Washing Dishes in the Desert

[thewickedtribe]

A practice I used in my camping days around Yuma that saved a lot of water and got dishes spotless. We would scrub dishes with dry sand until clean. All you had to do after they were clean is wipe them with a damp towel to remove any sand and dust. Really helped save on water. Anybody else do this?

 

[akrvbob]

I can see the value in it. But I can also see a very great danger: [

Valley Fever

Valley Fever is a fungus that lives in the sand in the desert southwest and it affects both humans and dogs. Dogs get it when they dig in the desert sand and stick their noses in it. My beloved Homer got it just that way. Humans can also get it and I think it is mainly airborne from our strong winds.

It's fairly treatable, but you do NOT want you or your dog to get it if you can avoid it. It's a BIG issue in AZ, 2/3s of all cases occur here and Yuma has it fairly bad.

Please, do not do what you are suggesting.
Bob

Go here for more info:
https://www.vfce.arizona.edu/GeneralInfo/WhatIsValleyFever.aspx

Here is a map of most common occurences:

 

[thewickedtribe]

That's good info to have. I think I will stick to more traditional methods then. Never heard of it back in the 70's and 80's when I was tramping around that area.

 

[Reducto]

For dishes I use some plastic food storage tubs from Ikea that are made of a very slick material. I let the food dry then wipe the remains out with a washcloth. No water needed! Same with my non-stick pot - it either doesn't get cleaned at all or it gets wiped out later.

 

[SternWake]

I just use as few plates as possible. If I use a plate. it is cheap paper plate, but mostly I eat out of the pot or saucepan I cook in and try to not let food dry in it. Pour a little salt in to it, wipe it clean and if it feels greasy wipe it with some IP alcohol on a napkin. Sometimes I address the silverware when I am done with a napkin and IPA. Letting the food dry on utensils is where it becomes difficult.

I think adapting stick and brick table manners to a 'carry your water supply' environment, is a bit pointless.

Most of my desert camping has been in Baja, next to the ocean, and I'd just use salt water for cleaning dishes, and sometimes for boiling pasta.

 

[LeeRevell]

For utensils, I like the gray unbreakable Lexan table ware from the camping section of Wally's - dried foods just slide right off - easy clean! Just don't get them too hot, the fork tines will 'wilt'.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

For pre-wash, the Monkey (a beagle) does a good job. Just have to be careful about what foods he can't have. Then a spray bottle with vinegar & water and wipe.

For silverware, a Nalgene waterbottle with soap & water or vinegar and water; silverware kept in the bottle all the time. Just remove and wipe when needed. I just change the water when it gets grody.

Utensils are a little tougher. Monkey likes to chew, so plastic ones wouldn't last long; so I do the pre-wash.

-- Spiff

 

[RVTravel]

Get food off, spray with 10% chlorine.

 

[highdesertranger]

I also let my dog pre clean. I know some of you might say gross but oh well. I usually use spring water after the pre clean. no matter what desert you are in you can find a spring. if the water is cloudy we filter though a towel and always boil in fact put the dishes and utensil in the boiling water. highdesertranger

 

[Stargazer]

I would never let my little dog prewash dishes after I had eaten off of them. What if she caught some germ from me and got sick?!

Think about it

 

[caseyc]

Man oh man. The things some of you do for the sake of washing dishes! I will continue eating out every day, haha.

 

[SoulRaven]

I don’t have a dog so I use a charger and some newsprint. When I go grocery shopping a gather up a copy of the free newspapers at the end of the checkout counter when I am on grid in the Pocono’s for 8 months per year.

While I am in snowbird mode in the truck camper I do the same with the tourist newspapers that can be found in the newspaper boxes usually positioned outside the post office, public library, mini marts etc. I have just one stainless steel plate (charger) in the truck camper.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/prod...glacier-stainless-steel-dinner-plate?a=509464

 

[highdesertranger]

wow casey you eat every meal out, you don't ever cook? I can't even comprehend that. I am not talking smack or saying it's wrong I just find it hard to believe. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

I've been using dollar store dish pans for sinks, and dollar store trigger spray bottles for my running water. I love this setup because I can use it in the van, or outdoors, without duplication.

I have been using a combination of 3 spray bottles, one with clear water, one with soapy water, and one painted black for solar hot water.

Even when I think I'm using a LOT of water, I rarely need to refill more than once a week.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I use 2 spray bottles, one with soapy and one with clear. Uses little water this way, tho getting a sponge clean is kinda hard, have to replace them every few days (they are a dollar for like 6 of them tho).

 

[highdesertranger]

soaking your sponge in hydrogen peroxide for a hour or two usually works for me. highdesertranger

 

[riffraff]

You could always ask Pete the Monkey to wash your dishes.

 

[Telcobilly]

I use a plastic tub,spray bottles and as few dishes as possible, minimal water usage. I was able to be more generous with the water when I was trucking. I filled my water containers daily at the truck stops.

 

[caseyc]

I know this isn't eco-friendly, but I simply buy a cheap supply of paper plates and plastic forks/spoons and toss when done. Hey, at least I'm not using up precious water supply! Everything is a compromise in life.

 

[highdesertranger]

casey do you realize how much water it takes to make paper plates? plastic is made out of oil. throw away stuff is not eco friendly. highdesertranger