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philpom
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# Posted: 11 Jan 2026 05:30pm
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We use our fair share of paper products but real dishes rule. The problem, they need to be cleaned.
We don't have running water in the cabin, we use an RV pu.p to feed the instant hot water heater for the shower o ly. Dishes are a pain until 2 years ago. We found a counter top dishwasher that has a tank and can drain in to a jug, uses powdered detergent (cascade). Wanted to share. Numerous brands are available, this one works very well. It won't hold a large skillet but holds most dishes. Uses about 1 gallon of water for a cycle, changed our perspective on dishes and made my wife extremely happy. It's a little larger than a big microwave.
How do y'all take care of the dishes?
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Fanman
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# Posted: 11 Jan 2026 05:41pm
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Mid April through mid October we have running water in the cabin (and a dishwasher!). Winters, I bring water in jugs, heat on the stove to wash. But the winter visits are only 2-3 days, so I also use paper, and/or cook outside on the grill, and/or bring meals from home to heat and return the dirty dishes to home.
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philpom
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# Posted: 11 Jan 2026 06:12pm
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The winter trips are our favorite and usually go a week or more. No snakes 
I hate taking dishes back home but it does happen. We do prep meals in advance but often they revolve around what we know we have up there. We have a microwave and counter top oven but most cooking happens outside, on a grill, smoker, or the camp chef oven/range. Food is a big part of being there.
Sometimes all of that fun gets in the way, this year we are planning a series of trips where we stay at an embassy within an hour drive and will make day trips just for project work. Blasphemy?  the way we see it, we spend 10 hours working and none of the other, otherwise we settle in and spend half our time having fun.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 11 Jan 2026 09:11pm
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We have the 'real dishes' and utensils (which I much prefer) but we are both ok with paper plates and bowls. Even with those there are usually things that need to be washed. To that end we have a couple of those nesting plastic wash basins, one for some soapy hot and the other for rinse (maybe use 1/2 water for both) and a regular sink drainer/dry rack in another basin. Easy-peasy and after it all can nest together on the shelf in the cabinet.
When cooking we usually only have one pan or pot to clean but often subscribe to the idea that 'food should be its own plate', (lol) ie, sandwiches!
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jan 2026 09:24pm - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: gcrank1 food should be its own plate', (lol) ie, sandwiches!
Amazing the burritos you can make out of those foot round flour tortillas. But I’m a paper plate/bowl guy, need something to start the wood stove. No newspaper service at the cabin.
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jan 2026 09:56pm
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Paul. Didn't you post a pic of your dog helping you with cleanup duty? Kinda like the pre wash? Lol
I do they same thing. My dogs can lick burnt cheese out of the frying pan. 
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jan 2026 12:13am
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Yeah mine gets first crack at the pots and pans too but it’s also remarkable the baked on crap he can scrape off the bbq grill.
We have inside and outside sinks and hot running water so no need to drag cookware back and forth. Hauling the ice chest and the wife’s never ending wardrobe is enough. It’s a cabin not the opera.
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