Bathing while camping?

36204 Views 80 Replies 55 Participants Last post by Ratdog68, 2 mo ago

cassiem

Discussion Starter · Feb 6, 2008 (Edited)

Ok campers, I am getting personal? :shocked:

Do you bathe when you go camping? I ask this because I have camped with many people that tend not to, just fresh clothes and they are done. I have to shower everyday, cant stand not too. We have camped with other people, luckily for me in their own tent

, but they didnt shower the whole time.

Is it common for you not to shower while on a camping trip?

Reactions: 1

41 - 60 of 81 Posts

Gus

· #41 · Mar 30, 2011

Showering while tent camping - blasphemy! And no shaving either!
Be one with nature.
Soapy wash cloth and fresh deodorant for the armpits, and brushed teeth -good to go.

plus you get to enjoy the strange looks you get when you stop somewhere on the way home.

[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Gus[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
"Of course I trust my political representatives ... just not with my liberties or my wallet" :GAW[/FONT]

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bighabsfan11

· #42 · Mar 31, 2011

First off...been gone for about a year and a half...good to see familiar names on here still!

I like to shower every OTHER day while camping. Shaving is out. I try to become Grizzly Adams, if possible. I'm relaxing. But being clean is important, too! However, I'm CAMPING. I don't need to shower/bathe every day....it really depends on the bug spray/sweating situation...if I've done a lot of it that day, I'll shower up in one of a few ways, all have been mentioned - CG showers, Trailer shower or hop in the lake w/biodegradable soap.

I hope I actually get to camp this year, after having a broken ankle last year kept me away from that (and GOLF) for the whole year. It all depends on business, since I'm now working for myself (own a DJ company), and need to make sure the bills are paid!

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love2camp2

· #43 · Apr 7, 2011

We are lucky enough to have a shower in the trailer, but before that I found that baby wipes are a nice refresher!

RVadventurer

· #44 · May 4, 2011

baby wipes do work well. That is basically what hospitals use on patients who are bed bound and unable to get into the shower.

I don't mine using a public shower most of the time, once we were on the Outer Banks and the public showers only had cold water, so I didn't shower that weekend.

In the motorcoach the shower is kinda small for me, but I use it when I have too.

Definitely no showering during deer season :no:

FrecklezRae

· #45 · Jun 28, 2011

New here =)

Gotta say, this site is fantastic!! I went camping with a few friends last year for 3 days, at a campgrounds with no running water. We were on a lake so it didn't matter too much. But this year we're staying for a full week and we really needed to find a way to shower. I'm ordering a couple solar-bags and grabbing a tarp to setup. Great advice! =D:thumbup1:

artmart

· #46 · Jun 30, 2011

When you shower using this method please be about 200ft of rivers and lakes to minimize runoff into what could be someone else's water supply.

Let's just say solar showers are "invigorating", but better than nothing or bathing with soap in a water source.

silverz51

· #47 · Sep 3, 2011 (Edited)

Let's see, I'm by myself, no wife, girlfriend or tent mate. The temps are not really warm and I'm camping in a tent. Unless there is a public showers in the campground, I don't see myself showering out in the open with cold water out of a plastic bag.

A wet washcloth or baby wipes (unscented) will have to do. I'll wash my face and wet & comb my hair, shaving is out.

artmart

· #48 · Sep 3, 2011

Cut off the top half from a gallon jug and you can create a small reusable and disposable basin. It is small enough to pack things inside of it to make use of the room. Then chuck it in the recylables when you are done.

I like to be as clean as possible at least for the journey back home. I can't even stand to smell myself if I'm alone. I can shave with just about any lather and a razor. That's all I need. I have used the bio soap as a shampoo, too and it works pretty good.

Heat some water or just enough to be lukewarm, a little bit of biodegradable soap and you'll be amazed at how refreshing this is. Cold water can be invigorating too.

demonslaer

· #49 · Sep 5, 2011

I always find a way to get clean even in the winter

Lisa Anne

· #50 · Sep 5, 2011

i use a ozerk trail double shower tent and a battery operated shower also by ozark trail. the only problem is it doesnt heat the water. i just heat it in a pan on the fire or use the hot water on demand system. it works great took it camping up the mountains and all 6 of us had nice hot showers.

silverz51

· #51 · Sep 5, 2011 (Edited)

Campers seem to be a clean, shower loving bunch. While I shower daily at home, sometimes that's just not possible when out on vacation.
I've been sailing in bareboat charters for a week to 10 days several times and showers were not possible. Fresh water is a scarce commodity in a sailboat and it's only used for drinking and cooking.
We all just jumped in the ocean, came out and lathered up with Lemon Joy, and jumped right back in to rinse off. I always sailed in the Caribbean so that was always an easy thing to do. I don't know what cold water sailors do, but I bet they don't take any showers either....
While you can shower in the head, it's always with sea water and definitely not heated (but who cares, the water is always very warm).

Shadow

· #52 · Oct 26, 2011

For me it depends on how nasty I get. If I am just sitting around the camp, enjoying nature and meditating, I don't shower every day. If I go out for a hike and come back sweaty and dusty/muddy then I hit the shower. What I DO bring are a big box of those baby wipes. I generally clean myself up a couple times a day. Keeps from feeling to nasty or developing a case of monkey butt.

artmart

· #53 · Oct 26, 2011

I guess I'm glad I can't relate to monkey butt - what it is, how it is. Is anyone else getting the vision of the monkeys doing "see no evil", "speak no evil", and "hear no evil"? I guess now we can add "smell no evil". I'll leave to you all on what that monkey looks like. But notice no monkey butts are involved.

Warning, the last person that smells how bad they stink, is the person that stinks the worse. And since I can't stand myself, I've got to imagine it's worse for others. Just consider that this "odor" just might attract others things you may not want to attract.

Do try and use stuff without an odor. Especially avoid scents like food (coconut, orange, lemons, chocolate, vanilla, etc.) and perfumes (flowers). Keep things as odor free as possible.

I'm just sorta messin' with you Shadow. I am sure you stink decent when you are out there.

I find wet/wipes are a great addition to my personal care kit. But again, I try not to use the scented ones.

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edwinjd

· #54 · Oct 27, 2011

I always need to have a shower twice a day: one in the morning and one before I go to bed. It makes me feel a whole lot more comfortable, especially when camping during the summer time.

Shadow

· #55 · Oct 27, 2011

artmart said:
I guess I'm glad I can't relate to monkey butt - what it is, how it is. Is anyone else getting the vision of the monkeys doing "see no evil", "speak no evil", and "hear no evil"? I guess now we can add "smell no evil". I'll leave to you all on what that monkey looks like. But notice no monkey butts are involved.

Warning, the last person that smells how bad they stink, is the person that stinks the worse. And since I can't stand myself, I've got to imagine it's worse for others. Just consider that this "odor" just might attract others things you may not want to attract.

Do try and use stuff without an odor. Especially avoid scents like food (coconut, orange, lemons, chocolate, vanilla, etc.) and perfumes (flowers). Keep things as odor free as possible.

I'm just sorta messin' with you Shadow. I am sure you stink decent when you are out there. I find wet/wipes are a great addition to my personal care kit. But again, I try not to use the scented ones.

Go here: http://www.chapterd.gwrra-ga.com/gwrra/newsletters/files/block_0/2011-07_July.pdf

on page 9 is an article by a guy in one of my clubs that explains all about monkey butt.

As a biker and camper, I find a lot of my habits from one thing are applicable to the other. On a bike, you learn to pack efficiently, and not bring a lot of crap you don't need. My friends say I "don't bring anything" when I camp. I bring what is needed, and leave the rest at home.

I agree with not using scents such as fruity shampoos and such, especially in bear country,and honestly, you can get by with some stuff from the kitchen..

Corn Starch: Soaks up body oils. You can sprinkle some on your head, massage it all over, then shake your head and comb out the rest.. It makes a serviceable dry shampoo.

Baking Soda: Not just for your fridge.. You can use it for toothpaste with a little water, and rub it on your armpits and your "junk" as a deodorant. You can also use it as a scouring powder when you wash dishes.

These things are also 100% biodegradable and environmentally safe.

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artmart

· #56 · Oct 27, 2011

You're under the impression I wanted to know...

... I don't think so, but thanks for trying to educate me.

I've never used any talc on my outings. I just haven't had the need, but I've heard it helps keep between bath times a little more tolerable. I've heard the corn starch remedy, too but it's the corn equating food that I wouldn't want on my body. There may be some other talc I'd consider that is hopefully unscented, but this is not as bad a problem on the drier West coast, than it would be for the East coast. I remember traveling back East on business trips and this western body needed talc so whomever I visited didn't see me sweat.

bigjr

· #57 · Jan 11, 2012

Depends on how drunk i am:whistling:

edwinjd

· #58 · Jan 12, 2012

bigjr said:
Depends on how drunk i am:whistling:

Now that is a very good point to consider. A really quick shower under would really help especially after a night drinkin' with friends around the campfire and I got to be the one to drive us all the way back.:smack-head:

bigjr

· #59 · Jan 12, 2012

Me too Edwin cant teach the wife how to drive the 5er :no:

artmart

· #60 · Jan 13, 2012 (Edited)

LOL, Edwin... I've got the same consideration (problem would be too strong a word). The only times DW has driven the 5er is short distances to help park at a campground, but she's never been on the open road at all! She didn't drive the TT we had either. The last time she drove a towable was when we owned the small popup and we were on an open, uncrowded highway when we were coming home from a trip and I was exhausted since we were marathoning the trip home. Other than that, I've driven every mile on all other trailers (RV or utility trailers).

Oops..... got off topic! Time to correct this.... the popup did not have a shower and we used other methods. Other trailers had shower facilities. I try and keep as clean as possible and use several methods depending on where or what is available. It's a "trying to stay healthy" thing.

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