Hygiene in the Hills
It can be hard to stay clean in the wild. Here are Andy’s top tips for keeping clean.
Keeping clean in the wild!
From a weekend walk in the wild to a full-on week’s expedition it can be hard to stay clean.
You, your clothes and your kit will be open to the elements which means it will be getting dirty and in turn, you may start to feel grimy!
If left, this may start to have a negative effect on your morale and can lead to health issues!
My top 4 tips to keeping clean
1. Wet and dry routine
Have a full spare set of clothes and keep them clean and dry at all times! Have a working set that you wear in the day ‘rain or shine’. When you settle down for the evening and get into your tent or under your tarp change into your clean dry clothes. When you wake, change back into your dirty and wet working clothes.
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2. Have a wash
When you get up in the morning and get your stove on for your morning coffee, it’s the perfect time for a quick wash! Heat a little extra water to then use your flannel for a water washdown. The reason I suggest a ‘water only’ clean is that even biodegradable, natural soaps can still cause contamination to natural water sources or the environment!
An alternative to a water wash is using non-fragranced wet wipes. These can be an easier option; just one wet wipe per wash should do the job.
One side for the top half and the other for the bottom, ‘literally’!
If you are going to use wet wipes make sure you take a couple of zip lock bags to carry your dirty wipes out with you!
3. Help! I forgot my toothbrush!
Now, we all know how to brush our teeth, but what if you forget or lose your toothbrush!
Believe it or not, a stick will do the job. Find a ‘non-poisonous’ tree, like Hazel or Sycamore. Snap off a small stick and scrape off the bark, place the end in-between your teeth and start chewing to release the fibres! Then hey presto a makeshift toothbrush!
4. Floss
Pack floss and toothpicks. There’s nothing worse than having something stuck in your teeth…
Oral hygiene is so important, I even carry a small bottle of mouth wash as an extra morale booster!
Wash kit
- Small microfiber towel (quick drying)
- Flannel or wet wipes
- × 2 Ziplock bags (1 for wet flannel, 1 for dirty wipes)
- Non-fragranced antiperspirant (animals & insects can be attracted to fragrance)
- Travel toothbrush & paste
- Toothpicks & floss
- Small bottle of mouth wash.
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All packed away in a small dry bag weighing only (359 grams) for all you lightweight campers out there…
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So no matter who you are and how hardened to the great outdoors you are you must have good personal hygiene in the field.
Stay safe, clean and happy!
Andy
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