How to Clean Dishes CAMPING *step-by-step guide*

How to Clean Dishes CAMPING *step-by-step guide*

Ever wonder how to clean dishes while camping? In this video, I show you exactly how I wash dishes when I’m car camping. For links to everything mentioned or shown in this video, click SHOW MORE!

//SHOP THE VIDEO:
pop-up camping sink: https://bit.ly/3Ac13lH
biodegradable camp soap: https://bit.ly/3FxZD95
pot scraper: https://bit.ly/3lYTCu3
microfiber towel: https://amzn.to/3abAOkD
sponge: https://amzn.to/2YyNQ9z
water jug: https://bit.ly/3Fo8VnS
camping dishes: https://bit.ly/3Aohzza
sea to summit sink: https://amzn.to/3mrPmlP
my pants: https://bit.ly/3BhtWhB

//OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
◦ Useful Camping Organization Tips – https://youtu.be/NdQoJ_vLKrQ
◦ Car Camping Clothes – https://youtu.be/PoJcgJnm4Yg
◦ Essential Camping Kitchen Gear – https://youtu.be/zFYLO0klOmk

//MY CAMERA GEAR
Camera – https://amzn.to/3fhO7lE
Vlogging lens – https://amzn.to/3ob2IU8
Microphone – https://amzn.to/3uu7E85
SD card – https://amzn.to/2GjnaQE
My drone – https://amzn.to/3hkYTbd
GoPro – https://amzn.to/3gjMEMr
Waterproof GoPro handle – https://amzn.to/3pc3EIi
Music for my videos – https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/9qnvli/

//LET’S CONNECT
Blog: https://amandaoutside.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/amandaoutside
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amandaoutside

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

DISCLAIMER: This video description contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you click on the items mentioned. You are under NO obligation to do so. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support of my channel!

Amanda Outside: Sharing camping and hiking tips and food ideas so you can get outside more… and eat great food while you’re at it!

50 Comments

  1. @itsshwetas on August 2, 2025 at 1:07 pm

    Thank you for this. I’m about to go on my first camping adventure and this is the perfect video!

  2. @RhondaMendel on August 2, 2025 at 1:07 pm

    I learned to do camp dishes from my mother-in-law in the Sierra Nevadas shortly after my marriage. Her method was almost identical to yours & thats what I’ve done for 35 years. I love the foldable water tubs – I’ve never tried those!

  3. @avidwarrior9751 on August 2, 2025 at 1:08 pm

    Those collapsing tubs are easy to open putting them on like a hat. Might be wacky, but it works.

  4. @gayleneflower398 on August 2, 2025 at 1:08 pm

    I washed this entire common sense thing to find out how to dispose of my gray water. And deferring it over to the park. System was not my answer, or throwing it out in the desert. That didn’t help me a waste of my time.

  5. @andrewchung83 on August 2, 2025 at 1:10 pm

    u mean u chuck it near a tree when no one is looking 😂

  6. @DarinMcGrew on August 2, 2025 at 1:13 pm

    I wish I had this video to share years ago. This is essentially the way I’ve washed camping dishes for decades, and there have been times where I’ve wanted to share this technique with new campers. Many new campers default to using the one communal water source the way they’d use a kitchen sink at home, but that causes problems for larger groups.

  7. @tedsamuels3203 on August 2, 2025 at 1:13 pm

    This video was very helpful THANKS for sharing 😊

  8. @aero926 on August 2, 2025 at 1:14 pm

    You talk a lot. This could have been cut down to 1/4 or 1/3 of the length of you didn’t talk so much. I lost interest and couldn’t finish watching.

  9. @andrewvickers4487 on August 2, 2025 at 1:15 pm

    Thanks so much for covering all the bases, even with such a simple task it really helps to see it done ‘properly’ for newbies like me! 👍

  10. @1bornsurvivor on August 2, 2025 at 1:15 pm

    I enjoyed the video. I wouldn’t put my clean silverware and dishes down on that dirty picnic table. That is why I carry two hand towels or two kitchen towels in my "Cooking Kit". Bath towels are too big for that job.

  11. @michaelpowell7120 on August 2, 2025 at 1:15 pm

    16 Qt. metal pot/w lid holds cleaning/gear. Heat the water and wash face, hands, feet and dishes (change water if u can). That warm water in the morning makes me feel "pretty" and good!

  12. @TupeloHoney6104 on August 2, 2025 at 1:18 pm

    I tried baking soda as a cleanser and used carbonated water to get some fizz in my pots and pans. Worked okay. I was not afraid to toss the excess water because baking soda and water are not harmful to the environment. I love your sinks. Great idea. I’ll use my jetboil to heat up some water next time.

  13. @danstafford5977 on August 2, 2025 at 1:18 pm

    I have the exact dishpan as you… I have a rechargeable spin brush it’s a slam dunk… also I have a rechargeable bottle brush for drinking cups.

  14. @paulcam8870 on August 2, 2025 at 1:20 pm

    That’s a lot of trouble doing dishes this way.
    I have 2 spray bottles.. one with water and dish soap and one with just clean water.
    First I wipe everything with a paper towel… this gets off all food residue.
    Then spray dishes on all sides.. scrub with a dish cloth or sponge.
    Next spray with the clean water, taking care to get rid of all the soap. Dry with a tea towel 😊

  15. @SimonDedman on August 2, 2025 at 1:21 pm

    Per your final comments, this for me is the big benefit to bringing food in round deli containers. They come in 3 standard sizes (8, 16, 32oz) so you can size to your needs before you leave, thus not taking up more space than you need, they’re reasonably indestructible (certainly they won’t tear etc), they all stack together when empty, and – IMO most crucially, the big advantage over ziplocs – you can bung em all in the dishwasher when you’re home. I think something that can get missed in camping prep/hacks is that if you’re front or backloading a load of work, while it makes your life easier when you’re camping, it means you have loads to do before/after/both. IMO anything that can reduce that is worthwhile! Cheers.

  16. @jmunk91 on August 2, 2025 at 1:21 pm

    Soap alone will remove 99.99% of bacteria. It’ll be more than enough for any camping needs.

  17. @pdub6453 on August 2, 2025 at 1:22 pm

    We love the expression “Camp Clean!”

  18. @DonnaBrooks on August 2, 2025 at 1:22 pm

    What’s the highest temp of water that those collapsible wash pans can handle? Are they made of silicone? If they are made of plastic, will they leach chemicals into the contents when exposed to heat, as other plastics do (which is why you should microwave foods in plastic or drink liquids out of plastic bottles that have been in a hot car or in the sun)?

  19. @DollopussD on August 2, 2025 at 1:22 pm

    I’m likely to just flush my used water into my camping toilet for later disposal. This is a very helpful video 👍

  20. @vevenaneathna on August 2, 2025 at 1:24 pm

    yo what you need is one of those 300w or 600w industreal imersion ultrasonic washers from china. have to get them on specific websites that yt blocks (alxp). theyre like 150-200 bucks. can also use it to wash clothes in a basin. havent seen this idea anywhere else. also, you can buy a usb bleach generator now that just takes some salt and a power bank to make an endless supply of bleach.

  21. @armanmahdavi6497 on August 2, 2025 at 1:26 pm

    add some dish washing liquid into a water spray at home , add water , carry to camp , spray it to your dishes , cleanse it with a paper towel, have another spray of just a plain water , spray for another round , dry it again with paper towel and done :)) .

  22. @wakeup167 on August 2, 2025 at 1:28 pm

    a video teaching women how to hand wash dishes. lol kiss society goodbye.

  23. @morganweast4228 on August 2, 2025 at 1:29 pm

    Yea you pack paper plates.

  24. @oldgranny410 on August 2, 2025 at 1:30 pm

    I use two small storage totes with lids. I use them to pack stuff in and all dirty dishes go into it until I am ready to wash up and the lid seals tight on it.

  25. @AnthonyTrombley on August 2, 2025 at 1:30 pm

    4:35 – I assume you’re supposed to put your food bits in your garbage bag and not on the ground at camp, right?

  26. @dovey4703 on August 2, 2025 at 1:32 pm

    I use vinegar~ regular old white vinegar for a quick sanitizing.

  27. @niconico4114 on August 2, 2025 at 1:33 pm

    if you eat vegetarian your chance of food poisoning is substantially reduced. ive washed using just a bowl or cup of water and a sponge/washcloth. sometimes i even just wipe things down with paper towels if there isnt a ton of grease. again, meat residue of any kind makes things riskier.

  28. @ovidiurada on August 2, 2025 at 1:33 pm

    Great Video! I was skeptic about buying that fold-able sink, but if you use it, it must be great.

  29. @jackstutts6439 on August 2, 2025 at 1:34 pm

    Sunlight is a great disinfectant due to uv radiation so letting you dishes dry in the sun would be effective.

  30. @jroddy1 on August 2, 2025 at 1:36 pm

    Add a teaspoon of bleach to your rinse water and it will sanitize it too. just get a mini bottle.

  31. @harryroger1739 on August 2, 2025 at 1:37 pm

    Cleaning ‘clean’ dishes doesn’t demonstrate anything.

  32. @jerryloftis9510 on August 2, 2025 at 1:38 pm

    Extremely professional enjoy your video

  33. @loveJake-k5n on August 2, 2025 at 1:42 pm

    Can we do business together? I have some outdoor things.

  34. @33billbert on August 2, 2025 at 1:42 pm

    Watching because we were camping in the rain as newbies and had our drying dishes sitting on a container and they fell off into a mud puddle. 🥲 we are idiots.

  35. @Lightofmine77 on August 2, 2025 at 1:43 pm

    Its crazy to me americans think australia has scary animals when you have BEARS😂

  36. @A2Z1Two3 on August 2, 2025 at 1:45 pm

    I cycle tour and camp with a tent , this is ‘comfy camping’ with loads of stuff😂

  37. @jeaniec891 on August 2, 2025 at 1:48 pm

    I put water in my skillet or pan and heat up on stove to sanitize

  38. @catonines on August 2, 2025 at 1:49 pm

    Spray bottle with vinegar and water. It disenfects, wipes away clean with paper towels or your favorite dish scrubber and leaves no vinegar smell 👍

  39. @braaappp9950 on August 2, 2025 at 1:50 pm

    All you have to do is carry two spray bottles, one with soap and water and the other with just water. Then you take your dirty dishes and spray with soap spray, wipe of with paper towel, then spray some water then wipe off with paper towel. Boom done.

  40. @kenamay on August 2, 2025 at 1:50 pm

    Looks like a good way to go.
    Thanks

  41. @FiatLuxWithin on August 2, 2025 at 1:50 pm

    I never use a sink despite having the two collapsible buckets you have too. What I do instead is to wipe all items right after use. I have a spray bottle with white vinegar solution as an extra agent or to finish the clean. Never needed to soak anything or use water. Never deployed my buckets as sinks either so they’ve just been brought to the campgrounds and never needed.

  42. @alwhiting7986 on August 2, 2025 at 1:51 pm

    Can you use gray water to douse camp fires?

  43. @cimarronMC on August 2, 2025 at 1:53 pm

    Im pretty sure my family was the worst at cleaning stuff when i was younger

  44. @DonnaBrooks on August 2, 2025 at 1:53 pm

    An natural alternative to kill germs on dishes w/o using chlorine bleach is to put either cleaning-strength white vinegar or vodka into a spray bottle & spray the dishes & let them sit before washing them with dish detergent or Dr. Bronner’s

  45. @chuck2588 on August 2, 2025 at 1:55 pm

    Great tutorial…exactly what I was looking for!

  46. @kainiebergall2474 on August 2, 2025 at 1:58 pm

    have you ever thought about putting the soap onto the sponge – in that case a single small drop will last the complete washing and save money and the environment

  47. @lovegodlovefreedom2535 on August 2, 2025 at 1:58 pm

    I would use the rinse water to rinse the wash bucket after disposing the grey

  48. @mikehankins8438 on August 2, 2025 at 2:00 pm

    Do you think a man could do this? I am not so sure.

  49. @uwuweewee on August 2, 2025 at 2:02 pm

    I often use a piece of parchment paper to eat with to minimise on the dishes.

  50. @ithacacomments4811 on August 2, 2025 at 2:04 pm

    Leaving your dishes to dry in the sun for a while will sanitize them.

Leave a Comment