/34047930073/in/dateposted/" title="PCRC Spruce Run Camp 2017"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4249/34047930073_5f2057b8c0_b.jpg" width="800" alt="PCRC Spruce Run Camp 2017"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
javelinadave

javelinadave

Administrator
Staff member
Best camping invention of the decade. Fill it 3/4 full and add some boiling water. Stomp on the pump and hose down the dishes, kids, dog, windscreen, whatever.
https://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_Nemo-Helio-Pressure-Shower_10203608_10208_10000001_-1_?cm_mmc=PLA-_-GooglePlusBox-_-Nemo-_-Nemo-Helio-Pressure-Shower_GooglePlusBox&utm_source=GooglePlusBox&utm_medium=PLA&ad_id=GooglePlusBox&utm_campaign=Nemo-Helio-Pressure-Shower&scid=scplp2413597&sc_intid=2413597&ad_id=Google&kcid=50366c6f-175a-4644-990d-d1407e11be29&utm_medium=PPC&utm_source=GOOGLE&utm_campaign=SC%2BShopping%2B-%2BPromo%2B-%2BBrand%2BTerms&utm_term=&lsft=adtype:pla,channel:eek:nline&gclid=CJqc8PWYitQCFUpNfgodVRgJOw
4d63c7a4-4274-4e91-a032-5d44c9e5ee32
 
chris snell

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
I'm all about minimalism and packing light. In years past, I washed each dish by hand separately and used jerry cans for water. That really sucked because it wasted a ton of water. For my trip this year, I bought one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Granite-Gear-Kitchen-Assorted-2-25-Gallon/dp/B000XUM7NA

It was fantastic. First, I cleaned the big chunks off of the dishes with a paper towel. Next, I heated a couple of cups of water to near-boiling in my Jetboil and dumped that in the bucket with some dish soap, plus some cold water to get the temperature right and then washed all of my dishes in the soapy water. Next, I dumped the soapy water and re-filled the bucket with some clean water and rinsed everything off, then dried with paper towels.

When the dishes were done, I hung the bucket up on my sideview mirror to dry and then stored it in my kitchen Pelican. It folds down to almost nothing and takes up no room.

It's awesome!
 
RBBailey

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
So the best part of the bucket is that it folds, otherwise it is just a simple big bucket, right? It sounds like your method is pretty close to mine, so the collapsing bucket is probably a good thing. My two tubs nest in my kitchen box with everything else. I'm able to get everything but my food in one box. It is in my garage ready to go without doing any more than just picking it up.
 
L

LR Max

Well-known member
My dishes are usually very minimal as I am either by myself or +1 adult. With that in mind, I have two small tuperware boxes. One holds all of my cleaning supplies + other bits. The second nests under the first one and is used as a pale. Cheap and effective. Doesn't really take up any extra room.

But yes. I'll try to get all the big bits off. Then do a boiling water in a pan/pot to get all the big stuff off.
 
stu454

stu454

Well-known member
Callsign: KN4CBB
I'l use a paper towel to clean off any chunks or residue. Next, I'll wipe everything down with a Clorox wipe. Then I'll boil some water in a regular pot and give everything a rinse. I only use a quart or two of water with this method.
 
jymmiejamz

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
Usually we heat up some water in a Jet Boil and use that for cleaning. We start with the least dirty dishes and use the dirty water from those to clean the really dirty ones. All in all we probably only average about 300mL of water and two paper towels.
 
rovercolorado

rovercolorado

Well-known member
LR Max said:
My dishes are usually very minimal as I am either by myself or +1 adult. With that in mind, I have two small tuperware boxes. One holds all of my cleaning supplies + other bits. The second nests under the first one and is used as a pale. Cheap and effective. Doesn't really take up any extra room.

But yes. I'll try to get all the big bits off. Then do a boiling water in a pan/pot to get all the big stuff off.
Click to expand...

This is my method as well except the box is a lager one that holds all my plates and cups while traveling. I use it to carry everything and then use it to wash each meal. I don't boil water unless it is really messy. Just a good dish soap and cold water. Camp clean :D
 
J

Jburt

Well-known member
I've seen a repurposed pump up sprayer used in a similar way. Cut the spray tube, adapt a nozzle, good to go.

I like the chlorox wipe method too, but I use peroxide wipes instead because I get them at work and am a chemistry/food interaction geek.

javelinadave said:
Best camping invention of the decade. Fill it 3/4 full and add some boiling water. Stomp on the pump and hose down the dishes, kids, dog, windscreen, whatever.
https://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_Nemo-Helio-Pressure-Shower_10203608_10208_10000001_-1_?cm_mmc=PLA-_-GooglePlusBox-_-Nemo-_-Nemo-Helio-Pressure-Shower_GooglePlusBox&utm_source=GooglePlusBox&utm_medium=PLA&ad_id=GooglePlusBox&utm_campaign=Nemo-Helio-Pressure-Shower&scid=scplp2413597&sc_intid=2413597&ad_id=Google&kcid=50366c6f-175a-4644-990d-d1407e11be29&utm_medium=PPC&utm_source=GOOGLE&utm_campaign=SC%2BShopping%2B-%2BPromo%2B-%2BBrand%2BTerms&utm_term=&lsft=adtype:pla,channel:eek:nline&gclid=CJqc8PWYitQCFUpNfgodVRgJOw
4d63c7a4-4274-4e91-a032-5d44c9e5ee32
Click to expand...
 
Motorradmark

Motorradmark

Well-known member
Callsign: KO4FIC
We use the Boy Scout method. 3 small plastic tubs that nest and store in chuck box. Tub 1 is soap and hot water wash, , tub 2 is first hot rinse, tub 3 is final hot rinse. Can do a lot of stuff with minimal water. Fastest way to ruin a camping outing is poorly cleaned cookware. Then we have to talk about best port a loo.
 
RDavisinVA

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor

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Kevin88RRC

Well-known member
I just use the styrofoam plates to start the camp fire. :cool:


More or less like everyone else... paper towel, heat some water in a pan, wash rinse dry.
 
Daddymow

Daddymow

Well-known member
jymmiejamz said:
Usually we heat up some water in a Jet Boil and use that for cleaning. We start with the least dirty dishes and use the dirty water from those to clean the really dirty ones. All in all we probably only average about 300mL of water and two paper towels.
Click to expand...

Jimmy, how much is 300ml? Speak 'Merican please.
 
R

rlynch356

Well-known member
chris snell said:
I'm all about minimalism and packing light. In years past, I washed each dish by hand separately and used jerry cans for water. That really sucked because it wasted a ton of water. For my trip this year, I bought one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Granite-Gear-Kitchen-Assorted-2-25-Gallon/dp/B000XUM7NA

It was fantastic. First, I cleaned the big chunks off of the dishes with a paper towel. Next, I heated a couple of cups of water to near-boiling in my Jetboil and dumped that in the bucket with some dish soap, plus some cold water to get the temperature right and then washed all of my dishes in the soapy water. Next, I dumped the soapy water and re-filled the bucket with some clean water and rinsed everything off, then dried with paper towels.

When the dishes were done, I hung the bucket up on my sideview mirror to dry and then stored it in my kitchen Pelican. It folds down to almost nothing and takes up no room.

It's awesome!
Click to expand...
this is basically the same system i use for dishes - one bucket scape, wash, then rinse in the same bucket
i use the seattle sports version of the collapsible bucket - they make a dual one if your interested
https://www.amazon.com/Seattle-Spor...8&qid=1496856347&sr=1-2&keywords=seattle+sink
i use more water than 1 Beer can full though - not much for washing but a good amount rinsing
 
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