Camping and Caravanning Tips - innovative hints and tips for those who enjoy camping holidays

Camping Tips
WARNING Do not place barbecues inside confined spaces e.g. tents, caravans, camper vans etc. even if the fire appears dead and the container is cold enough to handle. These can emit deadly carbon monoxide gases. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colourless and odourless gas which can kill. Smaller concentrations of this gas can produce symptoms similar to flu or food poisoning including headaches, vomiting, dizziness and nausea.

	On old (but broken) heavy base electric frypan with high-dome lid can be used as a camp oven by placing it firmly on a flat bed of coals or even heat beads. Provided the heat is evenly distributed it will do a good job of cooking the Sunday lunch. Courtesy of Krystal G.
When using methylated spirit burners whilst camping or bushwalking if you use a fuel mixture of 80% methylated spirits to 20% water it helps keep the bottom of the pots and billies clean, reducing the soot and lessening cleaning time. Krystal G sent us this one - thanks.
	The plastic tags used to close sliced bread wrappers can be used as clothes pegs. About 50 of them stack into a 35 mm film canister. Another gem from Krystal G.
Ice in the cooler (ice chest) whilst camping. Buy several individual cans of drink such as Capri Sun or Minute Maid and put in freezer for at least a day prior to leaving. They make excellent substitutes for the messy ice cubes that melt in your cooler or those pesky igloo gel freeze packs. They are convenient, take up less room because as they melt inside their containers you still have a cold drink and your food stays cool at the same time Thanks to Jeanette Phifer for sending us this one.
	Another similar tip is to fill a large plastic container with water and freeze until solid. As it melts, this can then provide fresh cold water gradually over a long period of time. Ideal when sailing etc.
To freshen up plastic water containers before use, place two denture cleaning tablets inside and fill up with water. Leave overnight, then discard water.
	To keep boots dry and insect free, push sticks into ground and place boot over top of stick.
Radiator foil makes an ideal insulator under mattresses, or when sitting and kneeling on the ground.
	Cut an orange in half and eat the flesh, leaving the peel complete. This can then be used to cook eggs in the ashes of a camp fire.
If you smear washing up liquid on the outside of pans it will prevent the smoke from staining the utensil.
	To facilitate the start of a camp fire, particularly when kindling is damp, work petroleum jelly (Vaseline) into cotton balls and ignite. These can be stored safely in ziplock plastic bags until use. Keep away from children. Joe
For safety, when using a portable "Gaz" stove, drill holes in the four "feet" so that you can put a tent peg through into the ground to fix securely.
	Nothing worse than soggy toilet paper apart from no toilet paper that is! Cut down a large plastic drink bottle, put a slit in the side through which to pass the sheet of paper - and the paper stays dry.
To prevent soap becoming slimy, put the soap bar into a stocking or one leg of a pair of tights and use through the material. This can then be hung up when not in use.
	To keep shoes dry, take a wire coathanger and bend up about 2" at each end. Hang in the usual way and a shoe can be hooked over the ends.
To hang washing without pegs, take two pieces of cord , string or rope and twist them together. Make into a washing line by suspending between two appropriate places. Washing can then be "poked" between the two strands.
	If sleeping on an air bed, if you place a blanket on top of the mattress, between the airbed and the sleeping bag, it will be much warmer.
To make your own larder, sew edges of an old net curtain to make a bag. Place a plate in the bottom and thread tape through the hem at the top to hang the larder up by.
	Place loops over tent rails which can be used to hang things from without causing water seepage through the canvas.
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Camping Tips