[pct-l] Soap?

[t.n. turner]

Hi Ellen,
I had a good chuckle remembering people being grossed out when I drank my "dirty water" after cleaning my pan! I would scrape the pan with my spoon until it was pretty clean, add water and scrape some more and then drink it. When people would get weirded out, I'd ask "didn't you just eat the food that's on the pan?" But it didn't matter, I got the point that when I was eating near other folks (not very often as I like hiking alone!), I would say "I'm gonna drink this water, so if it grosses you out, don't look"  My pan is too small and deep to get my head in to lick or otherwise I would have! Wouldn't that have been a true gross out??!!!
Anyway, thanks for the early morning chuckle and remembrance! 
tammy t.

> From: igellen at comcast.net
> To: dsaufley at sprynet.com; ksalmon at wesleyan.edu; pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:30:25 -0500
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Soap?
> 
> Another thought from a desert hiker: to clean dishes after a meal, lick them 
> clean first.  Saliva has an enzyme in it that breaks down starches.  Saliva 
> also contains varying amounts of fluoride, with its antiseptic properties. 
> After all food debris has been removed in this fashion, I usually find that 
> it takes no more than a 1/2 cup of hot water to finish sanitizing the 
> dishes.  The 1/2 cup of water will look pretty clean (drink it if you want). 
> The last thing to do is let the dishes dry completely (there are few 
> organisms that can survive on a dry surface).  No soap will be needed.
> I know this sounds kind of gross, but I've been doing this for a few years 
> now, and neither my husband nor myself have gotten sick.
> I personally like wet wipes better than hand sanitizer (less weight). 
> They're great for a mini-bath (also known in medical circles as a PTA bath).
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Donna Saufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
> To: "'Kathleen Salmon'" <ksalmon at wesleyan.edu>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 1:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Soap?
> 
> 
> > Use hand sanitizer, rather than soap. Mainly alcohol based, it evaporates.
> >
> > Biodegradable camp soap, if used, should always be used far away from any
> > water sources and rinsed out over soil, not plants or rock.
> >
> > Many hikers use Dr. Bronners, but IMHO, it has too many oils (18 different
> > kinds!) and leaves a lot of oily film.  It's been banned from the Hiker
> > Heaven shower because it leaves so much scummy residue, which I have to
> > scrub hard to remove.  I wouldn't think of putting those oils out into the
> > natural environment due to their scent and staying power.
> >
> > I've been searching for a plant based soap that doesn't have added oils. I
> > have found some at Whole Foods (under their label) that only contain one 
> > oil
> > (lemon, lavender, and something else).  But none without added oils.  I am
> > intrigued with soap root. If anyone has more skinny on it, I'd be
> > interested.
> >
> > L-Rod
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> > On Behalf Of Kathleen Salmon
> > Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 8:03 AM
> > To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> > Subject: [pct-l] Soap?
> >
> > Nominations for the most environmentally friendly soap (for hands before
> > eating)?
> >
> > Kathleen
> >
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