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washing up and recycling
- Thread starter mewolf1
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Codger_64
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Urine is a good antiseptic too. High in nitrates, it will kill foot fungus as well. In the winter, I keep a special bottle by my bedroll so if I have to go in the night, I don't have to get out of bed and leave the tent. Then the bottle goes to the foot of the bedroll for a footwarmer. Um...be sure it has a good lid and you didn't crossthread it first.
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I have heard of soldiers urinating on their feet to kill foot fungus .
As for using urine to wash dishes ? They would have to be some nasty stuff on there to think that washing them clean with urine would make them better. :thumbdn:
I,m no expert on the matter of washing dishes . There may be some things on there you would rather not have there . Whatever they are ? Idonwannano . :barf:
As for using urine to wash dishes ? They would have to be some nasty stuff on there to think that washing them clean with urine would make them better. :thumbdn:
I,m no expert on the matter of washing dishes . There may be some things on there you would rather not have there . Whatever they are ? Idonwannano . :barf:
The first thing is: why do you need to wash? When one does not wash with soap and water in about a week there developes a kind of balance on ones skin. That seems to be stable for quite a while, sure one is not going to win any perfume contests but so what. Mosses can be used to wipe the skin after you decide that you are over ripe.
The more important and difficult question is how to get one's clothes clean. There I don't have any good ideas.
TLM
The more important and difficult question is how to get one's clothes clean. There I don't have any good ideas.
TLM
Codger_64
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I have often used sand to clean cookware when water was at a premium, or burned it clean.
Fresh urine is sterile, though loaded with salts. It also can be used as a source of nitrates for gunpowder. Ladies of the South during the War of Northern Aggression saved their nightwater for the making of the powder for cannons and muskets fired at the invaders. The U.S. Army has developed a dehydrated field ration pouch with internal filter which allows relatively unclean water to rehydrate the meal and yes, even urine in a pinch.
Urine can be "recycled" a couple of times before it becomes toxic. But if distilled, makes a good source of water where little or none exists.
Fresh urine is sterile, though loaded with salts. It also can be used as a source of nitrates for gunpowder. Ladies of the South during the War of Northern Aggression saved their nightwater for the making of the powder for cannons and muskets fired at the invaders. The U.S. Army has developed a dehydrated field ration pouch with internal filter which allows relatively unclean water to rehydrate the meal and yes, even urine in a pinch.
Urine can be "recycled" a couple of times before it becomes toxic. But if distilled, makes a good source of water where little or none exists.
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I like the travel-size bottles of hand-sanitizer. The Dial stuff I have here is 62% ethyl alcohol, got 2/$1 at my favorite survival outfitters -- the dollar store! I'm not sure but I think less than 40% alcohol is no good?
It's true that urine won't give you any bacteria you don't already have. I wouldn't fear to use urine on a wound to rinse it out before bandaging. Maybe kinda icky for washing your hands, but it's not going to harm you.
Urine seems like the best bet for a solar still. It would definitely be clean then and you'd get more out of it than leaves and stuff. Anyone actually done this?
I keep lots of wet-wipes in my gear. Could be saved for tinder too, I suppose.
Might be worth carrying a few coffee filters to at least get most of the mud and whatnot out of poor water. I've seen plans for a simple series of progressively-finer filters in layers on a tripod. Foliage, then t-shirts, then charcoal, then coffee filters, for example.
I think iodine tablets get water plenty sanitized for washing, either yourself or canteens/pots etc. When I used to tend bar, we used iodine drops in the rinse water... the health dept approved , our glasses were nice and spotless, and they didn't smell like bleach.
Anyone know the right way to use regular iodine to purify water? A drop per quart or something like that?
Sorry to ramble, I'm trying to organize my thoughts on all this stuff, myself...
It's true that urine won't give you any bacteria you don't already have. I wouldn't fear to use urine on a wound to rinse it out before bandaging. Maybe kinda icky for washing your hands, but it's not going to harm you.
Urine seems like the best bet for a solar still. It would definitely be clean then and you'd get more out of it than leaves and stuff. Anyone actually done this?
I keep lots of wet-wipes in my gear. Could be saved for tinder too, I suppose.
Might be worth carrying a few coffee filters to at least get most of the mud and whatnot out of poor water. I've seen plans for a simple series of progressively-finer filters in layers on a tripod. Foliage, then t-shirts, then charcoal, then coffee filters, for example.
I think iodine tablets get water plenty sanitized for washing, either yourself or canteens/pots etc. When I used to tend bar, we used iodine drops in the rinse water... the health dept approved , our glasses were nice and spotless, and they didn't smell like bleach.
Anyone know the right way to use regular iodine to purify water? A drop per quart or something like that?
Sorry to ramble, I'm trying to organize my thoughts on all this stuff, myself...