Throw away or wash?

[speedhighway46]

Hello Tribe:

My wife and I are on the road for ten days in southern Michigan, doing a little camping, wondering, and following the white line to where it may lead us.

During our dinner last night, using paper plates and plastic "silverware" my wife asked, "Do the CRVL folks use throw away stuff to eat their meals,or do they wash and reuse?"

Throw away generates trash at every meal, but certainly conserves water used for washing. But carrying a supply or paper plates, cups, and plastic eating tools takes room and is bulky. Washing uses water, but is efficient in terms of storage taking minimal space.

So what say you; what is your preference?

Thanks.

 

[rvwandering]

We use Corelle dishes and silverware for most meals. Since we cook inside most of the time there are always pot and pans to wash anyway.

 

[rvpopeye]

A little of both.

 

[Svenn]

Definitely paper; the bulk created by having to lug around dirty paper plates for a day at most is minimal compared to the weight of water needed to wash thoroughly. Plus it saves a ton of time and eliminates that post-meal dread of 'someone has to do the dishes.' I haven't vandwelled much but I've camped a lot... I wouldn't worry about the ecological footprint of throwing paper away- vandwellers/RV folks are so vastly greener than people living in homes they are entitled to this luxury.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I use the dinner ware that I have (happens to be Phalzgraf), cast iron and stainless pans and silverware.  The beagle acts as prewash on plates and pans.  Finish cleaning is done with spray bottle of 25% white vinegar solution and dried with dish towel.  Uses very little water.  Silverware goes into a water bottle filled wth 25% white vinegar solution; taken out and dried as needed.  Water bottle solution changed about once a week.

 -- Spiff

 

[rvpopeye]

Good idea Spiff !
I use vinegar a lot.
Allergic to most everything else !

 

[MrNoodly]

A lot of the things I eat don't require cooking. Sandwiches, crackers & cheese, fruit, etc. So there's usually only a knife to wipe clean with part of a paper towel. When I do cook I usually eat out of the pan. Then I heat about a quarter cup of water in that pan. swirl it around with the fork I was eating with, hit the stubborn bits with a ScotchBrite sponge, dump that, use another quarter cup to rinse it and the fork, dump that, leave to air dry.

 

[IanC]

I use cast iron pans at home. A small one for eggs and a big one for frying, roasted vegetables and pizza. I never wash them - just a bit of oil and wipe them out with a paper towel . They are so well seasoned that nothing ever sticks. Definitely going with me .

 

[Almost There]

Since I'm *living* on the road full-time (as opposed to 'camping'), I cook just as I did when I was in the apt.

I use Corelle dish set, my regular silverware brought from the apt. and since I was short of 'camping' pots I put my good pot set into use rather than packing them for the 'inheritance' pile. Even the large dutch oven has come in handy a few times when a bunch of us had pot luck dinners.

I still prefer the dishpan method of washing dishes but I can do a full day/day and a half worth of dishes in less than a half gallon of water. Maybe it's my meal choices but vinegar and a paper towel aren't going to cut it for my dirty dishes!!

 

[mayble]

Maybe it's my meal choices but vinegar and a paper towel aren't going to cut it for my dirty dishes!!

I think the four-legged pre-wash cycle is a vital part of that system 

 

[Almost There]

I think the four-legged pre-wash cycle is a vital part of that system 

Ahh, therein lies the problem!!

No more four legged pre-wash available on a daily basis.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I use a mix of both, almost always have a pot or two to wash anyways so another few dishes in the mix isn't a big deal. I usually try and camp near water so water has never been a huge issue in my travels. Have enough for the days i'm not near a source and near a source all the other times.

 

[highdesertranger]

I don't like paper plates and plastic ware. damn wasteful if you ask me. plus you shouldn't burn plastic and if there is a burn ban on you can't burn the paper. I have one of those 4 legged prewashers, does a fine job. it doesn't take much water to wash dishes. but it takes huge amounts of water to make paper. plastic is made from oil. highdesertranger

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I'm attempting to get in the Guinness Book of Records as the "Laziest Man in the World"!  Does that give you a clue as to which I use? 

 

[rvpopeye]

A trip to a deli and 1 fork ???????

 

[cyndi]

I use both paper and real dishes and plastic and silver ware. I separate my trash so I can burn the paper, when I am camping. If I'm on the road I usually use real plates and silverware. spray them with alcohol or vinegar and it's all good.

I use plastic forks, etc when I'm feeling lazy. I tell myself I am going to toss them but I wipe them down and reuse them.

 

[RossCoe]

I was going to mention the 4 legged prewash cycle but several peeps beat me to it. LOL. Have any of you considered wooden chopsticks for silverware? They wash up easy, can double as cooking utensils, and can be burned when grubby and time for new ones! Also in a pinch can be used for roasting marshmallows! Also, forgo those foam plates and bowls- very bad for the environment. The best disposable plates for the environment is true paper-the white ones. Although Dixie makes great heavy duty plates and bowls made of paper and they all can be burned.

Love the vinegar water idea for washing up.

 

[highdesertranger]

making paper is NOT good for the environment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper#Environmental_impact_of_paper . they don't even mention the billions of gallons of water it takes. highdesertranger

 

[RossCoe]

Better than using foam plates, isn't it?

 

[highdesertranger]

better to use reusable plates. some of my plates I have had since the 60's. highdesertranger