Bleach in the wash water

[pvt t a white]

Back on or about 11-21-08 a thread was discussed on a water supply in the camp. It discussed how it should transported (buckets), the source (bring your own and/or using the central water supply - big tank), also mentioned was not bathing for the re-enactment.

That being said, when washing and drying the dishes, pots and pans, for sanitary purposes, what is the thought of having a small bottle of bleach (well hidden of course) to put in the wash or rinse water. This practice is done for general camping. I have not seen a discussion on this subject before on the fourum.

Pvt T A White

[Danny]

...when washing and drying the dishes, pots and pans, for sanitary purposes, what is the thought of having a small bottle of bleach (well hidden of course) to put in the wash or rinse water. This practice is done for general camping. I have not seen a discussion on this subject before on the fourum...Pvt T A White

Pvt. White;

Prudent. Good idea. I've wanted to do that as well, Boy Scout background and all. As I think about it, a period bottle with a skull and crossbones or "X" might be less obvious than a little plastic bottle of bleach, but keep in mind wash pans in a "commissary" / cook's fly area are probably not very authentic anyway...

A cook's fly is probably only appropriate for a Winter or Muster-in camp at the time. I'd appreciate some reference on that, as I know there are those in this Forum that are in the know on that.

A few of us in unit would just as soon we leave ours home but we don't have the heart to press the issue as it's a unit tradition.

Dan Wykes

[bizzilizzit]

Back on or about 11-21-08 a thread was discussed on a water supply in the camp. It discussed how it should transported (buckets), the source (bring your own and/or using the central water supply - big tank), also mentioned was not bathing for the re-enactment.

That being said, when washing and drying the dishes, pots and pans, for sanitary purposes, what is the thought of having a small bottle of bleach (well hidden of course) to put in the wash or rinse water. This practice is done for general camping. I have not seen a discussion on this subject before on the fourum.

Pvt T A White

I hate this idea. One, it stinks. Two, it bleaches out anything it touches, including my dresses. Three, it stinks. Four, it triggers asthma attacks (for me). Did I mention it stinks?
I've been cooking and cleaning for folks for fifteen years. I don't put bleach in my cleaning water (would you do that at home?) and everyone I've ever fed have not suffered from the germs in their food or on their plates. A few germs in your system helps boost your immunity - why have we become so obsessed with killing every germ we come in contact with?

[mmescher]

I suppose if it would make someone feel better, they could add a few drops of bleach to their drinking water or water they use to wash dishes. But, in 20 years of reenacting, I can't report every having problems with water-borne illness following a reenactment. If you are cooking with the water, it will probably kill anything harmful as effectively as bleach, and if you are washing dishes, heating the wash water will also kill nasty stuff, if there was anything nasty there in the first place. There is probably a lot more risk with flies crawling over things (there tend to be horses present) than with water supplies.

It just seems like one more thing to lug to the event and a potential leak hazard.

Just my two cents.

Michael Mescher

[Bee]

that is the question. (sorry, couldn't resist;)

My husband has taken to the practice of placing cleaned plates upside down and utensils over the open fire for a few seconds or more as an attempt at sterilization. Not sure if it works as well as bleach but it makes him feel better. The kids, my husband and I usually suffer more stomach upsets from the fast food stop on the drive home than from anything we've ever eaten in the field. And why is it that my 11 year old will eat almost anything off a tin plate with a rusty utensil but can't let his food intermix on the plate at home?

Elizabeth R.

http://abonnetventure.etsy.com (http://abonnetventure.etsy.com)

[KarinTimour]

Dear Sir:

If you're washing and cooking in the open air, with clean utensils then likely basic sanitation (frequent handwashing and covering food and utensils with cloths to keep off flies while cooking) should be protection enough.

However, if you are cooking in a structure, especially one where there is clear evidence of rodent activity (rats, mice, squirrels) it might be a wise precaution to bring and apply bleach to any cooking surfaces that you'll be using and if you use the dishes and pots at that location, it would be wise to thoroughly wash and rinse with bleach before use.

When Faith Hintzen and I were cooking on a semi-regular basis at Fort Delaware, we always did this, as there was clear evidence of serious rodent activity (holes chewed in any containers unwisely left with food in them overnight, droppings in dishes and pots, on the tables, on counters, on floors, in the sink). We'd get the fire started, heat some water and scrub down any cooking or prep surfaces before we started, then rinse them with dilute bleach water.

We were also concerned with flies, and had a gracious plenty of dish towels and hemmed cloths that we could drape over food in preparation, or over the clean dishes and pots to keep flies off them while we were using them or when they were waiting to be used. The dish cloths were a different color or shape, so that we didn't mix up the ones the flies had been walking on with the ones we were using to dry the dishes.

It is also true that even with very careful watchfulness, it's easy to get bleach on your clothing, and even dilute bleach with make a spot. There were several spots on the hem of one dress that I had to patch to cover bleach spots.

Again, your precautions need to be dictated by the conditions under which you are working.

Hope that's helpful,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Spinster]

The need for such is entirely dependent on the quality of the event water supply.

If your event water supply is known to be clean potable water, and you are washing dishes in a reasonable manner--hot water and soap--then there is no need to also add bleach to that water.

If however, your water supply is questionable, then you've got a whole 'nother scenario. A good example was one of the supply points we used for civilian water for Bank Grand Retreat. In that particular case, we were hauling from a mediocre source, then storing it in barrels until needed. that meant it was bleach, early and often--with sufficient time allowed for outgassing before using it for drinking. The amount of bleach used is actually quite small.

Its just not common for mainstream events to have questionable water sources. That being the case, its far better to get organized enough to heat sufficient water to wash and rinse items adequately. I do know of one kind lady who lays all the washed dishes out, and pours boiling water over everything.

Much of what becomes nasty dish water at events comes about because many of us have forgotten how to wash dishes by hand--or were never taught. Plates are scraped fully and cleanly before ever going into the hot soapy water, all cups emptied, and utensils may be set aside to soak. All this stuff gets washed and rinsed before the greasy pans and pots hit the water, and the HOT rinse water gets changed as needed.

Then there is my favorite option--eat it all, wipe it with a biscuit, and eat the biscuit. I never have a problem with somebody getting my plate:D

[pvt t a white]

Mrs. Lawson wrote:

Then there is my favorite option--eat it all, wipe it with a biscuit, and eat the biscuit. I never have a problem with somebody getting my plate

Ahhh the old Navy method of eating - take what you want - eat what you get. It works every time

Thank you all for your thoughts on the wash water subject.

Pvt T A White