Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Haushalts- und Waschzeug
English translation:
cleaning gear and toiletries
German term
Germany
Scientific & technical expertise
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: German to English
Haushalts- und Waschzeug
Lebensmittel, Haushalts- und Waschzeug sind professionell in Plastikfässern verpackt.
Talking about how things are stored at a research camp where researchers are doing field work.
| 3 +1 | cleaning gear and toiletries |
Alison MacG
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| 3 +3 | household items and toiletries |
LisaV20
|
| 4 | household and cleaning supplies |
lindaellen (X)
|
| 3 | household goods and toiletry kit |
Sandra SAYN (X)
|
Non-PRO (1): sylvie malich (X)
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Proposed translations
United Kingdom
Patents and related material specialist
Native in: English (Variants: UK, British, Scottish) 
Works in: German to English, French to English, Swedish to English, and 4 more.
cleaning gear and toiletries
From my own experience, I would expect this to refer to the cleaning gear/kit used principally for cleaning cooking gear and utensils and more generally for keeping camp clean. It would include things like washing-up liquid, scourers, paper towels, sponges, brushes, dustbin liners, etc.
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Note added at 5 hrs (2009-10-13 15:01:00 GMT)
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I've only just seen the other entries/comments posted, as my notifications are not working properly at the moment.
If there is no other mention of cooking/eating utensils, etc. anywhere else in your text, then it seems quite reasonable that this may be what is intended here - perhaps "kitchen and cleaning equipment"?
(I still have reservations about "Waschzeug", though, as in this context it would normally be used to refer to wash kit/washing equipment for people rather than utensils)
| I think it was the use of "household" that irritated me the most too, here in the context of field work (not camping) but I'm not really sure about "cleaning gear" either. |
| agree |
Helen Shiner
: cleaning products and toiletries - gear sounds a bit informal
53 mins
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|
Thanks, Helen. Equipment?
|
household goods and toiletry kit
| That is precisely the question. |
| agree |
Barbara Wiebking
: In this context, this would make the most sense.
11 mins
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|
thanks
|
|
| disagree |
Helen Shiner
: household goods could just as well be washing machines and cookers and toiletry kit does not sound very EN; sounds like you would have to build them yourself. Sorry to disagree.
2 hrs
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household items and toiletries
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Note added at 52 mins (2009-10-13 10:35:03 GMT)
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You're very welcome!
| Yes, I think you've hit the nail on the head, thanks! |
| agree |
Kerstin Green
1 hr
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| agree |
Rolf Keiser
: I prefer toiletries
1 hr
|
| neutral |
Helen Shiner
: Not keen on 'household items' but toiletries is the way forward
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Melanie Nassar
: If it's a camp and they've got food, they'll also need pots and pans or at the very least, eating utensils, and I would also consider linens household items.
4 hrs
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household and cleaning supplies
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Note added at 5 hrs (2009-10-13 15:02:59 GMT)
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Sorry, I was focusing on the word "supplies". Can you just say "cleaning supplies"?
| As has already been discussed above, "household" just doesn't work in this context. |
Discussion
Was ist genau mit „Haushalts- und Waschzeug“ gemeint? Vor allem, was soll man unter „Haushaltszeug“ in einem solchen Lager verstehen? Irgend eine wörtliche Übersetzung mit „household entspricht nicht dem Kontext“. Sind es. evtl. „cooking and cleaning supplies“?