National and state parks are especially insistent on maintaining clean campsites for the next visitor. This means that you must spend time policing the area not just once, but often during your stay. And especially when you're about to leave. One NPS site, for example, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas on the Gulf side of Florida, demands that whatever you bring to the remote island, you take back with you when you leave. There are no trash receptacles. This means stowing all trash on board your boat or seaplane, the only ways to reach the 19th century Civil War fortress and prisoner-of-war camp.
A good, thorough clean up is what seasoned campers refer to as the "leave no trace" rule. Abiding by the rule helps insure that when you arrive at your campsite, it is as pristine as possible.
To repay the favor, leave plenty of time when you are breaking camp to patrol your entire campsite. Be sure to pick up all litter and dowse the last of the campfire with an overabundance of water. Stir the ashes to check that no sparks remain, and then cover over the fire site with soil. Fastidious campers often bring a broom with them to sweep the area clean.
 Don't dump your "gray water", the residue of washing your utensils and dinnerware (and maybe yourself), into a nearby stream or river. In campgrounds use designated areas for dumping gray water, but if the park has no special receptacle, pour it off slowly in a wide area of the woods so as not to let any harmful bacteria seep into one spot, and as far away from streams and lakes as possible.
And when you are sure you are finished and the campsite is clean and ready for the next visitor, take one final walk around — as if you are that next visitor.
When breaking camp, be sure that all your gear is as dry as possible. If you've been blessed with dry, sunny weather, dampness should not be a problem. But even one night of rain will leave your tents and sleeping bags wet and subject to mildew. So it pays to air it all out again at home before stowing it away until the next trip.
Once at home, take the time to thoroughly inventory all the gear before putting it away for the next time. With an inventory list you can note what needs replacing or repairing without having to haul down all the gear again. And between camping trips, on gift-giving occasions or when some new product hits the market, the inventory will serve as a handy reminder of what you have and what you would like to have along next time.
Finally, it's a good idea to run all utensils and cookware through the dishwasher before stowing it away. Not only will you make sure it is all clean, but the hot water cycle will have killed off any bacteria that may remain.
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