Conserving water tips.

[Finlay]

The dogs do a pretty good job of pre-cleaning the dishes. Dog slobber is way easier to clean up than most other messes and unlike your kids, they don't seem to mind the work. In fact, they are usually pretty pleased to do it - as my dad used to say, they can get a dish as clean as Three Rivers...

Then it's either a baby wipe and spray bottle rinse or a wipe down with a soapy rag. Also, baby wipes for washing hands and major crevasses. Won't do for a full bath, but can knock the spunk down a bit.


But really, the overwhelming bulk of the water isn't chores and such - I could probably take a gallon jug for a week and return with half, if my drinking water was otherwise supplied.

What gets you is consumption. The two dogs are worth a gallon a day each in the desert - more if they are active - and I can offset my water intake with beer and sweet tea, but still. I'll drink several gallons a day if I'm hiking or biking or something strenuous. And of course, that goes double for my wife, and so on.

So, really, it seems to me that the main key to reducing water usage is finding cooler temps somehow.

 

[IdaSHO]

Temps and weather is a good point with regards to water, and especially with dogs.


Most of our trips encompass a good amount of hiking/backpacking, and we have dogs.

So trails chosen are normally ones that have water at least in one of two spots near the trail every day.


You REALLY dont want to lug around water needed to keep a dog hydrated.... on YOUR back :sombrero:


As for dishes and dogs...

We generally avoid it. Simply from a regular diet standpoint.

one of the last things you want on a trip is a dog with an upset stomach.

That can get out of hand and ruin things pretty fast.

 

[WeLikeCamping]

I vacuum-seal most of my outdoor meals. I keep a large pot on the stove filled with water. I can cook meals in this, use it for washing the few utensils I do soil and when I am done, use it to douse the fire. I also keep my water separate-I have a jug of purified water for drinking, and a jug of hose-water for everything else. I also freeze plastic water bottles - I hardly ever purchase ice.

 

[grogie]

Bathing is certainly our number one usage. I would have never guessed this, but our solar shower bag with 2+ gallons of water is enough for the wife and I to both take a decent shower.

Also, at least when a pan is super dirty, putting a little bit of water in a pan after cooking in it and letting the water boil seems to be a great way to clean the pan from anything that's stuck on. I may use a little less water then scrubbing it, and then having to clean the scrubber?

 

[4x4junkie]

The "cost" of those disposables is much more than the simple cost of the items IMO.


If on the road, backcountry, or dry camped for a good period of time the simple need to stop/detour for a few dollars work of plates adds a ton of hassle.

Over time, it also adds a lot of garbage. Something that every camper already has too little space for.

On that note, we are also ones that rarely light a fire. So no, we cannot just burn them.


Simply the way I seen it. Normally rolling with just two people, our dish selection is sparse, for a reason.

There is no need for more, and it forces us to wash/clean them in order to be clean and ready for the next use. :chef:

I did say in my original post that I might use regular dishes under some circumstances (which is not much different than what you just mentioned, so I now can see why you wouldn't want to use disposables). However I don't think but maybe once or twice in my 30+ years of camping have I caught myself running out of them mid-trip (requiring side trips just to restock)... Simple enough to just pack more than what you think you'll use ahead of time (and is what I do).

 

[IdaSHO]

Certainly depends upon the types of camping and lifestyle for sure.



We do nab paper on occasion, but it is when we hook up with a group and plan on hosting for food.

Those occasions also tend to have a campfire, so the problem comes with its own solution :sombrero:

 

[Christophe Noel]

When I'm traveling multi-day routes on my mountain bike, water is strictly used for drinking and rehydrating meals. Baby wipes are my only bath. Dehydrated meals are essential for water conservation in that situation. On the motorcycle, I use many of the same methods, but can usually go further on one supply of water.

In a vehicle? It's rare for me to go more than a couple days without water options, so I feel like I have scads of water to work with.

 

[Stumpalump]

It seems I use a little less water with every trip. Just the last one I discovered I can brush my teeth then rinse my mouth and then using that rinse to rinse the brush. When I'm done the brush just needs a quick rinse instead of a complete cleaning. I would use a whole bottle years ago but its down to a third. For dishes I use both ceramic and disposable. Disposable ones are plastic and normally just get washed but if it's sticky greasy food or I'm on the road the option to toss them is great. I also use wet wipes and have tries a generic (Walmart) large ones from the camping isle. They claim it's the next best thing to a shower but the are nothing more than a slightly glorified Wet One or baby wipe. Has anybody seen any deceit large wipes that you can actually clean your whole head or body with?

 

[pugslyyy]

It seems I use a little less water with every trip. Just the last one I discovered I can brush my teeth then rinse my mouth and then using that rinse to rinse the brush. When I'm done the brush just needs a quick rinse instead of a complete cleaning. I would use a whole bottle years ago but its down to a third. For dishes I use both ceramic and disposable. Disposable ones are plastic and normally just get washed but if it's sticky greasy food or I'm on the road the option to toss them is great. I also use wet wipes and have tries a generic (Walmart) large ones from the camping isle. They claim it's the next best thing to a shower but the are nothing more than a slightly glorified Wet One or baby wipe. Has anybody seen any deceit large wipes that you can actually clean your whole head or body with?

When I was in the Army we referred to those as LBBWs (Little Baby Butt Wipes) - but I never found one that could take the place of a shower, or even a sponge bath. I'm most happy with a couple of cups of hot water in a pail with a sponge. For me the key is hot not cold water.

 

[Stumpalump]

When I was in the Army we referred to those as LBBWs (Little Baby Butt Wipes) - but I never found one that could take the place of a shower, or even a sponge bath. I'm most happy with a couple of cups of hot water in a pail with a sponge. For me the key is hot not cold water.

I carry a folding 2.5 gallon 10L folding pail made out of white water raft material in the USA. I put a nice 15' dock line on it to haul fresh water up out of the concrete water canals we have out west. It rolls up to the size of a hot dog bun so it fits in the hydration pack. It's turned out to be kinda fun and easy to get people to hike with me to fetch a pail of water. I went in to buy the other expensive brand but it was China and I think this one was better. Even thicker than the super tuff material on the roll top table that I've had for a decade is made of. Great piece of camping gear and cheap. http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...Detail/Soft-Coolers/prod99999037905/cat100875

 

[mezmochill]

If you use cast iron pan, clean up uses very little if any water.

Wipe plates off right after you are done.

Have a separate wide mouth water bottle for dog and pour what water she doesn't drink back into her water bottle.


Wipes extend the need for a full shower waaay out.

 

[WeLikeCamping]

Stump - is that a Roll-a-Table? If so, I'm with you. I've had two for about 20 years now. Still in awesome condition. I once broke one of the aluminum legs, NRS found the manufacturer and had a single leg shipped. Awesome company.

 

[IdaSHO]

I can see NRS from my back porch, literally, and a few or my friends work there.

Seems like a great company and good people.

:ylsmoke:

 

[Stumpalump]

Stump - is that a Roll-a-Table? If so, I'm with you. I've had two for about 20 years now. Still in awesome condition. I once broke one of the aluminum legs, NRS found the manufacturer and had a single leg shipped. Awesome company.

You know it! I bought mine well used years ago. It gets set up in the sun for days every time I'm at Glamis. It's used for everthing including a work bench. If it ever walks off I'm buying one again.
http://www.nrs.com/product/2717/roll-a-table

 

[chris snell]

I use 5 gal food grade NATO cans (the blue ones) for my water. My one complaint about these is spillage. You waste a lot of water just dumping some in a pot to cook with. I wish I had a simple food grade hand pump that attached to the mouth of these cans.