baby wipes and other waterless ways of keeping clean

W

Will

Joined
Jan 4, 2003
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659
I used baby wipes for a summer of living in the bush, and I must say I didn't like them. I felt stickier after using them. There are other similar products out there like Combat Cloths and Hoo Ahhs which I want to try to see if they are any better.

I really like that hand sanitizer gel. I use it after going to the bathroom and before preping food outdoors. I just wish I could find one that is scent free.

Has anyone tried any of the No Rinse products? They have two soap options, one you mix with water, and one you do not mix with water, neither requiering any rinsing. Anyone tried these? The one not needing to be mixed with water sounds eaiser, but I assume the other works better. They also have a no rinse shampoo.

Will
 
I used the no rinse stuff and its ok but expensive and not for long term use.

Nothing beats a dip in the lake with some biodegradable soap.

If I am dirty enough for wipes I need to go swimming. The wet wipe brand however is decent and antibacterial too. Remember to wash your clothes as there is little use washing and putting dirty stuff back on.

SKam
 
Will said:
I really like that hand sanitizer gel. I use it after going to the bathroom and before preping food outdoors. I just wish I could find one that is scent free.
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Have you tried surgical hand gel? I have some of that and there is virtually no scent (other than alcohol)
 
I use Purell to as a sanitizer. Not real good for gettting dirt off, but it'll kill most bacteria real quick. It also does a number on the influenza virus and others I'm sure, so it's good to have around during flu season. It also leaves my hands nice and smooth for the ladies :) .

--AaronA
 
I'm not much for antibacterials. They kill the good with the bad and I've always suspected that they create super bugs that are resistent and mutated to where we can no longer tollerate them (flesh eating disease). Now there is talk in the medical field about this very thing and they've suggested that hot water and regular soap are plenty good enough.

I carry small bars of soap with me, but when I run out, I go swimming to knock the funk down and wash my clothing as Skammer suggests. There are native plants in this area that can be used for their scent by rubbing on my body and the smoke of a campfire goes a long way to knocking down human scent while hunting. If there were more Yucca in our area, I'd harvest it for soap and shampoo.
 
I usually plan hikes to let me camp near water I can wash in, but sometimes it isn't possible, especially in the desert. I was thinking also of urban survival situations.

One thing I have found the hand gel really good for is removing pine sap from the hands. It works exceptionally well for that. I figurered it was the alcohol doing it, and now when I get pine sap on clothes, I use either rubbing alcohol, of alcohol wipes top remove it. It works ok, getting it mostly off, but I havn't found a way of completely removing it. At least it gets enough off that it doesn't stick to everything and dirty other stuff.

Will
 
Tea tree oil takes sap off everything, it disolves it. Dawn dish liquid or any other oil remover takes out the tea trea oil.

I will try the hand sanitizer trick cheers.

Skam
 
[sap]

Will said:
...I havn't found a way of completely removing it. At least it gets enough off that it doesn't stick to everything and dirty other stuff
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Fine sand rubbed into the hands will abrade off the sap readily. I usually find moss or similar and rub it until it isn't sticky, it isn't getting clean that bothers me hand wise when handling wood but preventing the stick. With your hands sticking to things and then tearing free, you skin will start to complain readily.

-Cliff
 
Here in the UK, ASDA-Walmart sells a few disinfection items. I bought wipes, they cost 99 p for 20 tissues in a small plastic box. It is the cheapest waterless option I found here. They also sell disinfecting liqiuds, but I find wipes are better choice, though I do not get too dirty when I am out.
You can rub hands on sand, stones, grass, wood, by the way, almost anything will do. Including your pants :)
 
cardimon said:
Lake = Yuck.
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Depends on the lake. Some are totally clean and instantly potable. Many will make you more nasty than before you went in.

You're both right.
 
Watchful said:
Many will make you more nasty than before you went in.
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That was my experience from my youth (1970s). After trying to wash myself off in a lake or two, I was worse off than before. :(
 
I love washing in the lake. The lakes in Canada are really clean, especially the farther north you go. One of hte camps I worked in we had a hot shower set up hanging from the trees. I always used the lake instead.

Will
 
Will said:
Has anyone tried any of the No Rinse products? They have two soap options, one you mix with water, and one you do not mix with water, neither requiering any rinsing. Anyone tried these?
Will
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can't help you with the bathing part, but for me when i need to clean up just the hands and no dihydrogen monoxide is avaialble i use something called Cal Stat, a blue thickish liquid. sister of mine works in a doctors office brings em home now an then. its made with 60% isopropyl alkyhol. unfortunately it does have a baby powder scent to it mainly used during outings like at amusement parks, pikniks, hiking, around young-uns and old-uns or when i have to eat. it sanitizes but no dirt is removed.

ham

ooh almost forgot: it also alerts you if you have tiny cuts on your hand -> isopropyl
 
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