How to Keep Clean when Camping

Maintaining Your Personal Hygiene

Bring 2 outfits with you when you go camping. Give yourself something to change into after a long day of hiking or camping. If you only pack 1 set of clothes, you’ll have to deal with the sweat, dirt, and foul odors that build up. This way, you can slip into an extra outfit while you clean and air out your old clothes! Synthetic materials are the best option for your packing list. These materials won’t absorb sweat, and will be a lot more comfortable to wear while you’re outside. If you’re on a longer camping trip, you can spend each day washing the other set of clothes. If you have the space, you may also want to pack a few extra outfits, depending. Place your clothing inside a resealable plastic bag, and line the inside of your backpack with a trash bag. That way, if it rains, your clothes won't get wet.

Clean up with biodegradable soap and clean water. Pack enough biodegradable soap to last you for your camping trip. You can swim in a nearby lake or river without soap to clean yourself off, or you wash yourself separately with clean water and biodegradable soap. Clean off any dirt or grime with a separate washcloth and your soap, which can help you feel refreshed after a long day of hiking and camping. Take your shower at least 200 ft (61 m) away from any natural water sources if you’re using soap. If you’re an avid camper, you may want to invest in a portable shower or solar shower for your camping trips. You can purchase these online.

Give yourself a quick shower with baby wipes or soap. Grab a wet wipe and clean yourself off after a long day. If you don’t have any wipes on hand, use a damp towel and biodegradable soap to get the job done. This is a handy option if you don’t want to pack a lot of extra water.

Wash your hair with unscented dry shampoo. Spritz your hair with dry shampoo as a quick, easy way to stay clean after a long day. Double-check that the shampoo doesn’t have any extra scents added, since you don’t want to attract any pests. You can also knead some baby powder into your hair if it’s especially greasy.

Dry off quickly with a microfiber towel. Keep a microfiber towel on hand whenever you clean yourself off or go for a swim. Unlike other materials, microfiber dries very quickly, which makes it an ideal towel for your camping trip.

Sanitize your hands often. Keep a pack on hand sanitizer on your person so your hands can stay squeaky clean throughout your trip. Use the sanitizer whenever you use the bathroom, and also before you eat anything. This is a quick and easy way to stay clean, since washing your hands can be a bit of hassle when you’re outside.

Brush your teeth while you’re out camping. Pack the same dental supplies that you use every night at home, like toothpaste and a toothbrush. Step several paces away from your campsite so you can spit out the leftover paste once you’re done brushing. When you’re not using them, keep your toothbrush and toothpaste in a zippered freezer bag, or an air-tight container. If you don’t have a toothbrush, you can gnaw on the pointy end of a thin twig until the fibers are visible. For the rest of the trip, you can use this frayed twig as your toothbrush. It’s important to maintain your dental hygiene, even when you’re off camping.

Keeping Your Clothes and Campsite Clean

Wash your clothes in a large bag. Place your dirty clothes in a large bag, like a trash bag. Fill the bag at least one-third of the way with water, and mix in a spoonful of powdered, biodegradable detergent. Hold the end of the bag tightly in your hands and move it around in a circle for at least 5 minutes to give your clothes a good wash. Dump out the extra water at least 200 ft (61 m) away from any rivers, ponds, or lakes. Pour out any leftover water at least 200 ft (61 m) back from your main campsite. If you don’t want to wash your clothes, try to air out your dirty clothes overnight.

Rinse off your clothes with clean water. Fill the same garbage bag with a little more water, leaving enough space to comfortably place your clothing. Secure the end of the bag with your hand and swing it around for a few more minutes, which will help rinse out your clothing. Once you’re done rinsing, you can dump out the extra water. To be safe, continue dumping the water at least 200 ft (61 m) away from any major water sources.

Let your clothes air-dry in an open area. Look around your campsite for a large, open area where your wet clothes can dry off naturally. Hang, drape, or clip your clothing in this area so it stays put. Give your clothes several hours to dry, so you’ll be ready to wear them later!

Set up a handwashing station with a water spout. Fill up a large, water-safe container with clean water, and set it somewhere around your campsite, like on a picnic table. Attach a water spout to the side of this container, and arrange a large bucket beneath the spout to catch any extra water. Keep a biodegradable hand soap next to the water spout, which people can use to wash and keep their hands clean. This works especially at campsites that have clean water pumps.

Pack a water filter to keep all your drinking water clean. Pour your water into a filter, which you can then pump into your water bottle or canteen. Look for a filtration product that gets rid of parasites, bacteria, and common viruses, if you can. Other different ways to clean and treat water includes UV treatment with UV lights or additives like iodine tablets, or chlorine tablets.

Protect your sleeping bag with a liner. Search online for sleeping bag liners that go around your sleeping roll. These will help keep your sleeping bag from getting too dirty and damaged from the great outdoors. If your liner starts looking dirty, feel free to let it air out. If it’s looking a little worse for wear, you may want to wash it instead.

Handling Waste

Find an environmentally-friendly place to urinate. If possible, pee in a reusable toilet or some other kind of container. Consult the park rangers or other employees about the best way to relieve yourself in your camping area. If you’re near a river, find a wet section of soil to urinate into. Ask your local park ranger or park employee if they have a disposal waste kit that you can use.

Defecate in a separate area from your campsite. Create a “cat hole,” or small hole off the beaten path that will hold your waste. Dig an opening that’s at least 4 in (10 cm) and at least 100 ft (30 m) away from your campsite or any water. Don’t toss your toilet paper into the hole. Instead, store it in a separate baggy where you can properly throw it out later. It may be easier to use leaves instead of toilet paper.

Dedicate a separate bag to your used hygiene products. Use your hygiene product of choice, whether it’s a tampon, menstrual cup, or pad. Once the item is used, place it in a sealable plastic bag, which helps mask any unpleasant odor. As an extra precaution, hang this bag 10 ft (3.0 m) off the ground so bears can’t get to it. You can also use birth control to tweak your cycle so you don’t menstruate while you’re camping.