There is no doubt that camping is a great way to connect with nature and disconnect from the hectic modern life. Also, being close to nature gives you many opportunities to strengthen your physical and mental health.
But physical health requires washing and cleaning your body and hair. Whereas, when camping far away from the comfort and luxury of your home, taking a shower, cleaning your body, and maintaining personal hygiene can be a real challenge. So, what are the options for taking a shower while camping? When camping in the wild, how do you shower? How about when you go car camping?
When camping, it is possible to rinse your body with fresh water sources like rivers, lakes, streams or waterfalls. There is also the option of using a public shower. And, if you are traveling in an RV, you can clean yourself and stay hygienic in the built-in RV shower. Portable Bag Showers are an excellent choice as well. Lastly, if none of these options is available, try using baby wipes to cleanse your body.
After years of experience, we have compiled this list to help clean yourself with a shower -or without it- easily while camping.
Read on to find out How to Shower When Camping!
Why shower During Camping?
Showering is critical for keeping the body clean and preventing illness caused by germs. It is more important to wash your body when camping because you sweat more and stay in dirtier areas.
When to shower while camping?
Nobody likes to stink but look for your personal bathing needs for proper camping hygiene. Some people can go 2-3 days without showering, and others may feel the need to bathe every day.
The key to maintaining a high level of hygiene while camping is to figure out how long you can go without bathing – comfortably. Because certain fabrics retain moisture and body odor more than others, having the proper clothing can make a big difference.
From our own experience, we highly suggest gathering camping and travel gear made from high-quality wool and synthetic materials:
Merino Wool shirts: They can keep their freshness for incredibly long periods And are very comfortable too.
Merino Wool socks: you can wear them without washing them for multiple days.
Merino Wool underwear: Comfortable to wear, easy to clean, and durable.
How To Shower While Camping
Shower in Nature
Natural water resources like lakes, rivers, streams, and waterfalls make the best places to bathe in wild during camping. You can take a shower on the edges of the lakes and rivers.
You can take a shower at the edges of the lakes and rivers. But don’t try to reach too deep to avoid any unpleasant incidents, as they may run deeper than you would expect.
Camping in an area where you can easily find a resting spot near a waterfall will give you plenty of opportunities to take a bath while camping.
But don’t bathe directly under the falling water because it can be dangerous and hurtful.
Also, avoid using shampoo or soaps while bathing in natural water sources. Not even biodegradable. If you must use shampoo or soap, use environmentally friendly soap at least 200 feet from the water source.
Public Showers
You may need to choose a campground with shower facilities if you are not camping in an RV with built-in shower structures. While they can be expensive, they are worth it for their convenience.
Campgrounds and national parks in developed areas may charge for public showers, while others provide them for campers with reservations. You can pay to shower at some campgrounds even if you are not staying there. Another convenient place to wash off after a long camping day is a community pool.
The best times to take public showers are in the early morning and mid-afternoon because they can get busy.
RV Showers
RV showers are another excellent source for taking a shower, especially when car camping. Almost all RVs come equipped with a standup shower inside, and some come with an external shower nozzle. The shower can be heated with propane too. So, you’ll get warm water if needed.
Use Camping Showers
If any of the abovementioned methods are not feasible, you can opt for a camping shower.
Camping showers come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The simplest can be a bag filled with water and a shower hose. This shower bag can hold up to 5 gallons of water. It is heated directly by sunlight and can heat the water to 110°F (43 °C).
How to Take Bathe While Camping
You will need to consider your camping preferences when choosing a shower system. Even though all designs are portable, some offer warm water in fully private tents for a more luxurious experience. In contrast, others have a portable tank and hose for a more straightforward experience.
Tent Showers
Despite their luxury, these systems require the most time and effort to install.
If you’re staying at a campsite for a long time, tent showers are ideal, but not for quick and easy batteries on the go. A tent shower is usually equipped with a bag or tank positioned inside the tent and lighting, towel hooks, and drainage floors.
Bag Showers
Most of these can be heated by the sun and contain water in a bag. Solar showers usually include a hose and nozzle for water flow and are heated by absorbent materials.
To make a bag shower work, you must hang it high enough that gravity will force the water through the showerhead. Depending on the model, these showers may hold up to 5 gallons of water and can be easily packed after use.
Tank Showers
Tank showers are usually portable, come with hoses or pumps, are heated by batteries, and are very easy to set up.
Tank showers are widespread among campers since they can serve as more than a shower. An easy-to-use Rinse Kit is always handy when camping in a car or tent since it makes showering easier.
Not only are Rinse Kits great for showers, but also for cleaning gear, washing dishes, and rinsing pets. The sprayers are equipped with a multi-spray nozzle and a built-in hose. Using their 2-gallon option for weeks is possible if you use it cautiously. Some newer models come with a battery-operated heater, which is a valuable option if you are camping in cold weather.
Privacy tents
If you are camping in an area where you need more privacy, privacy tents are an excellent option to take a shower at campsites.
While they do not come with a shower system, they offer privacy when showering, changing, or getting to the bathroom.
Camping Shower Tips and Things to Take Care While Showering
You must exercise extreme environmental awareness when taking a shower while camping if you don’t want to pollute the environment with the chemicals and hazardous ingredients in your shampoos and soaps.
Please dispose of all single-use cloths and wipes properly after use, and do not leave them open to cause any harm to nature. We must follow the Leave No Trace Principles to preserve nature and promote a safe camping experience for everyone.
How to Shower Without Water?
You can shower without water while camping if you don’t want to use water for any reason or if there isn’t any available.
The good news is that you have some options to choose from.
Use Baby Wipes:
Yes, you can use them. It may sound stranger, but if you can use them on your babies, why can’t you? So, if you don’t have water (or don’t want to use water), you can use wet baby wipes for cleaning and personal hygiene.
There is a variety to choose from. Some are natural, and some use chemicals like alcohol to clean your body. So, make sure you do your research and select the wipe that is right for you.
And make sure you choose only biodegradable products.
Baby Powder or Cornstarch
Another excellent product to stay fresh without a water shower is to use baby powder or cornstarch.
Don’t Waste water, Water is life. Even if two-thirds of the earth is covered with water, clean drinking water is still rare and pricey. So, using as little water as possible when showering is always good. Use these methods to avoid wasting water.
Targeted Washing:
You can feel refreshed without using a lot of water by cleaning whatever area makes you feel refreshed. You can start by brushing your teeth and washing your face. You should always brush your teeth and wash your face twice a day when camping for an extended period. No matter how long it takes you to take a full-on shower, you’ll feel instantly refreshed.
How To Take Sponge Bath While Camping
Sponge baths are one of the most popular methods to take a shower while camping because they require less water. To “wipe” off dirty skin, soak a sponge or washcloth in water and add a small amount of biodegradable soap. Repeat the process a few times until you feel tidy.
Don’t wash hair
Whenever possible, avoid washing your hair because it always takes a lot of water. If shampooing your hair is necessary, let the biodegradable soapy water flow down your body after washing your scalp. Avoid rinsing your hair. Use a leave-in conditioner if you can’t live without the conditioner.
Rinse-off technique
Because the rinse-off approach uses the most water, it is best suited to campgrounds with water spigots. In this technique, you spray water on your body, turn it off, wash it with soap, and then rinse it.
Conclusion
Camping is a great way to get back to nature and enjoy the outdoors, but it can be hard in the summer heat or in places like the desert. There are a variety of ways to stay cool and refreshed while camping, but one of the best options is taking a nice shower.
Showering is part of the routine for most people, but when you’re camping, it’s not always so simple. Even if you have a portable shower unit, you still need access to water and electric outlets. But with these tips for showering when camping, you’ll be able to get the clean feeling you want without all of the hassle.
FAQs
How to shower without a shower camping?
You can take a shower in a lake, a stream, or a river if you are camping without a portable battery. Fresh water will wash off any extra dirt and oils. It can wash off excess dirt and oils in fresh water. You can use biodegradable soap with bottled water. Alternatively, if you don’t have access to these natural water sources, you can clean yourself off with a baby wipe or cornstarch.
How do you shower on a campsite without a shower?
You can still take a shower without a shower if your campsite doesn’t have one. You can use dry shampoo, hand washers diluted with water, or a dry shower in a can.
How do you shower while wild camping?
When camping in the wild, you can take a shower with the help of a Bag Shower. One person holds the water container up, and the other uses the pouch valve as a shower faucet. Also, if you are camping in winter, you can turn the fly sheets of your tents into privacy tents for taking showers safely.
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