You've just returned from having a great time on another camping trip, but you're tired. If you're anything like me when I get back from a camping trip, you're probably ready for another vacation just to rest up. However, don't get too set on resting yet; there's the matter of putting away your gear and getting it ready for the next adventure. So, have you got an after-camping checklist?

A good place to start is with the checklist you used to pack up before the camping trip.


If you don't have a camping checklist, just use that one in your mind as you unpack your gear. If you want to start a checklist for your next trip, consider adapting the camping checklist I've compiled, along with tips and suggestions on what gear to possibly include. This multi-page feature ends with a printable version of the camping checklist that you can customize to your own needs. Now let's put that gear away so we can rest.

After-Camping Checklist

• As you unpack your gear, take inventory. Did you leave anything behind? Identify any items that are damaged or broken; make a list of what needs repair or replacement.
• Separate all clothes and bedding items that may need laundering. Don't wait to start doing the laundry, wash whatever you can, as soon as you can, to remove outdoor smells that can come from campfires, or from lakes, streams, and beaches, or from dirt, mud, and sand, etc.
• Set up your tent to air it out, especially if it got wet while camping, and to give it a good sweeping before stowing it. Be sure to air out any other camping gear, which may have gotten wet on the trip, to avoid possible mold and mildew.

• It's a good idead to store your self-inflating pads and sleeping bags loose rather than in their stuff bags so that they maintain their loft.
• Clean all kitchen utensils, cookware, dishes, glasses, and silverware. Return kitchen items to where they belong and store all camping specific cooking items together. To help keep these items organized, consider using a chuck box.
• Return any leftover foods to the refrigerator or the pantry, as necessary, and discard any foods that may have spoiled. You'll know which ones. Just let your nose be the judge.
• Make sure that any camping stoves and lanterns are turned off and that all fuel containers are properly stored.

Take good care of your camping gear, and it will reward you for many years to come. By using an after-camping checklist when you return from each trip you'll always be ready for the next.