Bathing

By Bob Wells, Posted Nov 24, 2006

We need to stay clean but but probably won’t have room for a shower. No problem, people kept clean for thousands of years before indoor plumbing was invented. I carry diaper wipes and facial cleansing pads with me to freshen up with. When available, I take a clean washcloth in a Ziploc bag into a public restroom and keep my face, hand and arms clean there. The armpits and the crotch are more difficult. In my van I strip down (cover all windows with Reflextix for privacy and to keep the heat out, and hang a drape between rear and drivers area) and use a spray bottle to spray those areas so they are very wet. I put a drop or two of antibacterial soap in the palm of my hand and scrub area thoroughly, repeat until clean. Rinse with clean water. Because of the risk of fungus, I just use antibacterial wipes to clean my feet. The new alcohol gel cleaners like Purell work really well for cleaning, I carry a small bottle with me all the time and refill it from the big bottle I buy at Walmart. Wash your hair just like you were washing it in a sink at home. A spray bottle helps to keep the splashing down. A solar shower (basically a black water bag) will give you warm water in the summer. A great idea is to use a common garden sprayer from the Walmart garden center. Put in warm water, give it a few pumps, and presto a portable shower!

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