Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
What kind of dish soap is appropriate in the backcountry? On a day hike, I tried to get by without using soap at all, just water, but when I made tuna salad (with olive oil instead of mayonnaise), I couldn't get the bowl clean. It was just too oily.
_________________________
The journey is more important than the destination.
I carry Campsuds which, at least in soft mountain water, does a pretty good job cutting grease, while being odorless. Am a bit of a stickler for clean dishes and utensils, at least in an "outdoor-clean" sense, and especially hate greasy stuff. Switched to a metal bowl from plastic because the plastic one only comes truly clean in a dishwasher, which I stubbornly decline to tote.
Registered: 09/18/13
Posts: 42
Loc: Central Michigan
I switched to metal for the same reasons. I would make up some type of dehydrated chili or pasta meal and get that nasty orange grease that just swirls around. This may sound crazy. But I wonder how Simple Green would work? It wont hurt you or mother earth, that I know.
On the tuna salad, I'd bring a paper cup and after I was done, I'd burn it or pack it out. It would probably be lighter than the camp suds. For a short trip, I used to bring dirty dishes home for my wife to wash. Then she left me.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
If you must use soap of any kind, please remember that it is deadly to aquatic life--even the "biodegradable" camp stuff. Please dispose of it at least 200 feet from any water source, including seasonal sources.
Boiling water in the offending pan will get rid of most or all of the grease. A small piece of paper towel used first will help.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
If you need dish detergent (not soap....there is a difference) use un-scented Dawn. It's used to clean critters that wander into oil spills. It's pretty inert stuff but ANY surfectant in wild water can break down mucus layers in aquatic life and cause all sorts of problems. I usually don't cook but when I do I'll use boil-in-bags that get hauled back out. No cleaning/detergent needed. A drop of Bronners or Dawn for my hands IF really needed. 200ft. from water is a good distance for camp washing.
That's what we use as well. And you will be surprised how little you need to clean an oily pot. We have a tiny 3 ox. container that we've not filled up in years...and still has enough for many more trips.
3 oz.? I use tiny 1/4 oz. eye drop bottles for Dawn, Bronners, and my water purifying bleach. And make dang sure I know which is which. One drop goes a really long way.
Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:
Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!