Last updated on September 8th, 2021
Have you ever been camping and realized the campsite you booked was further from the bathhouse than you thought? Or camped at a site where clean, running water wasn’t an option? Personally, I wash my hands frequently when preparing food at my campsite and I wanted to have soap and water nearby. The solution: A DIY camping handwashing station – an easy and inexpensive way to have portable, running water right at your campsite. The water storage jug has a large enough capacity to allow for washing dishes, too!
Materials:
First, you will need a large, food-safe water storage container, preferably with a spout or spigot. I use a 7-gallon, BPA-free jug with a carrying handle and on/off spigot. It can be purchased online here.
I also purchased a cheap, mountable-style paper towel holder and two 36″ bungee cords to secure the paper towels to the top of the water jug.
Setting Up Your DIY Camping Handwashing Station
After arriving at your campsite, fill the water jug from a water faucet nearby or at the sinks or showers in the bathhouse. If you will not have access to clean water near your campsite, fill the jug before leaving home.
After filling your water container, place it on the edge of a picnic table or other sturdy ledge. Place a catch bucket on the ground under the water spigot. This helps minimize splashing and prevents the area from becoming muddy.
Next, place the paper towel holder flat side down on top of the water jug. Secure it in place with bungee cords.
Set a liquid soap dispenser or bar of soap beside the water jug, and you’re ready to wash up at your convenient camping handwashing station!
Note: I re-used an empty foaming soap dispenser and filled it with an all-natural, biodegradable and environmentally-friendly castile soap at a 1:4 soap-to-water ratio. That way, when the catch bucket is full, I can dump it in the woods away from my campsite and not have to worry about harming plants or wildlife.
Did you make a DIY camping handwashing station? What did you think? Was it useful around the campsite? Let us know in the comments below!
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