Sterilizing your knife in the woods

Why "sterilize" the knife? Nothing is sterile when it is exposed to the atmosphere, and/or the instant it touches something anyway, so why worry about it?
Just wipe it down and you're fine.
 
Wow this thing has risen from the dead. Guess it's a point of convo many folks liked.

Here is what I came up with although I have changed my knives around a bit. I'm currently using a bottle of 90% isopropyl. Then I clean with sterile water. If I'm drinking it I figure it can go on the blade and remove any flavor from the isopropyl. A little isopropyl goes a long way. I manged 18 days in Canada with just 3 ounces. The isopropyl also has many other uses.

I tried the fire bit a bunch and never had any ill results minus the heat but as I got more expensive knives I just didn't like the idea of sticking them in a fire but in a pinch it works.

Boiling for sure works if you need it. Just takes a long time and after several weeks your honestly too tired to care. A quick wipe let air dry and rinse. Been 6 years since this post and I never got sick.

Sorry for resurrecting but I figured maybe this can be the definite end. It works. For guts, blood, bacteria, and most viruses.

Funny thing here is who cared about sterilizing in 2014 when I started this thread. Lol I was realy just worried about bacteria from animals on my eating gear. Who knew this thread would have info that 6 years later everyone would want to know. Kuddos to the post about not sharing pots etc while backpacking and introducing foreign viruses or bacteria to your body from someone else.
 
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Rbpwrd240 said:
Wow this thing has risen from the dead. Guess it's a point of convo many folks liked.

Here is what I came up with although I have changed my knives around a bit. I'm currently using a bottle of 90% isopropyl. Then I clean with sterile water. If I'm drinking it I figure it can go on the blade and remove any flavor from the isopropyl. A little isopropyl goes a long way. I manged 18 days in Canada with just 3 ounces. The isopropyl also has many other uses.

I tried the fire bit a bunch and never had any ill results minus the heat but as I got more expensive knives I just didn't like the idea of sticking them in a fire but in a pinch it works.

Boiling for sure works if you need it. Just takes a long time and after several weeks your honestly too tired to care. A quick wipe let air dry and rinse. Been 6 years since this post and I never got sick.

Sorry for resurrecting but I figured maybe this can be the definite end. It works. For guts, blood, bacteria, and most viruses.

Funny thing here is who cared about sterilizing in 2014 when I started this thread. Lol I was realy just worried about bacteria from animals on my eating gear. Who knew this thread would have info that 6 years later everyone would want to know. Kuddos to the post about not sharing pots etc while backpacking and introducing foreign viruses or bacteria to your body from someone else.
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I honestly think you're still overdoing it and washing with soap and water is best, but if you feel the need to use isopropyl alcohol, 70% is actually better at killing bacteria and such than 90%. It's counterintuitive, but the additional water content in 70% makes it easier for the alcohol to pass through the cell wall and kill microbes from the inside out.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I honestly think you're still overdoing it and washing with soap and water is best, but if you feel the need to use isopropyl alcohol, 70% is actually better at killing bacteria and such than 90%. It's counterintuitive, but the additional water content in 70% makes it easier for the alcohol to pass through the cell wall and kill microbes from the inside out.
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I did not know this, thanks for the heads up.

I'm a soap and water kinda guy, but I have used isopropyl on needles and tweezers before digging out splinters and such.

Was wondering if 70% was enough last time I bought it because it's all they had. Nice to know I got the best!
 
This is so... Scruffy ! I like it !
On a more serious note, I've always considered, and used, clean water as a sufficient sanitizer for my knives, fixed or folding. With the requested, or not, scrubbing.
I may be a lizard alien, but no... Probably not.
 
Velitrius said:
I also carry bourbon for snake bite.

My wife likes to point out that there are no venomous snakes here on the coast of Washington.

So I carry a snake.

Advice is still good after 6 years, but is this the best thread we could dredge up from 2014?
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The answer is : "You never know..." And that's why I always carry a hefty flask of whiskey whenever I venture out of my den.
 
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I always take several disposable lens wipe with me. They're great for all sorts of things, and with the alcohol in them, they also make great fire starters.
 
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Henry Beige said:
I’m told that urine is sterile.
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I’ve heard that. The problem is, it’s a myth. And, even if it was true, urine doesn’t stay that way. It is my understanding that urine picks up critters very, very quickly.

During World War II troops were taught to urinate on soldiers that had intestinal wounds. The idea was to keep the intestines moist.
 
I would go with bleach over alcohol. Clean with soap/H20. Let blade soak in bleach for one minute, then air dry.
 
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