Keeping Your Camping Gear Clean

After long periods of being used, cookers and other tools used when camping can get quite dirty. This time, we'll show you how to keep kettles and other cooking utensils that have turned black from direct heat clean.

Video Introduction

Image of a burnt mess tin
Photo:A burnt mess tin

This video, titled "Camping Gear Maintenance by a Solo Male Camper in His 20s Who Camps Every Week" (週一でソロキャンプする20代男子ソロキャンパーによるキャンプ道具のお手入れルーティン), was released by "Japanese campers YURUHARU."
It shows how to properly clean your camping gear.

After enjoying some delicious cooking in the great outdoors, your cookware will inevitably start to feel some wear. If left as is, it may become unsanitary or break and become unusable. After you're finished camping, it’s important to clean your cookware properly.

Cleaning Kettles and Other Camping Gear With Sodium Sesquicarbonate

Use sodium sesquicarbonate to remove dirt and burnt or dry oil that has stuck to your gear from cooking when camping. Check the instructions and dissolve the sodium sesquicarbonate in hot water.

Soak the camping kettle or pyramid grill in the solution for 10 to 30 minutes, then polish it with a sponge. Persistent stains are easier to remove after soaking them in the solution. Once the stains are removed, your gear will be as shiny as clean as a whistle.
[Video] 1:17- Cleaning camping gear with sodium sesquicarbonate

Use a Polishing Agents for Aluminum, and Scrubbers for Skillets

Large aluminum mess tins that cannot be cleaned with sodium sesquicarbonate can be cleaned with polish and an abrasive sponge. Grills can be wiped clean and skillets can be cleaned with a scrubber to keep them clean and lasting longer.
It's also important to check the batteries in electric lanterns and wipe down gasoline lanterns if you have any.
[Video] 4:58 - Polishing with abrasives

Caring for Wooden Tables

Most noticeable stains can be sanded off using sandpaper. After that, drying oil is applied to complete the maintenance.

How to Dry Camping Equipment

Image of lunch at a campground
Photo:Lunch at a campground

After washing camping equipment, dry it thoroughly in a well-ventilated place after wiping it dry with an absorbent towel.
Tents, sleeping bags, and blankets should also be dried in the shade, and stakes and stake hammers should be lightly cleaned and stored in their cases.

Summary of How to Clean Your Camping Gear

In this video, we introduced the basics of how to clean your camping gear. Since camping is enjoyed outdoors, weather and other factors can lead to your gear becoming quite dirty.

Although it may be a bit tedious to clean, it's a good idea to clean and maintain your equipment after camping so that you can enjoy it comfortably on your next camping trip.
The cleaning methods for cookers and other equipment vary depending on the material they're made from, so be sure to perform the appropriate maintenance according to the material, be it aluminum, titanium, etc.

Camping gear is an important part of camping and so it's important to take care of it so that it can be used for a long time.

Written By
Last Updated : May. 9, 2022
Japan
坂崎 なお(Nao Sakazaki)
Interested in Japanese culture and traditions! I'll be introducing lovely scenery to you!

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How to Clean Your Camping Gear! Make Your Pitch-Black Kettle Shine Like New!
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