If you are camping for longer than a weekend, you might start to get a little smelly. You’re in the woods — no one is going to judge you (and if they do, leave them behind and go deeper into the woods). But in case you want to freshen up, this is how to keep yourself clean while camping.
A quick note about biodegradable soap
Sure, biodegradable soap is better for the environment. However, that doesn’t make it safe for aquatic ecosystems. Biodegradable just means that it can be broken down by nature; it does not necessarily mean that it is safe for nature. If you want to bathe in the lake, just take a wash cloth and leave the soap at camp.
If you really want to use biodegradable soap, you can. But it needs to be on land, you need to catch your wash water (also called grey water), dig a hole away from any bodies of water, and dump the water into a hole that is 200 ft. away from camp or from water sources. The organisms in the soil, unlike the ones in the water, will be better at breaking down the soap.
How to wash your hair while camping
My advice for how to wash your hair while camping? Don’t — who cares.
Maybe you care. In that case, here are a few ideas for how to wash you hair while camping.
Purchase a solar shower
You hang these in a tree and give them some time to heat up in the sun. There is a shower head and you can shower as normal. You can buy a pop-up tent specifically made for showering in, or you can bare it all for the squirrels.
Whether you go with a solar shower, or any other style of camping shower, you still need to catch your grey water. This can be done by standing in something like Rubbermaid tote or an inflatable pool.
Wash your hair in a camping sink
Purchase a collapsible dish basin or something large enough that you can dunk your head into. Fill it with water and submerge your hair. Soap up your hair, then submerge it again and swirl your hair in the water to rinse the soap out. Drain the soapy water into a hole in the dirt when you are done.
Dry shampoo
If you only need to avoid washing for another day or two (e.g., you are going home in two days), then you can use a dry shampoo. Maybe you *need* to watch the Stanley Cup finals (Defend the Fortress!) which means leaving the tent and sitting at a pub one night. In this case, a spritz of dry shampoo is probably going to make you feel a bit less… greasy. If this oddly specific example seems like a true story — it is.
Put your hair up or wear a hat
My go-to is to just braid my hair and wear a baseball cap. No one can see what is happening underneath and there is the added bonus that my hair is out of the way.
Find an actual shower
If you literally cannot handle it anymore and you absolutely need to know how to wash your hair while camping, find an actual shower. Stay at a campground that has facilities — some campgrounds will even offer a day pass to use their facilities. There are other options like truck stops, gyms, and public recreational facilities (like swimming pools).
How to wash your face while camping
I might not wash my hair while I am camping but I need to wash my face.
Micellar water and reusable cotton rounds
This is my preferred method. I have a bottle of micellar water and purchased reusable cotton rounds from Amazon. I soak the cotton round and wipe my face. If my face is really dirty, I might use a baby wipe to get all the grime off first. After I have wiped my face, I finish with a moisturizer that contains an SPF.
Baby wipes or face wipes
I am not a fan of using disposable wipes at home; I think there are better ways to wash your face that don’t generate so much waste. But baby wipes are a life saver while camping! If you are looking for something simple, just wipe your face with a baby wipe or a wet wash cloth.
Wash your face in a camping sink
If you are already dealing with the grey water from washing your hair, you might as well wash your face in the camping sink too. Remember that you still need to use a biodegradable soap.
How to brush your teeth while camping
One of the most important parts of staying clean while camping is brushing your teeth. Make sure you only brush your teeth with clean water!
Spit into your grey water hole
You took the time to dig it, so you might as well keep using your grey water hole. Brush your teeth and spit in the hole. Easy peasy.
Spit into a cup
This is kind of gross but it is my preferred method for keeping my teeth clean when I am camping. After a day hike, I always buy myself a big fountain drink from a gas station — by the end of each hike, I am fantasizing about my Diet Coke. Once I get back to camp, I use the empty cup for garbage. When I brush my teeth, I just spit in that cup. Be careful not to spill the cup!
Spray method
If you are backpacking, the cup method isn’t going to work (unless you want to carry a bottle of spit around with you — gross). In this case, walk 200 ft. away from camp, and with you mouth still full of toothpaste, take a big gulp of water, and then spray the toothpaste around as much as you can (think of it like a spit take). I don’t know how I always manage to get toothpaste all over myself when I do this, but I am sure you’ll do a better job than me.
How to wash your hands while camping
This is an obvious one — use hand sanitizer.
But if you are like me, hand sanitizer might not be the best option. I get horrible eczema and it is really exacerbated by hand sanitizer. If you are in a similar situation, here is some advice.
- If you use the bathroom or touch meat: use hand sanitizer and then wipe your hands with a baby wipe after.
- If you just need to clean your hands (but not because you touched something gross): use a baby wipe.
- When you are back at camp: wash the hand sanitizer off using a biodegradable soap and dispose of the grey water.
It isn’t always possible to avoid hand sanitizer, so I just try to wash the hand sanitizer off as soon as possible.
How to wash your body while camping
Finally, here is how to keep your body clean while camping.
Shower-less options
- Wipe yourself down with a wet wash cloth or a baby wipe.
- Use a camping sink and wash one part of your body at a time.
- Rinse off in the lake — do not use soap of any kind.
Shower options
As discussed above, here are some ideas in case you want to have an actual shower:
- Use a solar shower or a camping shower
- Use the facilities at the campground
- Go to a truck stop, a gym, or a public swimming pool.
How to wash your clothes while camping
You can easily wash your clothes while camping and you’ll need three things to do so:
- Camping sink or wash bin
- Biodegradable soap — I like Dr. Bronner’s, especially for washing clothes
- Clothes line or rope
Fill your wash bin with water and a little bit of biodegradable soap. Hand wash your clothes and then dig a hole to dispose of your grey water. Fill the wash bin with more water and rinse out the clothes. Dispose of the grey water again by dumping it in the hole. Hang your clothes to dry.
A quick reminder — if you are planning to wash your clothes in a river or lake, don’t use soap (biodegradable or otherwise) and just rinse out the clothes instead.
I hope these tips are helpful for keeping you clean while camping. Do you have any camping hygiene hacks for when you are out in nature? Please share them below!
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