Steps
When you've got greasy pots and a campfire, but no soap
- Heat some water. If it's from a natural source, boil it if possible.
- Remove any chunks of solid matter from the greasy pots. Leave a small amount of grease.
- Toss a good handful of clean wood ashes into the pots, and pour in some hot water. Stir it thoroughly and let it sit for a few minutes. While it's sitting, the hot water is dissolving Potassium Carbonate (K2CO3) from the ashes. This makes a strong alkali solution. The alkali water then reacts with the fatty acids in the grease to make soap.
- Scrub the pot. The ashes act as an abrasive. If you need more abrasive, add some dirt.
- Rinse the pot, and your hands in clean water. You don't want to leave soap or alkali water on your pots or hands.
When you've got nothing but dirt
- Find some sandy gravely dirt, with no bugs or organic matter
- Toss a handful into your dishes and scrub vigorously, using it as an abrasive.
- Wipe them thoroughly clean. If all the food matter is gone, there won't be much for bacteria to cling to. If you do have a nearby stream, rinse them and dry them thoroughly.
- The next time you cook, heat the dishes up to sterilize them either before or during the cooking.
Tips
- Set aside special dishes to be used only for camping.
- Make sure you wash them carefully once you get home.
Warnings
- Alkali water can be very harsh on your hands. In extreme cases, it can cause chemical burns just like an acid. Use gloves if you've got them, or a stick to do the scrubbing, and rinse your hands thoroughly when you're done.
- Use a fast moving stream, avoid stagnant water which is more likely to contain parasites.
- When using stream water, dry it off your dishes thoroughly and heat them if possible before reusing them.
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