Heading into the wilderness on your first camping trip is an exciting experience. However, after a few days of being out in the wild with no running water, that experience can turn quite sour. Going several days without showering can be quite daunting.
But there are ways you can compensate for not having running water. What follows are a few tips that will help you get through the experience with as little difficulty as possible.
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Camp Near a Water Source
Choose your camping area near a stream, pond, or small river. That way, you can use the flowing water to your advantage. Whether you choose to take a dip or gather water to wash clothes or yourself, having a stream nearby can be quite handy.
But what if you will not be anywhere near a water source or you are camping out in the cold?
Bring Plenty of Water
If you have the space, bring enough water to do some laundry and take a shower. However, that is a lot of water to bring. If you do not have the space, then try to bring enough water for at least one shower on the trip and some to wash out your undergarments. A fresh set of undies can feel almost as good as having your entire outfit washed.
Of course, there is another way to have fresh sets of undergarments available on your trip.
Bring Extra Outfits and Undergarments
Being able to change clothes can help you feel fresher when in the outdoors. You can bring two outfits and hang up the one worn during the day so that it airs out at night. It will not quite be the same as having the outfit washed, but it helps.
Extra underwear, socks, and bras also help considerably. If you can, take one for each day. But if space is that limited, then at least try to have one pair for every other day.
There is the issue of keeping as clean as possible while limiting the use of water.
Hand Sanitizer & Wipes
Hand sanitizer can be quite useful in keeping your hands clean, especially after you use the bathroom. You can also use sanitizer that has aloe to clean your face and other exposed areas of the body. The aloe will soothe the skin and help keep it from drying out.
Baby wipes are perfect for cleaning yourself and can be used on trips to the bathroom. Be sure to collect all used wipes in a plastic garbage bag so they can be properly disposed of.
Of course, you may be asking about your hair. Washing your hair will help you feel fresh and get rid of that greasy feeling. You can purchase dry shampoo which does not require water and can be used to remove the excess oil along with the dirt to keep your hair and scalp clean.
Add to all of this a toiletry kit that includes a toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste or mouthwash and you now have what you need to keep clean while minimizing the amount of water you take on your camping trip.
