Living the vanlife lifestyle means more than just driving around in a camper van. It’s about living how you want to, with the people you want to be around. That often means breaking from the norm and going against what most people do. For instance, instead of showering at a public facility or hotel, many vanlifers choose to stay mobile and take care of their hygiene wherever they are.
Whether you’re one of those who prefer not to bathe in public, or simply don’t have access to a hose and squirt bottle outside your camper van,
Dry Shaving
The most important thing about vanlife hygiene is that you smell good. For many people, this means leaving their shaving gear at home. If this is you, there are a few things you can do. You can use a razor blade to shave or buy a product designed for shaving in outdoors. You can even use a foldable razor if that’s how you roll. Can you imagine trying to shave with a foldable razor in a camper
It would be like a scene straight out of a B-rated movie. If you do need to shave, you have a few options. You can use a dry shaver, which is a shaver that doesn’t use water and is, therefore, less likely to rust. Or you can wash your face with cold water and soap, then dry it with a towel. Avoid putting your hair under a hot sun to avoid it frizzing up and becoming harder to deal with.
Camping Shower
If you’re spending long hours in your van and need to wash up, there are certain places you can stop and take a quick shower. Campgrounds are a good bet for this. You can also take advantage of safe water sources like lakes or rivers.
If you need to shower at a specific time, you can always try to get some water at a river or lake to take a quick shower. Just make sure that you don’t leave anyone in the van so you can stay with the vehicle, or you run the risk of someone stealing it.
Hand Sanitizers
If you’re travelling in areas that don’t have access to a hose or a water source for washing your hands, you can take advantage of hand sanitisers. These are great for killing germs on dried hands, and they can be used by multiple people without having to worry about running out.
Nature Showers
If you’re travelling through remote areas, you can take advantage of the natural water sources and natural showers that you come across. Many rivers and creeks have areas where the water is shallow enough to allow you to get cleaned up with a bucket of water.
If you don’t want to use river water, you can try to follow animal trails to find an area with water sources. You can also try to use natural showers by creating a small pond from your water source.
Hot Springs and Sauna
If you’re travelling through areas with hot springs or natural saunas, you can take advantage of these for a quick wash-up. Hot springs and saunas are good options for vanlifers since most of them require you to be naked or at least wear nothing that covers your private parts.
If you’re travelling in areas with a lot of people, you can also try to find a secluded area with a natural spring. This way, you can try to keep your privacy, even if it means being hidden from view.
Snow Showers and Parks
If you’re in an area with a lot of snow, you can take advantage of snow showers. Just create a snow shower by building a small enclosure and placing a bucket with snow in it. If you don’t have access to snow, you can try to get clean in parks and other public spaces. Just make sure that you don’t leave any signs of your presence so you can keep your private life private.
Hand Sanitizers
If you’re travelling in areas that don’t have access to a hose or a water source for washing your hands, you can take advantage of hand sanitisers. These are great for killing germs on dried hands, and they can be used by multiple people without having to worry about running out.
Conclusion
When you’re living the vanlife lifestyle, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to follow the norms of society. You can find ways of getting clean that suit your lifestyle better. For instance, if you’re travelling in remote areas and don’t have access to a hose or a water source, you can use snow showers.
Or if you don’t want to wash your hands in public, you can try to find a secluded area with hand sanitiser. Living the vanlife is all about finding what works best for you, and following your heart.