Monday, July 19, 2010

Random Reuse: The Camping Handwashing Station


This past weekend, my family went camping. Always an adventure. And I'm totally cool with getting grubby in the woods. Well, except when there's public outhouses involved, then handwashing is a must.  Enter my latest reuse: the camping handwashing station!

I can't take the credit for this idea -- I got it from the June/July 2010 issue of Family Fun.  All you need to make this is a gallon-size jug (I used an empty vinegar one), a couple golf tees, and a bungee cord or two.  Simply poke two holes in the bottom half of the jug. The magazine suggested using a nail to make the holes; my husband just poked it really hard with the golf tees.  One you've made the holes and have used the golf tees to plug it up, fill with water and hang it with a bungee cord from the nearest tree, along with some soap.

This costs almost nothing to make -- I only had to buy a bag of golf tees (the smallest bag I could get had 500 tees in it, but it still only cost a couple bucks). There are no golfers in my house. I've got 498 tees. If you need a couple, let me know. I'll slip some in an envelope and send them your way!


But here's what's so great about this station:  when you hang the water-filled jug in a sunny location, you get warm water!  It almost feels like a luxury to have warm water when you're camping. We used this little washing station a bunch -- to wash our hands after using the stinky outhouses, before we ate, and even for brushing teeth. It was awesome. I don't think we'll ever go camping again without our washing station tied to the nearest tree.

7 comments:

The Wies Family said...

This really is such a great idea! It makes camping a little bit easier, not to mention, cleaner.

Amy said...

This is just what I needed! Awesomeness! Thanks for sharing!

CallMeT said...

This is awesome! I cannot wait to use it. Just curious, do you still have all those golf tees?? :)

Heather said...

I do! You want a couple? :)

Soap Warehouse said...

To make the water hotter faster, spray paint the outside of the jug black. Our scout troup also ties a string to the end of the golf tees to the jug handle so they do not get dropped and lost in the dirt. Put the tees further apart so more than one person can use it at a time. Make sure the area you have the wash station hanging will not be running wash water into your camping area or making its own mud puddle you have to walk in. Deep grass or putting an empty dish pan under it helps with the mess.

Unknown said...

Another idea to go with this is place a bar of soap in a pair of hose and put it next to your bottle. Soap stays clean and ready for wet hands.
Paper towels or cloth also completes the idea.
Jeff Collins, old scoutmaster

Unknown said...

Another idea to go with this is place a bar of soap in a pair of hose and put it next to your bottle. Soap stays clean and ready for wet hands.
Paper towels or cloth also completes the idea.
Jeff Collins, old scoutmaster

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