Camp Dishwashing and Hygiene Made Easy (With Soap Sheets)

Keeping clean at camp isn’t just about comfort. Dirty dishes and unwashed hands are a common cause of stomach trouble on camping trips, and careless washing can harm lakes, streams and wildlife. The good news is that a simple system makes it easy. Lightweight soap sheets like Coleman’s Dish and Hands Camp Soap Sheets are a handy part of it.

Why soap sheets are great for camping

Soap sheets are thin, dry leaves of soap that dissolve when wet. A pack of 50 sheets weighs almost nothing, takes up no room, and can’t leak in your pack like a bottle of liquid soap. You take one sheet for a round of dishes or a hand wash, and the rest stay dry in their case.

A few tips:

• Keep the pack sealed and dry, because sheets will clump if they get damp.
• Pull a sheet out with dry fingers before you wet your hands.
• Use a small piece for hands and a full sheet for a bowl of dishes.

Biodegradable soap is a better choice than ordinary dish soap, but “biodegradable” doesn’t mean it’s safe to put directly in water. It still needs soil to break down.

A simple camp dishwashing system

1. Scrape and wipe first

The less food on your dishes, the easier washing is. Scrape leftovers into your trash bag, then wipe pots and plates with a paper towel or spatula. Adding a little hot water to a pot right after cooking loosens stuck food.

2. Set up a wash station away from water

Carry water to a spot well away from lakes and streams. Leave No Trace recommends about 200 feet, roughly 70 big steps. Use two or three containers or collapsible bowls:

• Wash: warm water with a soap sheet
• Rinse: clean water
• Sanitize (optional): clean water with a few drops of unscented bleach, if you follow the product’s directions

3. Wash from cleanest to dirtiest

Start with cups and utensils, then plates and bowls, and finish with greasy pots and pans. Your wash water stays usable for longer this way.

4. Dry properly

Air-dry dishes on a rack or clean towel, or dry them with a quick-drying camp towel. Store clean dishes off the ground and away from animals.

Dealing with greywater

Strain your dishwater through a small mesh strainer or bandana to catch food bits, and pack those out with your trash. Then scatter the greywater widely, away from camp and at least 200 feet from water sources. At campgrounds, use designated greywater drains or sinks where provided. Never pour dishwater or food scraps into lakes, streams or toilets.

Keeping your hands clean

Most camp stomach bugs spread by hand, so handwashing matters most before cooking, before eating and after using the toilet.

• Set up a handwashing station: a water jug with a spigot or a hanging bottle, a soap sheet and a towel.
• Use hand sanitizer as a backup, not a replacement. It doesn’t work well on visibly dirty hands.
• Keep a separate cloth for hands and dishes.

Staying fresh on longer trips

• Wipe down with a damp cloth or biodegradable wipes at the end of the day, and pack the wipes out.
• Wash socks and quick-dry clothes with a soap sheet in a bucket, away from water.
• A portable shower with a rechargeable pump makes rinsing off easy at car-camping sites.
• Bring a small, quick-drying towel. It dries faster than cotton and packs smaller.

These habits are part of practicing Leave No Trace and its seven principles, so the places you love stay clean for the next camper.

FAQ

Can I wash dishes in a lake or stream if I use biodegradable soap?

No. Even biodegradable soap needs soil to break down and can harm aquatic life. Wash well away from water and scatter the greywater on land.

Do I need hot water to wash camp dishes?

Warm water cuts grease more easily, but cold water with soap works if you scrape dishes well first.

Are soap sheets good for hands too?

Yes. Products like Coleman’s dish-and-hands sheets are made for both. Use a smaller piece for a hand wash.

What do I do with food scraps from washing?

Strain them out and pack them out with your trash. Don’t bury them or leave them behind.