Time for the spin cycle. Try and avoid any soaps and chemicals, even biodegradable ones, to leave as little footprint as possible. Bottled water with biodegradable soap. Use hand sanitizer after every bathroom break, as well as before cooking and eating. You have our own backpacking hygiene toss bag! Especially after making something that smells delicious like this turkey vegetable stew. Make sure to take that baby wipe bath, go to the bathroom, and wash your hands before you change into them. Make sure to use ample hand sanitizer before meals, after you use the bathroom, and before washing your face. Here youll find another use for biodegradable soap and your trowel. This is why we like to pack fresh pairs of socks and underwear to change routinely on our overnight outdoor adventures. You might find these posts helpful, too: Now that you have all the items for your personal hygiene, its time to figure out how to use them on your trip! Interesting! Bring Biodegradable Wipes Wet wipes are the easiest way to keep yourself clean when you are deep in the backcountry. Imitate a washers spin cycle the best you can, shaking the bag with vigor. Ive tried the ones that are safe to swallow, but I never feel like my teeth are clean afterwards haha. Hand Washing Station If youre in a group and can spare more gear, you can set up a handwashing station. Voyageur Tripper is a blog dedicated to outdoor adventure for those of us who arent professional explorers. Hand Sanitizer at Camp Hand sanitizer is quick and efficient product that not only removes bacteria gained in filleting fish for supper, but also works well for trail-dirty feet. Use a one gallon jug and a nail, fill it with water and tie it to a tree by the handle upright. Quick-drying Microfiber towel: I like to think of a quick-dry towel as a little piece of luxury on trip. Bring a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss as well as the above materials, but avoid deodorant, perfume, hairspray, shampoo, and any other scented and environmentally-unfriendly materials. Pack an all-natural Unscented toothpaste, and when ready to brush, go 200 feet from a water source as if youre doing laundry. Yep, drink your greywater. What if you get smelly and sweaty? Of course, its understandable you wont always get a chance to do laundry and wont always sleep in clean clothes. Just give yourself a good natural hand scrub and rinse, camping hygiene doesnt have to be fancy. Use a little soap in a pot of water, then use steel wool to clean any remaining food off your dishes or pots or utensils, like these. Lets say youre on a 10-day camping trip and you have brought two pairs of hiking pants and two hiking shirts. Place a tiny, tiny, tiny bit of biodegradable soap in it. One of the most intimidating and uncomfortable parts about spending multiple days outdoors is camping hygiene staying clean while backpacking. There are several period methods to use when backpacking, from pads to tampons, period underwear, and menstrual cups. Bring tarps and rugs. The Great Lakes Shoreline Tour One of our favorite RV trips has been driving the United States side of the five Great Lakes. However you do your business, ensure you are completely wiping after you go to the bathroom. Make sure you give this a trial run or two before you take it into the backcountry. Alcohol-based sanitizer will clean handsbut it wont disinfect your entire body (and if you tried to, it would sting like hell). Watch out for mountain goats! Wash yourself with a cloth and a pot of water (you can heat it if you want, and use soap if you so desire) Use a shower. Have little bits left in the sides of your bowl? This gives you chances during your backpacking trip to feel fresh and clean, even in the last days of your trip. Jump in a lake and swim around a bit. Fill with water again for a rinse cycle and dispose of the water as you did with the used water. 2. If Im on a long trip, Ill wear one pair for two days straight before I flip them inside out. Inserting and using a menstrual cup can take some getting used to. Skincare is one of my favorite ways to practice self-care, and that doesnt have to stop when Im on a backpacking trip! In fact, you should always leave it at home. Lastly, take the clothes out of the bag and dry them overnight. Shampoo Cap is used mostly for people bedridden. Try to do this for about five to ten minutes. I like to bring a lot (two per day). If you dont feel like packing the extra TP weight, you can use leaves or smooth stones instead. Most importantly, when youre done, use unscented alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Instead, choose biodegradable soaps that revert back to their organic ingredients, like products from Dr. Bronners and Campsuds. Download my cookbook now! Fill your bag with water, about 20-25% full. Just strip down at least 200 feet away from your campsite and 200 feet away from any water source that may exist. I open the package of wipes at home and let them thoroughly dry out. I sit on the shore and stick both my feet in the water. 4. Before we dive into my camping hygiene hacks, I thought itd be helpful to quickly go over what should and should not bring to the outdoors to stay clean. 6 tips for returning to rock climbing after a long break, Garmin Fenix 7 down to lowest ever price in the UK for Amazon Prime Day, Yeti coolers are sold out this Amazon Prime Day, but don't panic. Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash #2. Dental floss is so light that a lot of people will throw it in their pack. However, camp suds is a more popular and cheaper choice. This easy task will help you to stay healthy and clean in the outdoors. Make sure youre educated on the area youre backpacking in and if there are any regulations like this in place! Two wash cycles with one dip (like two birds with one stone, but with cleaning). Hiking in leather or heavy boots? Similar to laundry, go somewhere 200 feet from any water source to not contaminate. Download the app. Reflect the sun. * Dont do it! How do you stay clean while camping so you can feel fresh and prevent odors? Use wet wipes (you can dry them out ahead of time to save weight, then just add a touch of water when you're ready to use them). A sponge bath or wiping yourself down with biodegradable wipes (or baby wipes). How About Boots? If your travel van or RV doesnt have a kitchen sink and grey water tank make sure you follow these instructions. Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the bookRestorative Yoga for Beginners. Do you have any advice on how to stay clean while camping? Bacteria thrives in moist conditions, so avoid cotton clothes that may soak up the sweat and opt for wicking clothes instead. Our tips for how to stay clean while camping provide some simple solutions from bringing enough clothing to getting scrubbed up at the end of the day so that you feel nearly new, Grit and grime are all part of having a good time when youre camping, andno one expects to come home smelling fresh as a daisy, When you get back from a day of hiking, take your socks off and let them air out, If you dont bring clothes designated for sleep, thats just more time spent marinating in the same old stinky clothes, so pack sleeping clothes too, Bathe in nature but leave the soap at home, Smoothly does it how to handle a fully loaded bike when bikepacking, How to pack a daypack for hiking in 4 easy steps, How to keep your bike safe when bikepacking: essential tips to avoid theft, How to remain injury-free when you're hiking this summer, How to carry running gels: 6 tested methods for keeping your fuel to hand, How to plan a trail running adventure in 5 easy steps, These are my favorite gear picks for rainy summer hiking, Grab a Garmin GPS watch for just $170 on Amazon Prime Day. Get inspired with adventure films, event replays, series, and more. Caution: The anti-microbial silver nanoparticles featured in some athletic clothes are harmful to the environment, so use caution. Your friend is keeping their distance. This post was created by adventure contributor, Whitney Matthews, Post Summary: Essential Camping Hygiene Tips On Backpacking and Hiking Trips. Unfortunately, since baby wipes arent biodegradable, you have to pack the dirty ones and take them with you. Here are our tips: 1. Also, bring a trowel for burying your poop (more on that below as well)! One way to extend your clothes as long as possible is to wear your shirts and pants (but not your underwear and socks) multiple days in a row, or until they are visibly soiled. Like what you see? Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display. Good personal hygiene is especially important if youre spending more than a few days outdoors. But hopefully, with this list, you know what to pack and how to prepare so you can set yourself up for success! Visit our corporate site. Water sprays. Especially for the ladies, there is a product Biodegradable or baby wipes. I dont like to skimp out on socks and underwear, so I tend to pack a little more than others. Dental hygiene doesnt have to relax just because youre in nature. Maintaining good trail hygiene not only requires packing enough clothing, but also knowing when to change and clean it. Oh thats super cool! Caring for Your Clothes While Backpacking Can I Wash My Clothes in a Stream or Lake? Besides worrying about what others may think of you, exercising proper hygiene is actually crucial for staying safe. Where to Find FREE or Cheap RV Sites Camping, See ALL the Small House BIG Yard Clothing, smells delicious like this turkey vegetable stew, 13 RV Camping Tips for Seniors Living Their Best Life, What NOT to Bring on Your RV Trip (An Anti Packing List). Clean your bowl with your spoon, also while cleaning the spoon. Put them away after each meal. Be careful not to burn yourself! Good for her! Save the nice smells for your baby wipe baths! Add clothes and detergent, leaving enough room for the contents to shuffle about. Camping hygiene habits for peeing in the backcountry are important for overall cleanliness, but also for preventing uncomfortable situations like rashes or infections. If youre lucky, there will be a compostable toilet in the area (like Berty is using above!). Just strip down at least 200 feet away from your campsite and 200 feet away from any water source that may exist. I havent been camping since i was a kid and this week im going for the first time with my boyfriend, this has helped so much. (Keep scrolling for this next tip!). These are also useful for when nature calls. Antibacterial handwash diluted with water. This ensures you maintain a clean and dry environment around your groin! Shake it up again to rinse off the remainder of the detergent. Moisturizer: The gentlest formula that generally works for all skin types is from CeraVe ($5.49). You may find yourself up in high alpine environments and very cold temperatures. Let the water soak in, and then cover up the hole. Hands down, showering is the largest consumer of water when camping. Here, we will talk about washing dishes while backpacking (specifically for one-bowl type meals): Instead, you can either use toilet paper and pack it out or burn it (ensure it burns 100%) or you can use natural materials like moss or leaves. Besides socks and underwear, I typically only bring one or two pairs of clothing regardless of how long the trip is. ), 32 Easy Places to Buy Discount Outdoor Gear For a Steal. Sweaty scalps do give hair a unique pong and you might be prone to greasy hair that can make you feel dirtier than you really are. They have clearly never heard of organic or natural toothpaste and the spray method! Id never thought about how much water weight they must contribute. I use this one. 1. Use dry shampoo To maintain proper hygiene without taking a shower, using dry shampoo is a great choice. Your email address will not be published. However, as you'll soon learn, staying clean is a goal that can be accomplished while camping. I have been camping a long time about 50 years and I remember my dad having a black bucket and we were right next to creek our camping property and so in the morning my dad would get water from the creek and that water was cold and would set the bucket in the sun and by 3 or 4 in the afternoon on a summer day the water would be warm enough to take a sponge bath in his swim trunks during the summer in california. July 17, 2021at10:37 pm, William Norva said: Outstanding advice from a wise couple! Youve been hiking for quite a while when something unsavory hits your nostrils. Even when using biodegradable soap, Leave No Trace guidelines assert that you should keep it 200 feet from any water. Our goal with this post is to get you as prepared as possible so you can be set up for camping hygiene success when you head out into the backcountry. But in case youre not near one, youll need to use that extra water you packed, along with biodegradable soap. If you dont have access to water nearby, bring extra water so that you can, at the very least, wash underwear, socks, and bras daily. Laundry on a camping trip? But whether you're camping or backpacking, you've got to be selective about how many clothes you bring along. This makes the prospect of swimming (even when its a bit chilly) much more attractive. Avoid using pads because there will be too much moisture, and that can cause rashes. Speaking of eating, its important to keep your cooking tools clean so as not to attract animals. Finally, fill the hole with dirt. The Best Portable Dog Fence for Camping (2023), 5 Best RV Backup Cameras for RV & Trailer. Hand Sanitizer The most lightweight option is to bring hand sanitizer and use that periodically. Caring for Your Clothes While Backpacking. Keeping bacteria from building up where it shouldnt be is key to a comfortable, rewarding hiking experience. This is a silicone cup you insert into your vagina which collects blood. What about your greasy hair? Thank you for giving me the idea to use baby wipes to give myself a form of sponge bath while Im outdoors. Otherwise youll need to pack extra water to account for all the cleaning youll need to do. Then place your clothes and a little biodegradable laundry detergent into the plastic bag. Sometimes washing your clothes on a backpacking trip isnt really necessary, or convenient (this definitely applies to trips one week or less). Especially if you're backpacking, theres a limit to how many outfit changes you can bring, but you should definitely include extra socks and underwear since these absorb the most sweat. When choosing what pairs to bring, make sure they are made of sweat-wicking material to help pull moisture off of your skin and keep you dry. There are a few strategies. Weve all been there. This post may contain affiliate links. To align with proper Leave No Trace practices, be sure you are at least 200ft away from camp, trails, and freshwater before you go. To protect water sources, hikers should never use regular hand or dish soap in or near water. Sleeping clothes are important because it allows you to rest clean, without sitting in your own smell and bacteria for all hours of the night. Jostle the bag around (similar to a washing machine's spin cycle), rinse with clean water, and hang to dry. However, pooping is SO important for your overall health and comfort its definitely not recommended to wait an entire week, or even a long weekend! Before your trip, call the park rangers office to ask about proper poop disposal in your specific location. Personally, I just try to swim as much as I possibly can. Join our community of outdoor adventurers - you'll find trip inspiration, gear discussions, route recommendations, new friends and more! We have mugs. So heres just about everything you need to know about how to stay clean while camping. Or, you can invest in some quality biodegradable wipes. The number you bring will largely be dependent on your preferences and the amount of space you have available. She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Read More: A Campers Guide to Camping on Your Period. as well as the above materials, but avoid deodorant, perfume, hairspray, shampoo, and any other scented and environmentally-unfriendly materials. Bacteria thrives in moist conditions, so avoid cotton clothes that may soak up the sweat and opt for wicking clothes instead. Leave these items to dry overnight. If youre planning on a much longer trek, this info will come in handy. Upper Peninsula RV Adventure Guide Whenever someone asks us, Where is one of your favorite places in the US for RVing? Our answer is unquestionably, in unison, The UP of Michigan. The UP means Upper Peninsula, of course. For peeing This mostly applies to ladies. Back in 2014, I spent 22 days on the John Muir Trail and I discovered that the most obvious cause of smelly underwear was drip-drying after peeing. (It also doubles as a mat for me to lay out all my gear on so pine needles / sand dont get in everything). There are several ways to wash camping dishes, and each depends on your location, climate, and time of year. Or do as some hikers do and time your birth control to skip your period altogether. Why? Open windows. For stubborn, burned-on bits in pots and pans, scrub with an abrasive brush. If you choose to go with traditional menstrual products, cover a Ziploc bag in duct tape and add a little baking soda to neutralize the smell for packing out. Our tips for how to stay clean while camping provide simple solutions from bringing the right clothing to scrubbing up at the end of the day so that you feel nearly new. Facewash: The most Leave No Trace friendly option is to use wipes, and pack them out. Strip wash using a collapsable bowl, water and soap. Here are some of the top tips for keeping yourself clean while you are out on your next camping trip. For a backpacking skincare routine, try and pair it down to the bare essentials. How you deal with it depends on what kind of kicks you have. 3. You can shampoo your hair and dry it without using any water you trudged along. NY 10036. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from Qualifying Purchases. Download the app . Add your dirty clothes and close the bag, with just enough air for things to get tossed around. Heres how to make one: Feeling like a full-body refresh? One of my favorite parts of my camping hygiene routine is caring for my skin and keeping it clean! Unscented baby wipes or wet wipes can work like a sponge bath. Looking for a detailed trip report for a canoeing or backpacking route? Alternatively, you could take your small bowl of water and windmill it, spraying wide. Once the dishes are clean, lay them out on a camping towel or on rocks to dry. I go into further details about how to poop in the woods in the article below. Where you will run into difficulties is what do you do with the products after they have been used? You can read our full affiliate disclosure here. All rights reserved. My mom actually uses a toothpaste powder that is safe to swallow and probably better for LNT than what I currently use and spit out. Required fields are marked *. Your Clothes 2.2 2. It might sound contradictory to roughing it, but you really can take a shower while camping. You may be a welcome guest, but it is ultimately natures home, and itd be terribly rude to contaminate it. This means Id rather put on wet hiking socks in the morning than keep my dry sleeping socks on. In full honesty, not showering for a few days and having to poop in the woods is going to sound scary (and uncomfortable) until you actually try it and figure out what works best for you. When Im done, I either use a camping towel (this is the one I use) to dry them or I let them air dry before putting my Tevas back on. Wash and dry your feet, genitals, butt, pits, face, hair, even if just with water. To be extra sure that nothing is going to get into it, cover your cathole with a couple of large rocks if theyre around. Bring Two Outfits and Wash Each Night At the end of a long day of outdoor activities, your clothes will likely be less than fresh. When you get back from a day of hiking, take your socks off and let them air out. Highlander's organized group treks have all the trappings of a racebut the point isn't to finish fast. Then, using the water and soap, bathe away, paying particular attention to the groin, underarms, and face. Have an extra pair of pants/shorts and an extra t-shirt exclusively reserved for sleeping. And wont everyone stink by day 3? Because washing with soap and water isnt always convenient or available, carry a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hang them to dry so that the clothes are ready for the next transition. Follow typical cathole disposal practices, just like you would with other bathroom refuse. This prevents your spit from unnecessarily pooling in any one given place and spreads it out to make as little impact as possible. Keep your campfire clean. You may well choose to sleep naked at camp (and if youre planning on getting grimey, youll want to use a sleeping bag liner to protect your bag) but if its going to be cold overnight, youll want to wear pajamas or long johns and a base layer.
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