OAUSA Net - July 16, 2020 - Camp Hygiene

[DaveK]

CAMP HYGIENE

Summer is definitely here, we are anxious to get the hell out of the house, the camping gear is cleaned and ready to go, and many of our favorite places are finally open. But before you hit the trail, there are some "camping safety rules" that need to be addressed before you leave. The topic this week is one of which every camper should be aware - CAMP HYGIENE.

With all the great equipment on the market these days, there is no reason why a camping trip has to be a gritty, dirty affair. But the truth is that good hygiene is not something new, and taking some very simple steps will make for a more more pleasant trip. This, by the way, is one sure way to keep family and friends coming back again. We noodled for some time on what topics should be covered, but as occasionally happens, our list may not be complete. So, we need your suggestions on how you practice good camp hygiene.

Although not necessarily in this order, this is the hygiene discussion we foresee during the net:

• showers

• hand, arms and face hygiene

• dish washing

• cook(s) hygiene

• cook's helpers hygiene

• equipment cleanliness

• food prep areas cleanliness

• food preservation

• refrigeration

• personal hygiene (toilet)

We may not start here, but this picture is just part of what we consider, "GOOD camp hygiene."

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[KAP]

My sanitary station for this years non-Field Day includes plenty of water, antibacterial soap(get the foaming dispenser), hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes.

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[KAP]

Butt, Baby or Adult wipes. All have there place in keeping you clean and bacteria free in the outdoors.

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These wash clothes are from Walmart. Under $10 and are simply fantastic.

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[DaveK]

CAMP HYGIENE
SHOWERS

In certain past nets, we have covered this topic in some detail. For different reasons, we figured that it would be a great idea to cover the topic in much greater detail, and to do so now. We have divided the net into several areas, and with a little luck, we can cover them all. As an over-riding objective, our discussion of camp hygiene will be geared toward the health and safety of you and your fellow campers. I couldn't leave this topic without mentioning another important objective that we work to achieve on every camping trip, and that is comfort. At least in the context of this discussion, hygiene and comfort are almost synonymous.

Comfort is a main reason why family and friends will enjoy the trip, and more importantly, it is the reason why they will come back. Teaching your family to respect, AND enjoy the great outdoors, starts with positive experiences from good teachers. Good camp hygiene equals positive camping experiences.

It seems that today there are so many things competing for family time, like sports, work, video games, cell phones, friends, school work, and more. If you expect to effectively compete with all of these things, the camping experience better be good. We have done several nets on "comfort camping", and for those who would like a few tips on how to make the camping experience positive, that would be a good place to start. This net is another good place. So, lets open the discussion with one of the best topics on camp hygiene.

SHOWERS

For many whose camping experiences go back many years, the luxury of a shower was not even considered. Coming home from a camping trip dirty and gritty was just part of the experience. Not so any more. Showering equipment is now such that even remote outback campers can enjoy the benefits of a hot shower, even in the most remote locations. And, the gear is small, easy to carry, easy to deploy and easy to take down.

There are several shower ideas on the market, and as a result, there should be something to please just about every camper.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Zodi Hot Tap How Water Shower http://zodi.com/hot-showers/hot-tap-hp-shower

The Zodi company makes several models of showers and related equipment, all of which fit the requirements of remote outback location campers. For average camp use, their Hot Tap series of single burner showers are an excellent choice. The Hot Tap HP double burner unit can heat very cold water (in the 30s) without the need for re-circulation. They come as a complete kit, packaged in a durable hard plastic travel case, and the only option that you may require is an enclosure. In addition to making a quality product, the Zodi Company offers top notch customer support and their showers are made in the USA. Incidentally, the Zodi shower gets a thumbs-up for water conservation.

Here is my Zodi shower set up with a small convenient instant-up enclosure (more later on the enclosure.)

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2. Mr heater Hot Water Shower (https://www.mrheater.com/sporting/boss- ... ystem.html)
Mr Heater is probably best known for their quality line of tent or space heaters that can be safely used in enclosed areas. They now also make a portable shower which serves as both a shower and a water heater, (powered by 1 lb. propane. The obvious benefit of the Aqua Cube is that it offers the added advantage of a hot water tap for dishes, hand washing etc. Water temperature is dial adjustable with a digital readout.

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3. Solar Shower

Solar (or sun) water bags were probably one of the first attempts at providing the camper with a means to enjoy a hot shower. It is an easy way to clean up after a long day of hiking or riding on the dusty trails that off-roaders usually encounter. These bags have a lot going for them, not the least of which is their low cost. When you add in the small effort that it takes to daily fill the bag, it can be a very attractive hot shower alternative. The bags have come a long way from their inception and technology has certainly had its impact on this shower device.

Using the sun to heat your shower water, however, is not a new technique. The do-it-yourself (DIY) crowd had been doing it for quite a while. It takes very little effort to strap your 5 gallon water can to the roof of your vehicle, during your daily travels, and let the sun do its work on the contents. By the time you arrive at camp, the water is comfortably warm and ready for a shower, or two. Which ever way you choose to go, these techniques, works very well. There are a lot of solar bags on the market, so you need to do some research.

Here is just one example of a solar shower by Stearns:

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4. Shower Enclosure

For years the Outback Porta-Privy was, and still is, my go-to shower enclosure. Perhaps due to its very compact design, very low cost, and light weight, the Outback enclosure was, what I generously refer to as, a consumable product. Translated, that means that the enclosure, while exceptionally well performing, does not last more than 5 years or so. The upside is that it costs very little to replace it.

Several years ago, the company that made the Outback Privy decided to call it quits, and for a while I had to really do my best to keep my privys patched up and functional Fortunately another business picked up the design and is again making these identical terrific camping accessories. They are now made under the name of Decker's Porta Privy, and for $70 you get an instant-up enclosure that, with some reasonable care, will last for years. The Decker website goes under the name of, "Decker's Hot Camp Showers," and they offer more than one style of shower enclosure. For details, click here: https://www.hotcampshowers.com/shower_t ... y_shelters

Here it is:

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[DaveK]

CAMP HYGIENE
HAND WASHING

Here is a drill that just about everyone should now be familiar with - hand washing. While it was so nice of Dr Fauci to beat us to death about the need to wash hands, at least in my case, my mother was telling me to wash up long, long before the Wu Flu hit our shores. And, Mom's advice came with a promise of "consequences" that was far more persuasive than the good Doctor's. It was good advice back when Mom warned me, and it remains so still today.

One of the instances where hand washing is critical, is for the cook. But, as I was reminded on a river rafting trip some years ago, everyone, not just the cook, needs to wash their hands in order to eat. Again, good advice then, and good advice today.

Hand washing can be made very easy with the help of Partner Steel, and their product, called, the "Wishy Washy." It is a foot operated hand washing station, thereby eliminating the need to touch faucets. With vigorous washing, and paper towels to dry your hands, it makes for very quick and very effective camp hygiene.

Here are a couple of tips:

• the cook, ALL of his helpers, as well as everyone that sits down to the dinner table, need to wash their hands!!!!!!!!!

• these days, it's probably a good idea for the cooks and preparers to wash hands, arms and face.

The Wishy Washy:

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[DaveK]

CAMP HYGIENE
THE KITCHEN

No discussion of camp hygiene would be complete without covering the kitchen. The topic is lengthy, and we hope to cover the basics. This is where we expect to go:

• dish washing

• cook(s) hygiene

• cook's helpers hygiene

• equipment cleanliness

• clean food prep areas

• food preservation

• refrigeration

Equipment Cleanliness

If you have spent any time on the trail, you know that dust, dirt and moisture are your constant companions. And, this is true whether your in the vehicle or at camp. For the hygienic safety of you and your guests, it is your responsibility to protect all of your cooking gear, as well your food, from contamination by the environment. Ideally, an air tight and moisture resistant container is your best bet against dirt and rain.

Several of us use containers made by Zarges. They offer excellent protection from dirt and moisture, but also provide very rugged protection for all of your cooking gear (and food too.) Expensive, but what is it worth to protect your cooking gear and food when you are on a 14 day excursion?

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Cutting Board Cleanliness

Pet peeve here. Watching one of our cooks pull out a well used, dirty cutting board, just gives me the shakes. Dispensing with the wood vs plastic cutting board debate, I will only mention that I use white plastic. For me its cheaper, easier to clean, and easier to see when its dirty. The key here to good camp hygiene is not the material from which your board is made, but how well you keep it clean. I've seen this enough to know neglect, when I see it.

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Cutting board maintenance is not difficult, and while diluted bleach can be used, hydrogen peroxide will not be as harsh on the board, AND will kill the bad stuff, just as well. Jump on your computer and search how to clean your favorite cutting board. There is no shortage of good information.


Food Preparation Area Cleanliness

Most all of us use a table of some sort to prepare meals. It takes very little effort to clean these surfaces. Pick up a spray bottle (or two) of hydrogen peroxide and make sure that the contents are fresh. For personal safety, also opt for the plastic container (to avoid broken glass.) A quick spray and wipe down of your prep surfaces is great camp hygiene.

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Refrigeration

Important notes:

• If you use ice, MAKE SURE that none of your unprotected food drops into the melted ice.

• on long trips, be aware that certain food items (such as chicken, fish and others) will not last long, even when kept cold. For these foods, keep 'em frozen until needed

• if you use an electric refrigerator, be careful that certain food items do not freeze, and monitor the temperature regularly.

[rlamishaw]

Privacy/shower tents

Privacy tents range from cheap pop-up types, to better external frame types to those that attach to the vehicle.

Typical privacy tent

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Typical inexpensive privacy tent can be found in the $20 to $60 range fairly easily. These are good for changing cloths, an “out house” when used with one of the toilet systems described below, or if you want to have a remote shower system which keeps the mud away from your camp.

Units that attach to a vehicle and open out on swig arms are fast and convenient. This one from Ironman is about $300, others are available from Alu-Cab for close to $600. More are coming on the market all the time so do some research if you’re interested in this type privacy shelter.

As a privacy tent for toilet breaks they are great, the only problem is that the shower area is next to the vehicle and shower run-off can get pretty muddy. If you have a Roof Top Tent make sure this doesn’t interfere with your tent access. The plus side is that if your hot water system is connected to the vehicle you can set up a very convenient and efficient shower system.

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[rlamishaw]

Wilderness toilet seats

Using a portable toilet seat and waste bags are a great way to be much more comfortable and have no adverse impacts on the environment. Toilet seats can be very inexpensive (if tippy) to robust and very stable but more expensive devices. You want to be sure that whatever device you use is stable, tip-overs can be pretty messy.

a. Some examples of several types of products suitable to over landing and camping in primitive sites.

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Typical inexpensive folding seat. Often sold with waste bags.
Light weight and may not be stable on soft ground
typically in the $20-$40 range

Reliant type seat

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Reliance Folding Toilet (there are others)
More stable but bulkier, good medium priced alternative
at around $30 to $45

Thunder Box

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Thunder Box, Australian
Steel sides that fold flat
Very compact, secure and very stable.
Somewhat expensive at $120 to $150

[rlamishaw]

Use Toilet Poop Bags to contain waste and allow you to pack-it-out safely and conveniently:

As camping toilet bags go, any plastic bag will get the job done. But, if you want to buy some camping toilet specific waste bags, there are some decent options, many of which contain a chemical to solidify waste.

Double Doodi Bags

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For example, Double Doodie Toilet Bags make for handy waste management. They are double sealed and include a chemical that solidifies urine and solid waste to prevent spillage and smells. Cleanwaste also makes some good products. Be sure to look at the specs for your camping toilet before you go buying waste bags all willie-nillie.

Not all bags will fit all toilets. Some camping toilets need specially shaped, and designed bags to hold the waste. Otherwise, you could be looking at a leaky situation, and that can be a real mess when poop is involved.

You can also buy the waste treatment chemical separately and carry a small amount to use in whatever poop bag system you use.

Poo Powder

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Poo Powder is a proprietary waste treatment powder that gels and solidifies liquid waste to a solid, preventing spills and splash backs. Others include Eco Gel Port-A-Potty. All these type produces help to neutralize odors and typically contain a decay catalyst (available from Amazon and other places).

Camping Toilet T.P.

There’s nothing wrong with bringing a roll of your favorite “at home” toilet paper if you use a poop bag, or baggy to pack the TP out. If you insist on digging a cat hole and leaving the TP behind at least be sure it’s a specifically designated biodegradable paper,

Another option is a pack of Coleman Camper’s Toilet Paper, (about $6). They’re a compact roll that helps to minimize pack bulk and the packaging doubles as an easy-to-use dispenser.

Coleman Toilet Paper

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As we’ve already said bring along some small to medium size zip lock type bags which work well to hold used TP.

[KAP]

Sanitizers for kitchen utensils and surfaces.

https://cleanersolutions.net/sanitizers ... -kitchens/