On my trip last week I had the previledge of showing my daughter how to wash dishes in a BWCA camp. One of the trickiest parts of this process is placing the plates, cups, forks, etc on the rocks or logs around camp to dry so they don't fall into the dirt. At least it is tricky for me. Well it hit me that I have an extra mesh bag to use as a dish dryer. I simply placed the washed dishes in the mesh bag and hung it on the clothes line. No more dishes falling into the dirt. Was this eureka slow in coming to me or do others do this already?

Big Zig-

Interesting idea. I always just dry my gear and then put it right away, Figure it lessens the scent and doesn't attract any little critters. It does seem like a great way to save time on the solo trips though.

I'll be interested to hear what others have to say.

sorry bigzig....its an oldie. however, you DID come up with it on your own. :) Jan

Yep - that's what we do. Plates and cups are always handy and never blow away. As for silverware and cooking utensils like wooden spoons or spatulas we went to Menard's and got one of those cloth things with pockets that carpenters tie around their waist and carry around nails or other small items in. Wrap it around a tree and tie it. Now you have all your cooking utensils off the ground and everyone knows where their silverware is. It doesn't weigh much and rolls up neatly. We pack it in the coffee pot in the pack. Izzy

I also use a mesh bag and hang my dishes on a tree limb or line while in camp. A holdover from my scouting days.

My mesh bag includes my knife, fork, spoon, collabsible rubbermaid container that doubles as plate and bowl, insulated mug, measuring cup and spatula/flipper. Everything nests together fairly well and gives me everything I need for a trip.

After washing they get put back in the mesh bag and hung back on a tree limb or clothesline to dry.

We bring a couple of pieces of 4 mil plastic cut into about 6' x 4' size. Lay one on ground with rocks on corners. Great for laying out food and pots and general kitchen stuff, or emptying pack to find the thing you want that is always on the bottom of the pack! If you want to dry your dishes on it after dinner, works for that too. We usually just dry them right away.

I do the mesh bag dryer, too, for solo or smaller groups. For larger groups I have a mini-hammock. I think it was originally a hammock for inside a tent intended as a storage/drying area. They hang above your head close to the peak of the tent. Anyway, I never used it as such and moved it outdoors between trees to act as my dish strainer/dryer.

Mesh bags for dry dishes great idea. I'm always looking for a smarter way of doing things and this is one of them.

Where do you thing would be a good place to buy some?

Have been using a mesh bag for dishes the past 7 years.

My wife found a 2 gallon size mesh bag with a zipper designed for washing women's fine garments. We sewed a small loop on one end for hanging.

Chuck

And much neater campsite as well.

Excellent idea - thanks!

You can find mesh bags at REI and other outdoor stores, but the lingerie bag is a good option. If you are crafty, or know someone who is, just get some mesh material and sew one up with a drawstring closure to hang over the tree branch or clothesline.

I made the big one on the right and bought the little one on the left. I don't remember where though.

As Bogs said, you can find the mesh bags at most camping stores. Campmor has both the Mini Hammock and the Mesh Dunk Bags In fact Campmor has many mesh dunk bags to choose from.

Thanks for the info.

Curt