Doing dishes with spray bottles

richmatt48 · Jul 3, 2013

Hi everyone. This is my first real post so I hope I get it right. My question is really about conserving water in my van, specifically how do you do your dishes using spray bottles. It seems like a great idea. Dishes take up a lot of water in my traditional home. Thanks for being here

James AKA Lynx · Jul 3, 2013

First thing is cooking method that require little clean up. That is usually one Stainless Steel pot 3 to 7 quarts. I used the pots without handles for a long time and still have one that I use. All that you really need to do is wipe it out. The next cooking will kill anything bad in it. All that you need to do is wash your spoon. Also, cooking only 1 big meal and eat on it for 4 hrs or so. You do not need to cook another. In order to save water, you will need a 2+ gal bucket, sprayer for soap and another for water and another ketchup type bottle for rinsing. Use the same setup for bathing, requires more water. Easy on the soap. I need to find a soap that will rinse off much easier.  My sponge gets bad quickly. Dry often. James AKA Lynx

Stargazer · Jul 3, 2013

An almost waterless method is to use disposable cleaning wipes to "wash", a wet cloth/paper towel to rinse.

What James said is great advice! Also, cooking with oil/fat adds to dish washing tremendously. Try using cooking spray instead (i.e., Pam). Make one-pot meals. I cook the meat in a small skillet, add a little water, place the veggies on top, cover and let the veggies steam (or better yet, eat the veggies raw). Then I eat right out of the skillet. Cleanup is a breeze--one small skillet, a fork and knife. Done.

Experiment to see what works for you. You'll figure it out.

offroad · Jul 3, 2013

emulate the backpacker life.  keep it simple and one pot.

LucyImHome · Jul 3, 2013

My biggest tip would be to go vegan. If you don't consume animals or animal by-products, clean up is WAY easier. The animals would also greatly appreciate it! As well as the environment.

Willy · Jul 3, 2013

The easy bachelor's solution..    https://vanlivingforum.com/file?id=1585554   ..Willy.

Guest · Jul 3, 2013

I travelled in desert areas, and had to conserve water..  Used all the suggestions already given: no meat, no fats or oils at all, one pot cooking, cook once a day.  I don't eat meat. But thinking about it at the time, meat had a high a clean up cost - soap/detergent to get rid grease, and the smell. The meat smells, either cooking or storing, attract the wildlife.   The big one was no fats/oils in the pot - that needed soap/detergent and then more water for rinsing.  I did have fats/oils, just didn't put them in the pot.  If you're careful you can put something oily in, and keep it away from the pot edges, and eat it first.  Easier to keep it out though. Once it touches the pot, cleanup needs soap/detergent and more water. Otherwise, the clean up was put a little water in the pot and rub it about with the clean finger, and then drink that also. Stuff I cooked didn't burn or stick on the pan also. Big fan of pasta, rice, beans, lentils, etc.. all cooked in water.

Guest · Jul 18, 2013

haha, you have a very CUTE dishwasher willy, I might have to get me one of those!

caseyc · Jul 18, 2013

How about lining 1 or 2 sheets of aluminum foil paper? That's what I do with my Coleman BBQ stoves, otherwise grease splatters everywhere and gets baked in.  I'm guessing lining a frying pan with aluminum foil should also work fine. One time I forgot to use foil paper to line the bottom of the BBQ grill, and 4 hours of cooking later, it was IMPOSSIBLE to clean off the dark baked-in grease! <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif"><img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/mad.gif"> I literally spent 45 minutes doing the best I could to scrape off the black stained grease spots, but it's still there. That really irks me!! Yes, I also second the wet wipe idea, as I use lots of large bottles of wet wipes that I get from Walgreens or Target stores. I use wet wipes for cleaning everything, including the van interior, sleeping bags, my shoes, etc. Wet wipes are also GREAT for wiping off bird poo-poo droppings on your car exterior!  I even use wet wets to clean the solar panels on my rooftop that get dirty regularly.  Just get large containers of wet wipes and aluminum foil from Costco to make it economical.

mockturtle · Jul 18, 2013

Since this is in the 'Going Green' subforum, I don't recommend using foil [unless you reuse it, which means you have to wash it] or paper towels or other disposables.  I agree with the 'one pot' solution.  Cook and eat it out of one pot using one utensil to reduce cleanup.  OTOH, I use paper towels quite a bit for various things but I don't kid myself that I am being 'green', either. 

caseyc · Jul 18, 2013

Eating out of the pot or pan is a total guy thing...I do it regularly!  <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif">

mockturtle · Jul 18, 2013

I use dishes, silverware and paper napkins unless I'm backpacking/kayak camping.  But I'm not a guy. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

Guest · Jul 18, 2013

Eating out of the pot or pan is a total guy thing...I do it regularly!  <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

well... I'm not a guy, but I ALSO do that regularly I have a tip that might not be so popular, but I've always thought that the ultimate compliment to a chef should be to just lick the plate clean... I have been so tempted to do that often while at my favorite Thai restaurant.  I admit I'll do it at home with no one watching but can't quite bring myself to do it in public.

Guest · Jul 18, 2013

this one I will do in front of anyone though... get some good bread, save it till your done with meal and then use it as a sponge to mop up anything remaining, that trick works like a charm with any kind of pasta w/sauce or chili. You'll still want to wash off your pot afterwards with ALL of my suggestions, but at least there won't be much left to clean <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

Guest · Jul 18, 2013

oh and it just occurred to me that we've never actually answered the OP question... how to wash dishes with spray bottles.  Well I don't remember who I first learned this from, but undoubtedly it was someone from this community... <ul><li>you use 2 spray bottles</li><li>fill both with very clean drink worthy water</li><li>put some dish soap (use one that still cuts grease in cold water, disinfecting too?) in one of the bottles and let it dissipate into the water</li><li>then just spray down your dish/pot with the soapy water</li><li>let it sit a little bit to work the magic</li><li>then wipe it down with either a sponge, dish cloth or paper towel</li><li>wipe off excess soapy water before spraying with rinse water (this is a cleaning step also, removing excess soap so it rinses easier)</li><li>spray enough rinse water till it drips off </li><li>then you can either let it drip dry or dry it with new paper towel or dishcloth</li></ul> I am more inclined to use paper towels while camping since I like to make camp fires and I always save up paper stuff for building fires (NOT the T.P. type though - ewww). So that way my paper towels get double use. Just hang those to dry before trying to start a fire with them.

James AKA Lynx · Jul 18, 2013

I have trouble getting all of the soap off. So it is a choice of leaving food or soap. It me, the food can be boiled clean, the soap cannot. Your choice. James AKA Lynx

Wild_E · Jul 18, 2013

I have 4 spray bottles 1st is the 3 gal pump spray bottle that is for showers and such, also for doggy showers Next 3 are the hand pump spray bottles, think windex style 2nd is the dish soap water bottle 3rd is the body was soap bottle for quicky washing body 4th is the clear water, for rinsing dishes etc.  also use a pan/bottle scrubber, spay with soap, scrub a bit, re-spray if needed rinse as needed "Easy on the soap. I need to find a soap that will rinse off much easier.  My sponge gets bad quickly. Dry often." I use Dove Soap never use sponges, only use the blue shop towels as they are recyclable and last a week at a time. I also use the bottle/pan scrubbers, so much easier.

Guest · Jul 19, 2013

So that 3 gal pump spray is your rinse water? I like that idea, that would work. I also agree that sponges will get nasty pretty fast at home or in the field.  I use a little dish cloth for dishes along with the green or blue scrubbing pads (minus the sponge part of course). The dish clothes & scrub pads can be cleaned much easier than a sponge can. And to add to what someone said don't EVER cook with cheese.... wait till youÃ¢Â€Â™re ready to eat it and don't let it melt into your cookware. Cheese is a pita to clean up, and will gunk up everything along its path.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

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Wild_E · Jul 19, 2013

Hey the 3 gal pump is normally just for washing bodies with, showers and such. I have used it before when I have a lot of dishes for some reason. My main rinse for cookware is the small easy quick hand pump with clear potable water.

Guest · Jul 20, 2013

yup, I do like the pump for the shower option, that way you'd actually get some water pressure to do the job using air pressure rather than just wasting a bunch of water.  That is a great idea.  I currently use a MSR Packshower and it does the job but the spray isn't super strong or anything.  I bet your 3 gal pump was a lot cheaper than that packshower! did you paint your pump jug black? so it can solar heat for you?

Doing dishes with spray bottles

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