boondocking and meal cleanup?

[cedric]

I am wondering how you folks that dry boondock for a few weeks or more cleanup your dishes and pans.<br />I know if you have hookups it is pretty straight forward but with no hookups how do you have enough water to clean? Do you heat water in a pan to wash dishes? Looking for basic how-to by folks who have been there, done that. thanks<br />cedric<br /><br />

 

[josephusminimus]

I am wondering how you folks that dry boondock for a few weeks or more cleanup your dishes and pans.<br />I know if you have hookups it is pretty straight forward but with no hookups how do you have enough water to clean? Do you heat water in a pan to wash dishes? Looking for basic how-to by folks who have been there, done that. thanks<br />cedric<br /><br />

<br /><br />In the cabin where I lived the past several years I was hauling water from half-mile away, so I came to have a high regard for saving water any way I could.&nbsp; The fire ant infestation in Texas was spectacular here with them invading everything in reach.&nbsp; One day I noticed they were cleaning up the dirty dishes in my sink.<br /><br />From that event until the Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas A&amp;M University released imported wasps from South America to control fire ants here as they do there, I used fire ants during the warm months to clean all my dishes, pots and pans&nbsp;and utensils.&nbsp; I'd put them in a net bag of the sort grocery stores sell produce in and place them on the fire ant mound.&nbsp; In a day they'd be as clean as if I'd washed them with soap and water.<br /><br />Probably would still work in areas heavily infested with fire ants where the wasps haven't migrated yet.<br /><br />

 

[Guest]

I learned from some of the more fulltime vandwellers like Bob W. to fill a spray bottle with a dilute mixture of white vinegar and H2O and immediately after eating, spray the utensil and wipe with a paper towel...it will evaporate and the smell will dissipate but you can always have another spray bottle of clear water to spray with after the vinegar has disinfected......<br />It is hard to use any less water than that takes...<br />Bri

 

[cedric]

Ok the fire ant method is awesome but I am not sure the plate is really clean <br /><br />The vinegar and water method sounds more to my liking. Can you suggest a ratio for general dish wash down?<br /><br />thanks <br />cedric

 

[Guest]

Hi Cedric...I use 50/50 but here is a thread to look at....there are more"as well if you do a forum search for "vinegar"<br /><br />https://vanlivingforum.com/post/How-do-you-wash-your-dishes-5508057?highlight=vinegar<br /><br />Bri

 

[Rollin]

Scrap leftovers out of the pan&nbsp;followed by&nbsp;diaper&nbsp;wipes (non toxic type only).&nbsp;Immediately&nbsp;after cooking.

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;My dog takes care of everything for me. ..Willy.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>I use public sources of water such as faucets at parks, bathrooms, etc.&nbsp; - preferably where nobody is around.&nbsp; Worst case scenario - I will use a bottle of water.<br /><br />I have a habit of cooking breakfast on a non-stick skillet and washing it later.&nbsp; Until that happens, I use a paper towel to rub it clean and then wipe some antibacterial soap on it... Then I give it a quick rinse before using it.<br /><br />V.T.</p>

 

[HoboBerg]

&nbsp;My dog takes care of everything for me. ..Willy.

<br /><br />What Willy said ^^^<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; Then use a water/rubbing alcohol mixture. For the dirty jobs I have a pump up bottle&nbsp;similar to this &nbsp;<a href="http://www.premiumboatcare.com/wolf...wolfgang-pressure-sprayer&amp;channelid=FROOG">http://www.premiumboatcare.com/wolf...wolfgang-pressure-sprayer&amp;channelid=FROOG</a>&nbsp;

 

[Terry]

Depends on how and what you cook. When i used to travel for work and stayed in my van(s), I would heat chunky style soups in the can with boiling water in a pot. Dip with bread for filler. No clean up and hat water for washing me with. Breakfast was always eggs in a non stick pan with toast in the same pan and spray with vinegar and water and then wipe with paper towels. This was a time when I was always around conviences of towns or citys so mileage may vary when boondocking.

 

[accrete]

My wife and i live full time in a 38ft Mobile Suite 5th wheel...all the creature comforts. . . <br><br>BUT, when we go out on adventures with our van conversion we utilize paper plates and toss into the fire after eating (or in trash if no-burn in effect.) We use personal silverware sets and each have our own mug. For cooking, just like back _home_ we use ceramic coated cookware...all they take is a couple tablespoons of water and a paper towel to clean and they are ready for the next meal.<br><br>As others have suggested if we do need to actually clean something, we will use a 2 quart garden sprayer with hot water from the kettle and some bio-soap.<br><br>

 

[highdesertranger]

right on willy.&nbsp; that is what i was going to say.&nbsp; dog 1st then a little boiling water.&nbsp; been doing it for years.&nbsp; works great.&nbsp; don't have to worry about table scraps that would invite unwanted company.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[RV-Kitty]

We use as much disposable things as possible when dry camping. I don't cook messy greasy stuff or stuff that sticks and is hard to clean off pots or pans. We always try to be near running water. A creek or even a brook. I wipe the pot or pan as clean and possible and "wash" it in the stream or lake.&nbsp; I also like those cheap aluminum pans that you just toss after use.

 

[accrete]

a PS comment...<br><br>The other thing my wife and i have incorporated into our adventures is the idea of having the main meal of the day be a "Bag Meal" from one of the several quality brand sources like Mountain House and the competition. This allows us to pick between a good variety of meals that cook simply by placing boiling water into the bag and resealing for ~8 to 12 minutes. We usually have this at around brunch (our first meal) before heading down to the river to play/prospect. There is not much to the clean up, toss the bag, clean your mug/bowl/utensils and you are ready for the day. Sometimes we will put the fixings of a late afternoon meal in our Saratoga Jack thermal cooker (a non-powered slow cooker) and it will be ready when we return from the river.<br><br>The bag meals end up being about 4 to 6 dollars for two servings and take ~10 minutes with no fuss or mess...this might be more/less than some would spend on a camp meal but the value is there in taste and hassle free style IMO.