Arriving Home After Camping
The ride home after a camping trip can be long, particularly when you have a hot shower and cozy bed waiting there for you. Before relaxing, there are some final chores that need to be done.
Unpacking your gear
- Unload your gear
First things first. Unload your car, truck, or camper and separate everything used on the camping trip. - Empty the cooler
Remove all food from your cooler and place it in the refrigerator, then rinse the cooler and allow to dry. - Store food items
Return all remaining foods to the pantry, cupboard, or refrigerator. - Wash the dishes
Even if you did it at the campground before leaving, it’s still a good sanitary practice to wash them again. - Dispose of trash
Gather up and dispose of any remaining trash. This is also a good time to whisk out the car or truck of any debris. - Do the laundry
Before washing the clothes, go outside and shake out all your camping clothes and bedding, especially the kids’ clothing. - Stow away the gear
Shake out all your gear too. If any gear is wet, lay it out or set it up to dry before packing it for storage. Mildew is much easier to prevent than it is to remove. - Reminisce
If you took any pictures, send them off to be developed. Then sit around and talk about your camping memories.
By David Sweet
