Lisa, I just picked up a foldable "water" bucket at REI, they also have a larger "kitchen sink" one that folds right up and easy to pack. You can hall water in it, and wash your dishes. I also buy "camp suds" or another type of biodegradable soap, so it won't hurt the environment.

I also have a couple of collapsible sinks and use biodegradable soap (Dr. Bronner's). I have to admit that I will throw the dish water into the woods. When camping in a more permanent situation I actually also have a collapsible dish drainer for drying the dishes!

I don't think I've ever used an anchor with my kayak. I know that in the past my husband has tied half of a cinderblock to a rope for a small rowboat.

Since I am usually going solo in the great outdoors, My family bought me a cool little zippered sachel from Coleman with a whole set of single dishes and salt and pepper shaker. I clean it by using my sterile wipes. I usually am starving and clean my plate pretty good by the time I eat. The wipes clean everything up and I put it all back into the carrying case. Too easy...

Lisa - like I've already posted on Jenn's thread, I too, am concerned about all those 16oz disposable L/P tanks filling landfills. So where-ever possible have replaced the disposables with a regular 20# re-fillable tank (also use a little re-fillable 5# tank). Still have a couple of the disposables tanks in reserve stand-by just in case I run out of propane.

Dish washing: a lot of C/G's, like those run by the Army Corps of Engineers, some state parks and have even seen them at a couple of K.O.A.'s, - have dish washing stations - usually located close to the restroom/shower areas, where there is a large community sink (even with hot water), and you can take your dishes & pots & pans, scrub them clean and tote them back to your campsite. Now, when I'm in an area where no such facilities are provided, I do like Jen ... help some of the close by vegetation with the dish & rinse water. AND, I only use 100% pure soap for dishes, like Ivory bar soap.

Fish cleaning: campgrounds that are located close to fishing areas, quite often will provide fish cleaning stations (just like the dish washing stations), and have special trash cans just for the entrails from the fish cleaning. In the case where I'm in more remote areas and no such facilities are provided, here I take the fish cleanings and dig a nice hole close to some nice tree and bury the stuff; a real nice treat for the tree!

Canoe anchor: there was an older house that was being demolished in town and I got three or four of the old timey window weights that were used in house construction years ago. These are cast iron weights and since the weight is a tad too heavy for what I like, had a local welding shop cut the weight in two making the weight just right for what I do with my canoe. Here I connect a foot long piece of chain to the window weight and then tie the anchor rope to the chain. Just right for holding the canoe in ponds, small lakes and such; and for the rivers that are moving right along, perfect for dragging and slowing the canoe down as I fly cast my way along.

Dale

Dale, what a great use of those window weights! I know exactly what you are talking about since I grew up in an old house and live in one now! I haven't replaced my windows because we have beautiful unpainted wood frames and I like that old wavy glass! However, every once in awhile we have to replace that rope that holds the weight with a chain! I am planning on replacing the attic window so maybe we can save the weight! Thanks for the idea!

Lisa,
We use a weight(from hubbys old weight set) for an anchor in both or our little row boats, not sure of the exact weight, I think 25 lb. Been using them for years, Never had a problem, even used them when we had our pontoon boat and that was a lot bigger.
Washing dishes without running water at your site isn't too bad. We always use either buckets or those basins you get while in the hospital. One for washing, one for rinsing. Heat the water first.We use Ivory soap only and toss the water on the ground when we are done. Make sure you scrap any food first and you won't have to worry about animals finding your left overs. We lay a towel on the picnic table and put the dishes on it to dry.
Fish cleaning, hubby puts news paper on the picnic table and cleans them on it and we toss the paper in a bag and then put that in another bag(plastic) It doesn't make a mess and no animals lurking round later.
Lynda

I have been using "camp soap" that is supposed to be biodegradeable-is this better than Ivory?

Thanks everyone for your great tips! Can't wait to leave next weekend for 4 days in the Pocono's!!

Lisa

I like Dr. Bronner's because it's liquid and can be used for anything--even mouthwash if you want! It's concentrated and one large bottle will last a season of daily use.

There was some big discussions quite some time ago on the forum debating which kinds of soaps were best to use. I don't think it matters too much as long as it is environmentally friendly. Ivory is too harsh for my dry skin so even if I use a bar soap (like in the sunshower) I'll use Dr. Bronner's bar soap instead!

Lisa - real soap like Ivory, which has been on the market for years, is and always has been "biodegradable"; i.e., it will breakdown by microbial action very rapidly. When you see some company touting their soap as biodegradable, it is no more than a market ploy and you should note their price will be considerably higher than the little ole humble Ivory. Actually, the term biodegradable was coined for synthetic soap, better know as detergent (and really is a surfactant). To kick up the performance of these detergent/surfactants the formulas were spiked with additives like phosphates and, boy, they were excellent cleaners ... only they would'nt break down in the environment and we had rivers and streams foaming like crazy! Finally the government had to step in and drastically restrict the use of phosphates. Anyway, soap (real soap) never did contain phosphates ... it won't work in them! So when you see someone advertising their soap is phosphate free and is biodegradeable, well of course, dummy, if it's real soap, it would be! Then just watch the price, someone's trying to do a number on your wallet.

The problem with Ivory is that it's so pure, I said 100%, but the manufacturer (Procter & Gamble) says it's 99 44/100% pure! And in the process of making it so pure they removed all but maybe a trace of the glycerine. And it's this glycerine that makes all the difference on how gentle it works with your skin. I suspect that the extracted glycerine from the Ivory goes for more expensive beauty soap that cost much more. Maybe the Ivory is just the left-overs from the extracted glycerine process. But for sure, you could'nt use a more environmentally friendly cleaner out in the boonies!

Dale

May i insert a word of caution here about the 20# propane bottles. It isn't wise to carry the big bottles inside yer car or truck cab! They have a nasty habit of blowing off pressure all by themselves! And sometimes igniting!
If you must carry one, make or buy a holder so you can mount it on the rear bumper, or on a roof rack!
Another thing---DO NOT STORE THEM IN YER CELLAR,OR IN ANY HEATED AREA!
As for the small tanks, my garbage man takes them away, sight unseen! And, i do carry a few inside my motor home storage box. The little tanks don't seem as prone to blowing off pressure like the big ones!
by: Rustyj