Clean-up
Washing Dishes
- Be cautious of using soap in the backcountry, it is hard to wash dishes thoroughly when you don’t have access to large amounts of water
- Using hot/warm water can help loosen up food particles on dishes
- Scraper/sponge can also help clean hard to reach places or cooked on food
- Always pack out your leftover food scraps including the ones in your strainer
- More Info
Ways to “Clean” Water
- Choosing the right water source:
- A good water source is usually running water, away from any disposal of waste (human, animal, or chemical), the less debris or sediment the better
- Water Filters:
- Gravity
- Pump
- Bottles with filtering straws/lids
- Water Purifiers
- Chemical Treatment (drops/tablets)
- UV Light Purifier
- Bringing your water to a rolling boil
Disposing of “Grey Water”
- Grey water: old dishwater, used to wash any dishes
- Disposal:
- Always use a strainer to catch larger food particles from washing the dish
- Can be buried in a “cat hole” 8 inches deep, scattered away from campsite, trail, or water, or in designated dishwashing sink area of campsite
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Quiz
Take this Backcountry Kitchen Clean-Up Quiz to test your new cleaning knowledge!