How can you take a shower with just one bottle of mineral water during outdoor travel?
Traveling often means tough conditions, where you have to solve problems with limited resources. For example, when it comes to showering, some outdoor areas have no ponds or rivers—if you want to take a bath or soak, you really can only dream about it.
Showering in the wild
But not showering makes you feel uncomfortable. Since you can’t enjoy a bath, at least wiping your body with water is better than nothing. With such limited water in the outdoors, how can you use the least amount of water to comfortably wipe your body down? Here are some tips—wisdom from fellow travelers. Study up and create a more comfortable trip for yourself. Tools needed: towel, soap, clean underwear, and one bottle of mineral water (550ml, brand doesn’t matter).
Soap, towel, water
Step 1: First, pour about a palmful of water (around 40ml—try not to spill a single drop), pat it gently on your face and chest, then spread your palm and slowly apply it in circular motions. The goal is to fully wet your body.
Step 2: After this step, outdoor travelers will notice a layer of dark water on their palms, similar to ink. At this point, do NOT rinse it off with mineral water. Immediately grab the soap, lather it a few times, then apply the semi-wet soap from your hands onto your face and hair. Note: Hair should be no longer than 2.5cm.
Step 3: When you feel a drop of salty, bitter water running down to the corner of your mouth, quickly pour about 70ml of mineral water onto the top of your head, then rub. Rub wherever the water flows—usually it only reaches the chest. Quickly apply soap to the area below the chest. Applying it too early or too late will result in insufficient mixing due to limited water.
Step 4: After completing this step, a thin layer of soap will be evenly distributed on the area above your chest. Then pour another 70ml onto your head and repeat the previous process. With the foundation from before, the water will now flow down to the waist. No need to add more soap—just use the water flowing down to scrub your waist.
Step 5: After scrubbing your waist, the upper body is basically cleaned once, but there may be streaks of “playdough” left. Don’t worry about those—we’ll move on to the next steps.
Step 6: Repeat Step 1, but focus on your buttocks and thighs.
Step 7: Repeat Step 2, focusing on the same areas as Step 6.
Step 8: When you feel a drop of hot, sticky water running down to your private parts (for females, similar principle applies—no further explanation needed) and is about to fall, quickly pour about 60ml of mineral water onto your buttocks, then rub. Rub wherever the water flows—usually it only reaches the calves. Quickly apply soap to the calves. Applying it too early or too late will result in insufficient mixing due to limited water.
Step 9: After completing this step, a thin layer of soap will be evenly distributed on the area below your waist. Then pour another 60ml onto your buttocks and repeat the previous process. With the foundation from before, the water will now flow down to your feet. No need to add more soap—just use the water flowing down to scrub your soles.
Step 10: After scrubbing your soles, the whole body is basically cleaned once, but there may still be streaks of “playdough” left. Divide the remaining mineral water into three parts, pouring about 70ml each time onto your head, buttocks, and knees. Clean off all the “playdough” on your body.
And that’s it—you’re done showering. Walking around bare-bodied, you’ll find you feel even fresher and cooler than after a normal shower. If a breeze blows by, the feeling—it’s simply out-of-this-world. Of course, traveling can’t compare to being at home, but this feeling is still pretty great.
Pathfinder Expeditions, your outdoor adventure and self-drive travel website.