How To Clean Dishes While Camping Without Water (Explained)

Being in a situation where you are camping outdoors and don’t have access to water means it’s time to get creative.

You can’t have a situation where the dishes remain unclean. This is when you are going to have a sanitary issue that is not ideal to deal with.

Does this mean you are straight out of luck? No.

You will simply need to find out how to clean dishes while camping without water.

To clean dishes while camping without water, remove all residue using a clean cloth. Next, apply a small amount of cooking oil and begin scrubbing using a sponge. Once done, wipe the surface using a clean cloth again.

Doing this is going to make sure you are cleaning the dishes the right way and it’s in line with what you want.

This article is going to help you find out how to clean dishes while camping without water.

Tips On How To Clean Dishes While Camping Without Water

Tip #1: Remove Residue With A Dry Cloth

The first step is going to involve the food that is already on the plate.

If it is a few crumbs, you will want to toss them out and then begin working on the cleaning process. For something that is slimier, it is time to begin using a dry cloth.

The cloth is going to help wipe away the residue before you begin cleaning the dishes.

Do not start using cooking oil on the dishes until you have removed the residue. This is simply going to take away from the cleaning process and it’s what you are going to want to avoid at all costs.

Focus on removing the residue with the help of a dry cloth.

Since you don’t have access to water, you will have to use a dry cloth. Otherwise, a wet cloth would have been useful.

Tip #2: Use A Small Amount Of Cooking Oil

Now that the residue is out of the way, it’s time to begin working on the surface in greater detail.

How are you going to do this?

You are going to use a small amount of cooking oil. The goal of the cooking oil is to ensure you are removing the bacteria and also ensuring it’s as clean as it can be.

The cooking oil is going to make the surface slick enough to help loosen the grime and make sure it is gone when you scrub.

You don’t require a lot of cooking oil to do this.

Just a small amount is going to get the job done as you begin working on the dishes.

Tip #3: Scrub With A Sponge

So, what are you going to scrub the dishes with while camping?

You are going to be using a clean sponge.

The sponge does not have to be wet because you don’t have access to water. This means you are going to use the slick cooking oil as the best way to begin using the sponge.

Work the sponge throughout the dish and make sure the grime is gone. This will take a bit of time depending on how unclean the dish was.

Don’t be afraid to put in the work during this step as that is how you are going to get it to be as clean as you want it.

Tip #4: Wipe With A Cloth

You will now want to remove the cooking oil that is on the surface.

How are you going to do this?

You are going to use a clean cloth.

The clean cloth is going to make it easy to wipe away the cooking oil and anything that is still on the dishes. This is one of the best parts of the process because you will realize it is all you ever needed to clean the dishes properly.

Always be thorough with the cloth and make sure the dish is dry.

Final Thoughts

These tips are all you are going to need while learning how to clean dishes while camping without water.

To clean dishes while camping without water, start by wiping the residue off using a clean cloth. Next, apply a bit of cooking oil and scrub using a sponge. To dry the dishes, use a clean cloth again to wipe the surface.

This process will take a few minutes while camping but it will be worth it.

This is what makes camping interesting because you do have to get creative from time to time. However, there are ways to go about this and the tips here will help a lot.

Don’t be afraid to use them while you are camping because they will get the job done. For those who are camping in strange conditions, it is never a bad idea to keep these tips in your back pocket.