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There’s a lot of cleaning to do when you get home from the playa. This is due to dust-storms, the trip home, and simply living on the playa. Over the years, I’ve found these simple tips work:

1. Add vinegar to laundry and gear washing water. Around a cup per washer load or gallon of sudzy water you mix for cleaning camping gear. The mild acid in vinegar helps clean the alkaline playa dust out of clothes, and to a certain extent, off of plastic surfaces. I buy a gallon of the cheapest white vinegar I can find, two if I have a lot of camping gear to clean.
2. Tell yourself (again) that you aren’t going to take white clothing (t-shirts, socks, etc) to the playa next year. Playa dust + sunscreen + sweat equals an unholy chemical reaction^* that leaves stains that are tough to get out.
3. Use a simple soap like Dr. Bonner’s or REI Biosuds for cleaning the camping gear (I do this in the driveway).
4. Take the car to a car wash where they recycle the water (most do). Use their vacuum to get the bulk of the dust out of your vehicle. (Bring a lot of quarters, you’ll need them). I follow it up with the brush and crevice tool on the vacuum at home.
5. Wiping the dash with a damp cloth will leave behind a thin sheen of playa. I use Armor All ® Cleaning Wipes. They do a great job. I’ve never had any problem returning rental vehicles after going to Burning Man. They are working some serious magic on my little Scion xB this year.
6. Don’t forget cleaning yourself. The dry steel-wool-like mat that was my hair is responding well to the generic conditioner I’ve been using. A few more days of the cool, rainy weather here in Seattle should have me back to, um, “normal”.

^*Unholy Chemical Reaction is also the name of a band that was supposed to play at Burning Man this year. Problems with their gear (from the dust) and an aggressive touring schedule led to them having to cancel. I hope to see them next year!