Any tips on how to wash clothes on the trail?

[Ken Thompson]

“Congress enacted a ban that effectively removed phosphates from laundry detergents in 1993.“

[Bruce Tolley]

Tide concentrated powdered detergent is labeled “biodegradable.”  You can also buy the version that is free of perfumes and dyes.

As Dr Jordan points out above many of the liquid “soaps” are not very good at cleaning clothes.   My reservation with powdered Tide and unsupervised Scouts would be the toxic properties of the powder. But this risk could be mitigated with some attention to the care and handling of the powder just like chlorine dioxide pills.

 

[Brad P]

These younger generations are known for eating Tide.

[Nate Ward]

I used a super size zip lock one year and shook it vigorously…3-4 drops of camp suds and enough water to get the agitation….the next time I use a sea to summit kitchen sink and did one piece at a time…that worked a little better since I really didn’t have anything to wash but what I wore that day.

[MJ H]

These younger generations are known for eating Tide.

But not while backpacking. Exact numbers are hard to come by, but it looks like a Tide Pod weights about an ounce and has 20 calories. The energy density is just too low.

[DAN-Y]

[David Thomas]

For a sturdy, small (free) container, I like the energy shots sold all over.  I find the empty containers in the trash, around convenience stores, and at the recycling center.  2 fluid ounces.  60 ml.  A nice water-proof screw lid. Very strong sides (it won’t get crushed in your pack).  It would carry far more than enough powdered Tide for a few people-weeks of backpacking laundry, because, as stated above, it only takes a pinch to wash several garments in a dry sack.  Take the plastic label off and you’re left with a white plastic bottle.

[DAN-Y]

small  washboard.  https://www.chinahao.com/product/536806345346/

 

 

[Jim Colten]

Was doing one last inventory of what I was taking for two weeks in the Sierra Nevada and when my host saw my small bottle of powdered tide and took it away with the words “I’ll give you something better”.

He came back with this and filled a 1 oz bottle saying “Vicki got me started with this.  Vicki ( a mutual friend) is the cleanest backpacker I’ve ever met so I gave it a try.

I cleaned underwear and socks every day (only brought two pair of each) also shorts and shirt once and didn’t use it all.

I like using the 1 gallon ziplock bag for laundry but use 2 gallon bags if I anticipate washing larger items.

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