Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi Gang,

My folks were not outdoors types during my formative years, and for whatever reason, my Dad did not want me to join the Scouts, so I missed some of the vital childhood camping instructions. I have 'discovered' a passion for camping now as an adult, but I am operating in a deficit of camping know-how.

Here is my dumb newbie question, because after 4 or 5 camping trips I am still at a loss...In general, in a public campground, how/where is one supposed to wash the dishes?

I mean we went camping recently. There was a pump near our campsite for water, but a big sign says, "Do not wash dishes at the pump". I went to the bath facilities, big sign: "Do not wash dishes in these sinks". The rules said dishwater/grey water only in designated areas, but I never did locate a designated area.

So, I have resorted to sneaking into the bath house a couple of times to wash in the sinks there, or taking water from the pump back to my campsite and pouring it out in the bushes when done, but I live in constant fear the "Camping Police" will show up and take away my "camping license" (Grin).

Al in Asheville

Al, we always wash dishes inna pan at the campsite table...when done, look over your shoulder and toss water in bushes away from campsite...I guess technically, you should save your greywater and take it to the campground dumpstation but I have never done this and no "tree narcs" have ever swooped down and persecuted me.....
madjack

Al, I'm jealous!! You live in a place with access to some beautiful scenery and camping locations!! No wonder you have a passion for camping now. My best camping experience are in Pisgah Nat Forest.

As for your question, take a dish pan, fill it with water wash your dishes with some environmentally friendly dish soap. Dump it in a spot away from the camp sites. I do not see what other options there are.

Happy Camping!

Mk

Wash your dishes in a bucket, and rinse with clean water.

If there are hookups at your campsite, use that as your water source. If there is a central "pump" for water, fill two buckets -- one for washing, one for rinsing.

Use a non-toxic, biodegradable soap, such as Campsuds. Then, you can pour out the washwater on the ground. Don't use comercial dish soap like you use at home.

Also, wipe the dishes clean first, and throw the big "stuff" in the trash. You don't want to be dumping a chunks of food out with the wash water.

You can also heat some water in a pan and pour into your wash bucket if you want warm water to wash with.

I have a little sink that hangs on the side of my TD. I use that with a hose where there are hookups. My washwater drains into a five-gallon bucket, that I can dump out on the ground. I could also take it to the bathouse and dump it in the toilet, but my washwater is not harmful to the environment, so dumping it the ground is fine.

Campsuds is available at most sporting goods stores that have camping gear.

Here is the campsuds website.

They suggest digging a hole to pour your washwater in, but I have always just poured it on the ground. Either way, it should degrade.

I thought you could use it in streams, too, but they say not to. Hmmmm.

http://www.sierradawn.com/

Mary K wrote:Al, I'm jealous!! You live in a place with access to some beautiful scenery and camping locations!! No wonder you have a passion for camping now. My best camping experience are in Pisgah Nat Forest. Happy Camping!
Mk

Dear Mary Kay,

Yes! We are in a camping wonderland! I am planning on camping for first time in Pisgah Mountains/Davidson River in mid-October, when the Appalachian Teardrop group is having their gathering. I will be tent-camping (Bummer) but taking pictures and notes for when I build! Thanks for your response to my dishwashing dilemma!

AL in Ashville

Here's what I do. Call it "Camp dishwashing 101".

Get four plastic dishpans from the housewares section of any discount store- they're cheap. Make sure they're big enough for your camping plates and pots but don't go overboard- bigger means more water and they take up more space. Also get a synthetic dishcloth and a plastic scrubbie. I don't like sponges for camping because they don't dry out and can get rank. For dishtowels grab the two most worn out ones from the kitchen at home or else from the rag bag. Paper towels work fine too. I used to carry a little tiny container of dish soap but always forgot to fill it before a trip and it would run out. Last trip I got a big container of biodegradable "7th generation soap" which should go at least a year of frequent camp trips before I have to start scrounging off my neighbors again.

Keep the dishpans stacked together so they basically take up no more room than a single pan. Put dirty dishes in the top pan until every dish you have is dirty and you absolutely have to wash dishes. First have an adult beverage of your choice. Now unstack the dishpans. If the restroom has hot water carry one empty dishpan over there and fill it to the rim, then carry back to the site. If not then fill a pot with water and heat it using a convenient method. While waiting for the water to heat have an adult beverage of your choice. Put some dishsoap in another empty pan and pour half the water to that pan, so you have a half-full pan of soapy wash water and a half full pan of clean rinse water. Line the four pans up on your counter or campsite table: dirty dishes; soapy water; rinse water; empty. Now wash dishes and stack the clean ones in the last pan. If you have children along they can do the washing while you enjoy an adult beverage of your choice.

After the dishes are clean find an appropriate place to dispose of the dirty wash water. If the restrooms have a big sink or drain outside you can dump it there. Otherwise you can dump it down the toilet. This is appropriate if you're in a closely packed urban type RV park. If you're out in the woods then just get a good ways away from the nearest site (50' or 100') and dump it in the bushes. Watch out for poison oak/ivy/sumac, rattlers, copperheads, cliffs, mud, sharp sticks, etc.

Now take some of the rinse water and rinse out both the washing pan and the pan that previously had the dirty dishes in it. This water is almost clean so it can just be flung on a bush or the grass in your campsite. Use some more of the rinse water to clean the table, trailer counter, etc. and finally rinse out the dish cloth. Might be good to shave or wash your face while you're at it.

Now you're mostly done and it would be a nice time to enjoy an adult beverage of your choice. The clean dishes stacked up in the last dishpan are probably almost dry so you can give them a quick dry-off with the dish towel and put them away, unless of course you knocked the whole panful off into the mud in your drunken stupor. In that case it's time to start over.

This method evolved for me from just a single dish pan to my current use of four pans. I've tried a folding dish rack from Camping World but like using an extra pan instead. The dish pans also come in useful for transporting fruit, veggies, kids' art projects, etc.

jimqpublic wrote:Here's what I do. Call it "Camp dishwashing 101".

Wow! Thanks for the thorough and complete primer!

Al in Asheville

JimQ,

You forgot the punchline...

after all those adult beverages you're sure to be arrested by the campground police. etc...

Mike...

mikeschn wrote:JimQ,

You forgot the punchline...

after all those adult beverages you're sure to be arrested by the campground police. etc...

Mike...

No, it's after all those adult beverages, you don't care that the dishes are dirty.

CD

Bring the dog along and let him clean your dishes- i won't tell if you don't

Norma really likes her hot water on demand/2 sink set up....



we just make sure to scrape off all the "chunks" into the trash before washing.I've noticed lots of campgrounds we've been to have dish water disposal drains.

I throw mine in the campfire...

Norma really likes her hot water on demand/2 sink set up....

pgwilli

Neat little hot water heater, where can I get one. could you post some info???? HaD some post on another thread about hot water heater
thnxs

We use the two dish pans trick and throw it in the bushes when no one is looking, but most of the time that is just for the cookware. 99% of the time, we eat on styrofoam plates and use plastic silverware, then just drop it in a trash bag, and clean up is done.