Green Camping

I like going green — it feels good, is less expensive, and generally just feels more responsible. I like being conservative, frugal, and content to live with less. Here are some water conservation ideas to use when dry camping:

• NEVER LEAVE THE WATER RUNNING UNLESS SOMETHING IS UNDER IT.
• Reduce waste and expense by using permanent dishes and silverware.
• Wipe dishes off with a paper towel before washing them.
• Use a dish wand (sponge on one end with soap in the handle) to wash dishes without having to put soap in a sink or pan of water.
• Catch the "rinse" water in a dishpan to pour down the toilet later.
• Take Navy showers, sponge bathes [wet down, soap up, rinse] or use campground facilities.
• Rinse after brushing your teeth from water in a cup.
• Use hand sanitizer to wash off hands instead of using soap and water.
• Flush the toilet only long enough to empty the bowl.

I've also been collecting home-made recipes and ideas using common household ingredients for some time to use while dry camping (as well as at home). Many cleaning products include chemicals and additives which contribute to allergies and other health problems. Plus, they're not particularly inexpensive. By combining a few common ingredients while camping, you can carry fewer items and stay clean while being green and healthier.

• Keep the refrigerator smelling fresh by sitting a box of baking soda on a back shelf to neutralize bad smells.
• Make great "camp coffee" by pouring boiling water into a filter with coffee grounds placed in a  regular electric coffee maker basket and let the coffee drain into a thermos to keep it hot (without continuing to cook or burning).
• A very effective, cheap solution to clean the gelcoat on your trailer is to dissolve the following ingredients in a gallon of warm water:  ½ cup white vinegar, ½ cup household ammonia, and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.  Rub or spray this on and wipe the grime off.
• Remove cooking odors (bacon, fish, etc) from inside your trailer by simmering 1 cup white vinegar in 1 cup of water on the stove.
• Clean the toilet and disinfect the black holding tank by dumping in a cup of white vinegar then adding some baking soda (a little at a time).  The mixture will FOAM a lot so go slowly.
• Remove mold and disinfect by spraying a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, then wipe clean.
• Remove scuff marks by putting baking soda on a damp sponge.

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