Going camping and staying clean seems to be almost opposite goals. After all, the very act of camping means going out into nature, subjecting yourself to the elements, cooking, eating, and sleeping under the stars. Nonetheless, keeping yourself clean throughout your camping experience is crucial both to the day-to-day life in the camp and to your health and mental serenity throughout the time you are “roughing it”.
But how does one stay clean and have good hygiene while camping when amenities aren’t available? By using the environment with environmentally friendly products and knowing how to properly dispose of them, you’ll find that staying clean is easier than you thought.
Following these tips will keep you clean while spending time in the great outdoors and on the trail.
What To Wear While Tent Camping
Moisture Wicking Clothes
Moisture-wicking is the process of moving moisture, in the form of sweat and water, away from the skin. We have all seen a sweat-soaked shirt, or have worn one, and how uncomfortably hot the person, or you, looked wearing it. The moisture-wicking fabric used pulls the sweat from the body and transfers it to the outer laying which allows it to “wick” or quickly dry.
You can find shirts, pants, socks, and underwear made with this fabric. They are made from synthetic polyester or wool. And if you have ever gone hiking, you know it just isn’t your upper body that produces sweat. The down there area gets sweat as well. Using this type of clothing reduces the moisture build-up which helps you stay cooler, reduce bacteria, and make you less stinky.
Bring Two Outfits and Sleepwear
After a day of adventuring, the clothes you are wearing may not be as fresh as they were when you put them on. And since you are camping, multiple outfits are out of the question due to limited packing space.
Bringing two outfits with you on your trip is the perfect way to keep it lite. We can often get away with wearing the same pants or shorts for several days without washing. Shirts can be interchangeable with them. Often you can just hang them out overnight to air out.
You may want to think about bringing an alternative nighttime sleep outfit. It would be a clean change of clothes before snuggling down in your sleeping bag. Which in turn will keep your sleeping bag from smelling.
However, even the best of us can’t stay clean forever. With two outfits, you can wear one and wash one. Let’s take a look at how you clean your clothes while camping.
Wash Your Clothes Each Night
When one of the outfits you’ve brought with you is just too dirty and smelly to continue wearing, it’s time to wash. But how do you go about washing your clothes while camping?
- Find a water source. Most often you are camping near a lake or stream. Maybe you even have access to potable water. Collect it and use it for washing.
- If you know beforehand that you won’t have access to water, you can pack extra to use for this purpose.
- Pack a gallon-sized Ziploc bag ahead of time. Place the article of clothing in it adding some biodegradable detergent and water. Seal and shake for a few minutes.
- Dump out the water (not your clothes).
- Avoid pouring the water back into the water source. Move at least 150 feet from the nearest water source and away from your camp.
- Refill bag with clean water, seal, and shake for a few more minutes.
- Dump out the water just as in the step above.
- Hang up your clothes to allow them to dry overnight.
How To Stay Clean Without A Shower
Hand Sanitizer / Baby Wipes
Items like hand sanitizer and packets of baby wipes are very good at keeping hands clean throughout the day. This is especially true before preparing and eating meals.
A quick squirt of the sanitizer and a vigorous rub will kill off any bacteria with no waste to be had. Baby wipes are great for wiping off your face or hands. They can also be used on your armpits to freshen them up. Baby wipes can also be used in any bathroom situation you find yourself in.
Microfiber Cloth
Although mostly used for cleaning around the house, these cloths work great as a towel or washcloth. You can add soap and water directly to the cloth. Unlike a regular cotton towel, these dry quickly when hanging them out to dry afterward.
Dry Shampoo
This should be used in powder form and not as an aerosol. Simply sprinkle the powder onto your hair and use your fingers to rub it into your hair. The ingredients used in the powder absorb the oil from the hair. No need to use water.
These steps are the best ways to wash your face, body, and hair when camping without a shower.
How To Shower While Camping
Just because there may not be amenities around your campsite, doesn’t mean you can’t wash the day’s grime away.
Bathe in Nature
If you happen to be near a body of water, like a lake or stream, you have the perfect setup to bathe. You can either jump in the water and wash or collect it and bring it back to your campsite. Grab your microfiber cloth, some soap, and scrub away.
Not around water, no problem. Just bring it with you.
Use A Camping Shower
Using a portable camping shower is another great way to get clean. Just fill the bag, hang it in a tree, and let gravity allow the water to flow.
Want a hot shower? Of course you do. Fill the bag early in the day and allow it to heat in the sun. You can even get solar-powered ones. But for a great hot shower experience, heat the water on your grill or over the fire and pour it into the shower bag.
Sleeping Bag Liner
From dawn to dusk, your adventure has you ready for a good night’s sleep. Unable to completely get the dirt off your clothes and body you slip into your sleeping bag. Smartly you lined it with a special sleeping bag liner which not only adds a layer of warmth but will “catch” the dirt that falls off during the night.
The liner is also great as to not dirty your sleeping bad as well. Keeps the dirt and stink from embedding themselves into the fabric of the sleeping bag.
Go Biodegradable (No scent)
By far the best tip when camping is using biodegradable products. These types of products are capable of decomposing by way of bacteria or other living organisms. They break down faster and are friendlier to the environment.
When camping or hiking, it is best to use a product that doesn’t have a scent to go with it. Scented soaps, shampoos, and deodorants can attract animals. Plus the chemicals used in the products can contaminate the soil and water.
How To Brush Your Teeth While Camping
Your oral health and hygiene are just as important as your body. Nothing beats a good brushing of the teeth to make you feel clean. Even if your body is filthy just brushing your teeth gives the perception of clean.
There are a couple of ways to keep your teeth clean without having a bathroom or sink around. These tips won’t have you hurting the environment either. And when combined with using non-scented brands, you stand a greater chance to NOT be visited by the local fauna.
Don’t use toothpaste
When you think about it, toothpaste is something you can go without. If you can use water to rinse off your body back jumping in a lake, river, or stream, you can just use the toothbrush to scrub your teeth.
At a dentist appointment, aren’t they just scraping off the tartar and plaque buildup. You may get a polish afterward, but that isn’t the same as brushing. And the brushing action helps remove the grime.
Try alternative products
You can always use baking soda. It acts as an abrasive so your teeth will feel smooth and clean. Although too much use can cause tooth sensitivity. So use this technique when your mouth is feeling grimy.
Try biodegradable or eco-friendly toothpaste. Just like the soaps and shampoo, toothpaste can be harmful to the environment and the animals living in it. That glob of toothpaste you spit out is an invitation for a creature to investigate the smell. Which if they eat it may harm them.
Swallow your toothpaste or spit spray it
As an adult, we can handle swallowing some toothpaste if needed. We have all done it before. Just don’t make it a habit just for the few days you are camping.
The spit spray method is just as it sounds like. Once you finish brushing, take a sip of water and swish it around and then spray the water from your mouth. Think of it as a spit-take from a comedy. This allows the water and toothpaste to dissipate over a larger area.
And as always do this at least 100 feet from the nearest water supply and away from your campsite.
If you use dental floss, it is best to pack it out with you and dispose of it in a trash can.
Wrapping It Up
Staying clean while out enjoying an adventure can happen. By following these steps you can keep up your daily hygiene routine, enjoy nature, and not have to stay downwind from your family and/or friends.
