Alternative to Showering

The need to be able to take showers is a frequent concern for potential vehicle dwellers.

Showering isn't the only way to keep clean.

When I was a kid people took baths rather than showers.

Of course you can't haul around a bath tub, haha!

But what about sponge baths? That's how I keep clean.

Before finding this forum, I saw a YouTube video where a guy living in a van would use vinegar in a spray bottle to keep himself clean.
Personally I found the idea disgusting, "but to each his own", as they say. imo. there's no substitute for a good shower. That's why I installed a solar shower on the roof of my van.

Vinegar drying for the skin. Wouldn't take much water for a wet washcloth and a little soap to clean and another wet washcloth to rinse off.

That is what I will do, too. But I think I will have to have a real shower at least once every week. I love long hot showers.

I use a gallon of water in a bucket and a washcloth. I do a small part of my body at a time. Wet the washcloth. Scrub. Squeeze the dirty water on to the ground. Soak up fresh water from the bucket. Repeat until you're done.

At first I rigged up an outdoor shower with a bilge pump that sucked water out of a couple of black square old kitty litter pails I set out in the sun, after a few years the pump blew up. Now I use the hot water from the buckets and a basin, a face cloth, a small bowl to rince and wash my hair and swim when I get a chance or wash by a stream, lake or river using my small bowl and bucket. The shower was nice and I may invest in a new pump one day but it is not a deal changer for me.

Me and Vic are doing the sponge bath thing right now.Works ok,but after 48 years we know how each other smells.

I use a variety of things. Sometimes just warm water, sometimes wet wipes, sometimes a thing called periwash, which is what they use to bathe bedridden patients. No need to rinse. Then, when it's handy, I use showers at truck stops, public rec centers or campgrounds.

Although I have a shower in my RV, I do sponge baths between showers when conserving water/tank space. If it's hot and I'm sweaty, I like to shower every day but use as little water as possible. Really, I don't think most people need a daily shower in cool weather.

After spending many years and dollars fighting a nail fungus I got from a campground shower, I avoid them like the plague.

I love a long hot shower, but am very careful about where, often washing the floor down with bleach before use, and always wear shower shoes.

In the van I use two bowls and two washcloths - one for wash, the other for rinse. The rinse rag gets squeezed out into the wash basin.
Total water is 3 quarts.

Hair washing is similar- wetting with washcloth, massage in conditioner(no shampoo), brush well, rinse by pouring from pan to large pan. A couple times a week I rinse with apple cider vinegar then water.

Last winter when I stayed in an off-grid cabin, I used a couple of rags and a pot of hot water to keep clean, every other day.

My little camp stove would require five dollars of fuel just to heat a pot of water. Better to spend the five dollars on a real shower. It's too cold for sponge baths anyway.

Finding very cheap or free showers isn't all that difficult, outside of major tourist areas. For example, many of the truck stop casinos in Cajun country have free showers. They may gross some people out, though.

Depends on activities, too. If I go on a hike that gets me crusted up with sweaty salt, I'm a little frantic until I can rinse my skin. ALL my skin. I don't think I'd make a very good thru--hiker. When that's not the case I'm ok just using an astringent cleanser on the greasy/smelly bits, a little cornstarch or powder to dry up my hair. I tend to be oily, I'd use something else if I was on the dry side.

USExplorer said:

Last winter when I stayed in an off-grid cabin, I used a couple of rags and a pot of hot water to keep clean, every other day.

My little camp stove would require five dollars of fuel just to heat a pot of water. Better to spend the five dollars on a real shower. It's too cold for sponge baths anyway.

Finding very cheap or free showers isn't all that difficult, outside of major tourist areas. For example, many of the truck stop casinos in Cajun country have free showers. They may gross some people out, though.

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You need a different stove.

USExplorer said:

My little camp stove would require five dollars of fuel just to heat a pot of water.

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I can do a good sponge bath with a couple of cups of water. No need for a full pot. Less water requires less fuel.

I can offer some practical experience here. In the Army there were times when the ability to shower simply didn't exist. We were given 2 standard water bottles per day for hygiene. 

Keep in mind, we were in the desert, working hard, and getting covered in crud. These methods weren't perfect but they kept us healthy enough to keep going.

We had items called Hooah Wipes. These were simply oversized wet wipes. A wet wipe bath does surprisingly well and is very refreshing. They are also dirt cheap at Walmart and the resealable packs last a while.

Poking a hole in a water bottle cap allowed you to squeeze out the water but conserve its use. Remember, removing excess dirt BEFORE you use the water will always work better. If that is enough water I'm sure you'll be fine with a sponge bath.

The misting yourself with vinegar thing sounds terrible but distilled vinegar evaporates quickly and doesn't leave a lasting odor. It also kills odor causing bacteria while moving your skin ph closer to acidic (where its supposed to be) which keeps bad odor causing bacteria from multiplying for a time. I wouldn't spray my whole body but using it for your underarms is surprisingly effective. 

As for general health you should keep in mind that your body is covered with something called the Horny Layer. This is a layer of dead skin cells and beneficial bacteria important for your health. Washing/scrubbing it off constantly is NOT healthy. If you are not truly dirty the optimal bathing cycle is only every 72 hours.

Lastly, soap isn't actually a disinfectant it is a surfactant. You only need enough to break up the surface tension allowing dirt and bacteria to cling to you. Astronauts use soap laced washcloths because that's all that is needed to break the surface tension and exfoliate. A quick rinse, rub down with soap laced washcloth, quick rinse. If perfuming yourself (the reason why we shower using tons of flowery soap) is wanted then you are much better off doing that AFTER you clean yourself.

A couple of years before learning about van dwelling, I had begun to use the baking soda and vinegar regimen for my hair. Commercial shampoos and conditioners irritated my scalp or cause breakouts in my hair - though some organic (and more expensive) shampoos were better. Then I read about the miracle of apple cider vinegar (white distilled works fine, too).

A tablespoon or so of baking soda in 8 ounces or so of water (shaken well) is a great shampoo if you need to remove oil or a lot of dirt (think dust in the desert). I use a squeeze bottle to apply that, rub my scalp with fingertips, and then rinse (it rinses out easily as it is basically softened water). Then -- the miracle for curly hair that has been a tangled mess all my life -- a rinse of a tablespoon or two of vinegar in a cup or so of water. Massage the "conditioner" through the hair, comb it through (NO tangles) and then another quick rinse.

This has kept my hair and scalp healthy for years and is very environmentally friendly. When on the road, I catch the water that rinses each step in a basin. That "neutralized" water with a bit of baking soda and a little vinegar makes a great foot soak to scrub calloused skin and soften nails for trimming.

I keep a little spray bottle of half vinegar and half water for small cleaning jobs like a sponge bath or my countertop or even my soup mug. For a bath, just spray on a small section, scrub with a wet washcloth. Yes, the smell goes away by the time your bath is finished.

I use the Zodi Instant Hot Shower kit and a personal pop up tent right outside my van. Water is heated, shower, lather, rinse, dried and dressed within an hour. Works for me.

When I have been to the Philippines I would rub a cut lemon or lime in my arm pits and groin. Good for 24 hours. Here I rub Aloe Vera hand sanitizer on and it does the trick. No smell and I think it is healthier than the deodorant that does not let your skin breath. Give it a try............... may surprise you.

As far as washing your hair I prefer to go ah la natural. I shave my head. As I stealth camp most of the time around populated areas I use my water bandit" covers water tap" and get a gallon of hot water to wash with. Use wipes also. Hobo Joe

buckwilk said:

You need a different stove.

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Lol..'...Hobo Joe