Avoiding the Gooey Mess: Soap Storage

[articulate]

I have for you the challenge of the year . . .
How in the hell do you store your liquid soap? Effectively, that is.

Okay, so I was packing tonight and came upon the one thing I fear the most in all of our camping gear: this old, slimey, gooey ziplock bag that "stores" two bottles of liquid soap. CampSuds and Palmolive. Neither container seals well for travel, so we drop them into a ziplock to keep the soap from getting everywhere.

In turn, the inside of the bag and the outsides of the bottles are loathsome things.

I consider three alternatives:

1. New bottles that seal perfectly, like a 16oz Pepsi bottle. Ever see one of those leak under normal conditions?
2. Powdered soap
3. Something else I've never heard of, yet

Ideas? What do you do?

 

[flyingwil]

Travel bottles. With the new airline regulation minimizing the amounts of liquids you can take, these things are every where. They are designed to seal well during the changes in pressure with the altitude changes. They work well for camp soaps.

Wen and I also use the pre-soaped sponges with the srcubby on it. You can buy a 3 pack at Walmart for 99 cents in the camping gear section.

 

[IZZYDUSIT]

I just picked up three aluminum liquid bottle s at wal mart for $1.50 a piece.
they came in different brushed aluminum colorts so it will work great in storing different liquids-they have threaded top and seal great- i saw them in REI for $20.00 a piece!
use them for whatever..

 

[DaveInDenver]

Nalgene is your friend! If you look through their lab products, you'll find their Model 2015 line. These are square polycarbonate bottles, various sizes, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 ounce capacities. They are miniature versions of the polycarbonate water bottles everyone uses, except square. I use the 2 ounce size primarily for the No-Rinse shampoo and body wash and the bleach. I use a 4 ounce one for dish soap. You can really snug the cap down and they don't leak, even changing elevation from 5280' to 13,000'+. Being polycarbonate, they are rigid and so the side don't suck in with elevation changes, which I think is the key.

http://www.nalgenelabware.com/

 

[wagner_joe]

We came across presoaped (pamolive) scrub pads... We got 3-6 per pack Hard scrub on one side, soft sponge on the other. So far with the Horizon, they last about 2 four day trips... Then I pitch it and get a new one. They're slightly smaller than a regular house pad, but serve the purpose well.. Haven't hit the soap bottle since we got the trailer.

 

[Alex]

I've used the lemon scented Palmolive for years without a problem. I am sure to store it in a vertical position and most important, squeeze all of the air out of it every time I seal it up.

 

[computeruser]

Another vote for Nalgen!

I run MobilRacing MX2T in my 2-stroke power equipment, and that stuff only comes in 1-quart bottles. So instead of carrying a measuring cup with me to the woods, I've got some soft, non-rigid 6oz Nalgene bottles that will make up 2 gallons of mix. These little bottles have sat in a hot car, have been squished in the bottom of my saw box, have been crushed by firewood in my trailer, and have yet to leak. I was given these by a friend so I don't recall where they came from, but I would heartily endorse their products for soap or other liquids in a camping/travel/expedition context!

 

[Desertdude]

I have learned no matter what the container slip it into a (freezer bag) zip lock for that extra protection - all things seem eventually spill - one extra step but this also gives you total focus on sealing the lid and placing it upright.

 

[articulate]

Thanks guys.

To sum up the above:

• Screw caps only (no flip tops, no pumps, etc.)
• Check out aluminum bottles
• Nalgene products
• "Travel bottles"
• Use a bag or pouch just in case
• Quit your whining

Interesting assortment here:
www.containerstore.com/browse/index.jhtml?CATID=253

Ahhhh.... found some aluminum bottles here:
www.ebottles.com/showbottles.asp?familyid=1418

Thanks fellas! Great ideas.