Squirreling away beans and bandages is only half the fight. Once you leave home with your go-bag in hand and uncertain roads ahead, hygiene turns from a routine chore to a mission-critical skill. Poor sanitation breeds sickness, slows you down and makes every other preparation useless. The good news is that with some planning and the right tools, you can stay clean, healthy and alert even while you keep moving.
Two-Week Water Rule — But Make It Portable
Emergency planners recommend at least one gallon per person — and pet — per day for drinking and basic washing. Multiply the mouths in your group by 14 to find the minimum gallons for two weeks. That rule still applies on the road, but you cannot drag bulky barrels through rough terrain. Break the stash into one- to two-gallon collapsible containers, map refill points along your route and always carry a compact filter so every creek becomes a topping-off station.
[Editor’s note: If you’re on a suburban bug out, refilling water regularly might be far more difficult to accomplish than you realize. Although it’s good to have some idea of where you might be able to “top off” in this situation, it’s far better to just get to your destination.]
Water Math — Know Your Daily Spend
A single 15-minute American shower uses 38 gallons of water. Over an average week of about six showers, that soars to 221 gallons — enough to fill four 55-gallon barrels. It’s impractical to haul that much in the field, so you must slash usage without sacrificing health. Treat water like cash in your pocket — measure every ounce, track every task and cut out wasteful luxuries until conditions improve.
Bigger Storms, Hotter Days, Less Water
Rising greenhouse gases warm the planet’s surface. As the average temperature climbs, droughts stretch longer and the storms that form hit harder. That means there is less severe weather, but every tornado or hurricane is far more destructive. You should expect longer dry spells punctuated by flash floods that foul surface water with debris and sewage. Pack for extremes — extra filters for dirty floodwater and tight-sealing containers that won’t crack in high heat.
[Editor’s note: Definitely, under no circumstances, attempt to filter floodwater! Although it may look okay, there could be dozens of harmful chemicals that simply cannot be filtered out with any portable filter I know about. This is why it’s crucial to carry water with you and to get to where you’re going ASAP!]
Waste Management — The Other Half of Hygiene
Human waste attracts insects and rodents that track disease into your shelter. At home, you’d want to keep at least a three-month supply of toilet tissue, feminine products and diapers if needed. But you’ll have to pack light when on the move.
No matter where you are, bury waste 100 feet away from water sources and shelters — never in your garden. Dig a hole or latrine, cover it solidly and mark it so no one reopens the spot. This simple discipline prevents outbreaks of dysentery that can cripple a group faster than any ambush.
Gear That Keeps You Fresh
Staying clean while mobile demands durable, light and multi-use tools. Understand your core needs — washing hands, brushing teeth, cleaning your skin and managing waste without plumbing. Here is a compact kit list.
- Small spray bottle: Fill it with clean water for quick sprays to wash hands, dishes or little cuts.
- Soap sheets: These paper-thin pieces of soap foam up with a small splash of water. They’re lightweight and easy to pack.
- Hand sanitizer: Rub this on when you can’t spare water. You can also use the alcohol to start a fire in an emergency.
- Folding trowel or small shovel: Use it to dig a hole for waste, set tent stakes or scoop coals for a fire.
- Zip-top bags and coffee filters: Line a bucket toilet (for longer-term campsites) or store used pads in the bags. Use coffee filters to strain dirty water before it goes through your purifier.
Low-Water Cleaning Hacks
Even with all the appropriate gear, you still need smart habits to stretch every drop. Use these tricks to stay clean without draining your water stash.
- Quick sponge bath: Dip a small cloth in a cup of clean water, add one drop of soap and wipe sweaty spots. Rinse the cloth — not your body — with a second quick dip, wring it out and hang it to dry.
- Two-container dish wash: Heat about a quart of soapy water in a pot for scrubbing. Keep a second quart of cool, treated water for a final rinse. Let dishes drip-dry upside down on a clean surface. [Editor’s note: I typically recommend three-bins, including a final sanitizing round, but any cleaning is better than nothing.]
- Bag-wash laundry: Put dirty socks or underwear in a heavy zip bag. Add creek water and soap, seal and shake for a few minutes. Pour the dirty water into a hole you’ve dug in the ground, wring out clothes and strap them to your pack to dry as you walk.
- Sun-powered sterilizer: Fill a clear plastic bottle with filtered water, place it on bright foil or any shiny surface and leave it in direct sun for at least six hours — the UV rays and high temperature will kill most germs without requiring fuel or chemicals.
Clean Means Strength in Body and Mind
Staying clean avoids germs and keeps your whole crew sharp and upbeat. Fresh skin fights off infections, while washed hands block foodborne bugs that can sideline you for days. Also, a neutral-smelling camp will draw fewer insects and help you to stay off the radar. Equally importantly, good hygiene lifts spirits when the road feels longer than anticipated. Even a quick wipe-down or clean pair of socks can flip a bad mood, pull the group together, and give everyone the energy to push the next mile.
The Takeaway
Emergencies may bring heat waves, dust storms or hurricanes. Gear helps, but daily habits matter more. Count every drop, dig waste holes correctly and wash your hands before each meal. Do that, and you’ll turn chaos into routine — one clean step at a time.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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