Portuguese Prepper
Hygiene Without Water: The best body wipes for “no shower” days
In a survival situation, water is liquid gold. You cannot afford to waste 20 gallons taking a shower.
However, staying dirty is dangerous. Sweat and bacteria buildup lead to rashes, fungal infections (“jock itch”), and boils that can become septic if untreated.
The solution is the “Field Shower.” While standard baby wipes work for small messes, an adult needs Extra-Large Body Wipes to actually get clean.
Standard Baby Wipes = Too small/thin for a full body clean.
XL Body Wipes = One wipe cleans the whole body.
Biodegradable is best (you will likely be burying them).
The Upgrade: Combat Wipes / Surviveware
Brands like Surviveware and Combat Wipes make wipes specifically for soldiers and hikers. They are 4x the size of a baby wipe and made of thick, textured cloth that scrubs away dirt rather than just smearing it.
The Math: You can clean your entire body with one Surviveware wipe. You would need 10-15 baby wipes to do the same job, creating massive amounts of trash.
The “Shower Pill” Option
For extreme space saving (like in a Bug Out Bag), look for “Shower Pills.” These are individually wrapped, compressed wipes. They are dry and tiny until you add a few drops of water, at which point they expand into a massive towel. They never dry out in storage.
Which wipe keeps you clean?
The “Ptito Bath” Method
To prevent infection, clean in this order: Face → Underarms → Groin → Feet. Never go backwards. Cleaning your feet and then your face is a recipe for eye infections.
Related pages
Medical Disclaimer: We are not doctors. Proper hygiene is critical to preventing illness in disaster scenarios.