Outdoor Adventure USA

Camp Hygiene

In certain past nets, as a part of the larger net topic, we have covered some aspects camp hygiene. For different reasons, we figured that it would be a great idea to cover the topic in much greater detail, and we 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. But, 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 work hand in hand together and 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, with the reverse also being true.

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.

Summer is almost here, and about time to make plans to visit our favorite camping destinations. The camping gear is cleaned and ready to go and many of our favorite places are finally open. 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. Taking some very simple steps will make for a more more pleasant, safe and comfortable trip. 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."

Camp Hygiene I

Cooking, Meal Prep, Hand Washing, and Equipment Hygiene.


1. Hand Washing

This one covers several areas, and is one of the most important. A few years back, we spent a week on a guided river rafting trip. The trip leader's qualities, in addition to having an intimate knowledge of the area through which we traveled, was his insistence on one one aspect of camping, hand washing. Without exploring all the reasons why this was important, our guide made it plain that this was not a negotiable requirement, so much so that he placed his hand washing station at the beginning of the line for food. While it was not so stated, his rule was, "either wash or don't eat." Everyone washed, at least partially because the food was sooooooooooo good.

Personal hygiene does not stop there. As important as it is for the diners to wash up, it is just as important, if not more so, for the cooks. and their helpers, to do so as well.

As with most things, the easier the task, the more likely is is that it will get done. Enter the Wishy Washy. Many of our campers have adopted this ingenious device into their regular camping gear. Like a doctors wash station, the Wishy Washy is foot operated, meaning that no one need touch it. It is easy to operate, small enough to easily stow in the vehicle, and easy to set up.


On a somewhat related, and possibly controversial topic, I need to note that the type of soap we use can make a difference, both in terms of effectiveness and health risks. Here I refer to soaps that contain "antibacterial" ingredients and other nasty chemicals. A controversy has been brewing for some years over the effectiveness and health risks related to soaps that contain these ingredients.

Preliminarily, it should be emphasized that the purpose of hand soaps is to remove contaminants from the skin. In a very real sense this can very effectively be done with just regular soap by means of the mechanical process of vigorously rubbing hands together, for 20-30 seconds. Multiple studies have shown that this simple hand washing technique can remove almost all viruses and bacteria. The addition of an antibacterial ingredient in soap is purported to kill bacteria only, not viruses, and has become controversial not only for the claim that it kills bacteria, but more importantly, for its possible negative health effects. The Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, has an excellent article explaining why, here: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2017 ... hold-item/.

The other issue for so many of todays products, and in particular, soaps, are the multi-syllabic, unpronounceable chemicals that soap makers include in their products. If this is of concern to you, grab your favorite soap container or wrapper, and find the ingredient label, and look 'em up. For me, I
prefer the simpler approach of soaps that contain only natural ingredients (nothing antibacterial.) Azure plant based and natural hand cleaners ( no antibacterial agents, SLS, SLES, Laureth-7, EDTA, Phosphates, or Phthalates).



2. Kitchen Hygiene

Closely related to personal hygiene is kitchen hygiene, and it includes, equipment cleanliness, food prep areas cleanliness, and dish washing. In each of these areas, your greatest tool to improve hygiene is, hydrogen peroxide. So first up.....

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.


Cutting board maintenance is not difficult, and while diluted bleach can be used, hydrogen peroxide and/or vinegar will not be as harsh on the board, AND will kill the bad stuff just as well. With a small bottle of both vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, you will be able to remove the worst contaminants from your cutting board, with these steps:

• Wipe all food residue from board with damp cloth or wash as usual

• spray entire surface of board with vinegar let sit for a minute or so, and then dry

• spray evenly with hydrogen peroxide and let sit for a few minutes and then dry with paper towel.

Vinegar is an effective disinfectant, and hydrogen peroxide is effective at killing bacteria and viruses. Together they contribute to a clean food prep environment

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Use only 3% HP

• Observe expiration dates, as the 3% solution will lose its effectiveness quickly

• Badly stained plastic (nylon) can be cleaned by leaving HP on the surface for longer periods of time, (preferable done before the trip)

Most stores will carry this small quantity of HP, and it looks like this:



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.


Dish Washing

This one is plain simple. Hot soapy water and a good rinse. The good rinse is as important as the wash, as you don't want soap residue to be cooked into the next meal.

The ingredients of common dish washing soaps are another example of multi-syllabic, unpronounceable chemicals that soap makers include in their products. Again, If this is of concern to you, grab your favorite dish soap container or wrapper, and find the ingredient label, and look 'em up. For me, I prefer to use a soap on my dishes that is as free of the nasty stuff as possible, and in that regard, at least at the moment, this is the best I have found.

Camp Hygiene II

Showers and Shower Substitutes

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 all 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.


2. Mr heater Hot Water Shower (https://www.mrheater.com/boss-xb18-batt ... 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.


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:


4. Shower Enclosure

For years the Outback Porta-Privy was my go-to shower enclosure. Perhaps due to its very compact design, very low cost, and light weight, the Outback enclosure was, what I will 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 other companies picked up the design and are again making similar shower enclosures. With care, these new enclosures will last several years. Here are some sources for shower enclosures:

• WolfWise https://www.wolfwise.com/products/wolfw ... lp250168gr

• Green Elephant https://greenelephantsale.com/collectio ... -espaciosa

IMPORTANT NOTE: At the moment, the market seems flooded with cheap imported shower enclosures (guess the country of origin.) Unfortunately, I haven't found one yet made in the USA. So, if anyone discovers one, please let us know.

Here's mine:

Camp Hygiene III

Food Protection and Refrigeration

Protection

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?




Refrigeration

For a weekend trip , and even for a few more days, your average ice chest is an adequate means to keep food cold. When the trip exceeds a week, and especially when it will be as much as two weeks or more, its time to think, "refrigerator / freezer." Certain foods, e.g. chicken and pork, have a limited period of time where they will remain fresh in the refrigerator, even at home, and It's is no different on the trail. The solution for longer storage in order to keep this food fresh and safe, is to freeze them. This is where the portable frig freezer shines. Even if your portable refrigerator does not have an actual separate compartment for frozen foods, it is still possible to maintain frozen foods, with the right equipment. More on the net.

Freezer Panel


Fridge-Freeze Portable 12V Refrigerator - Made in the USA

Camp Hygiene IV

The Portable John and Accessories


There's no gettin' around it. Everybody does it!!! If your plans include camping where there there are no restrooms, you'll need the right equipment. This will probably be covered by others, so I will just mention what has become our minimum portable john:

The PETT Portable Environmental Toilet:


Compact Shovel

Check in please - Thanks - Bernie

Please check me in tonight.

Please check in: David - AK6DH

Thanks.

A simple camp shower that I use is the Nemo Helio Shower.

It’s simple, reliable and easy to use.

It holds 2.9 gallons and is easily enough for one or even two showers.