Lower body view of two people standing while washing and drying dishes at a campsite

Dealing with Dishes While Camping

Rachel Wagner

3 min read

Nobody likes being on dish duty, but we're here to help make the process run a little bit smoother, so you can get back to doing what you love: spending time outdoors. But, first things first: if you cooked the meal, you are not on dish duty – sorry we don't make the rules here. If you don't bear the title of 'Camp Chef' you may read on. The key to doing dishes while camping is developing a system that works for you. Investing in a couple pieces of gear to make your camp life easier means you'll be back to soaking up the sun in no time.

A man washing pots and pans in a collapsible sink with soapy water at a campsite

Close-up of a man washing out a lightweight pot with the spray of a portable shower

Front-Country Camping

You know those signs in campground washrooms and at water taps that say, “No Dishes”? This is not just a suggestion; this should be treated the same as any other campground rule. Always be respectful of the campground facilities, because no one wants to see bits of instant noodles in the bathroom sink. If you’ve set out to go car camping for the weekend, here’s what we would recommend bringing to ensure nice, clean dishes that are ready for scrambled eggs, tacos and everything in between:

Collapsible Sink: Having a vessel to hold soapy water while you’re doing dishes is essential, and less wasteful than trying to wash dishes individually under a running tap. The Coghlan’s Collapsible Sink has a capacity of 9L and can take on those messy family dinners with ease. Plus, it’s only 5cm tall when fully collapsed, making it easy to throw in the car every trip.

Portable Camp Shower: If you’re a dish pre-rinser, the Camp Shower will be a lifesaver at the campground. If you don’t have a large water cooler or a tap nearby, simply use the Coghlan’s Camp Shower to provide a steady stream of water to rinse your dirty dishes. Once it’s hung in a tree you can let gravity do the work and easily guide the hose to wash scraps off the dishes before fully washing them.

Woman placing plates and utensils in a pop-up dishrack on a picnic table

Snapfold Dish Rack: If you’re flying through the dishwashing and your dish-dryer is holding up the line, don’t put the freshly cleaned dishes on the picnic table! Avoid the dirt and crumbs by using the Snapfold™ Dish Rack instead. Easily stow with your kitchen supplies when you’re on the move, and pop open the self assembling dish rack when needed. With its slots for plates and bowls, cutlery holders and fingers for drinkware, there’s no shortage of space for dishes – go crazy in that camp kitchen!

Back-Country Camping

When you’re on a back-country trip, probably one of the last things you’re thinking about hauling around in your pack is gear to do dishes with; rightfully so. There are much more important things that take up valuable space in there. To keep things as compact and lightweight as possible, here is what we recommend packing on your next back-country trek:

Close-up of hands pulling two pieces of collapsible dishware out of a yellow hiking backpack

Close-up of a woman's hands packing up a stainless steel mess kit at a campsite

Snapfold™ Solo Pack: This dish set is the ultimate choice for backpackers seeking compact convenience. Weighing in at a mere 4 ounces, the Coghlan’s Snapfold Solo Pack contains a cup, bowl and dish durable enough for any backpacking meal. Once disassembled, the flat surface allows for all food scraps to be scraped (or licked) off with ease, making for a quick clean before being stored back in your pack.

Mess Kit: When you have to carry multiple days’ worth of food, tools, and equipment, packing multipurpose items is crucial. The Coghlan’s Stainless Steel Mess Kit offers the perfect balance of utility and compactness; containing a pot, frying pan, scrubber and mug that conveniently nest within one another. Did you know that the pot can also double as your sink for things like utensils and cups? Who doesn’t love a 2-in-1? Leave the bulky kitchenware for the car campers and be smart with the weight and size of your pack.

Travel-sized bottle of soap sitting on a hard shell cooler with a collapsible sink and blue towel

For Every Camping Trip:

Microfiber Towel: Everyone knows the feeling of when the dish towel is no longer drying anything and is just spreading a thin layer of water around. You want something that can actually dry your dishes and dry fast after the chore is done, enter: Coghlan’s Microfiber Towel. With it’s fast drying, anti-microbial material, you can be confident that this towel gets the job done without leaving a wet, soapy residue behind.

Biodegradable Camp Soap: When you set out on a camping trip, you need a soap that’s tough enough to take on tough stains without being tough on the environment. With its biodegradable formula that’s ideal for tackling grease, char, dirt and everything in between. the Coghlan’s Camp Soap is an essential addition to your camp kitchen. This is a concentrate, so be warned, a few drops will go a long way. And while the soap is biodegradable, be sure you are being mindful of your usage by doing dishes at least 200ft. from any water source to avoid contamination.

Remember that being out in nature means that you need to be cautious of wildlife in the area. Leaving food scraps and dirty dishes out can attract bugs, squirrels, raccoons or even bears to your camp, so be sure that you are hold yourself accountable for washing your dishes in a timely manner to keep you and your fellow campers safe.