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

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
    • 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

Quiz

Take this Backcountry Kitchen Clean-Up Quiz to test your new cleaning knowledge!