Nothing is more relaxing than a vacation close to nature. Being surrounded by green trees and woodlands, fresh open bodies of water and open skies offers an intimate connection with nature that allows your mind and body to enjoy much-needed downtime. That makes camping an excellent vacation choice as it combines the fun and adventure of sleeping under the stars while allowing you to enjoy plenty of outdoor activities.

However, many people find it a little unappealing because they think they will miss the luxury of daily showers and personal hygiene routines. The good news is you can experience nature without having to give up on personal hygiene. Here is how you can stay hygienic while camping so you can experience the best of both worlds.

You can experience nature without having to give up on personal hygiene. Here’s how you can stay hygienic while camping.

Carry Hand Sanitizer

This is one of the easiest ways to keep up with your hygiene when camping. Hand sanitizer is the ideal product to keep handy when camping, especially when preparing meals. Instead of running to the campground washroom, you can simply use your hand sanitizer to wash away harmful bacteria you might have inadvertently picked up while enjoying your time outside. This is the best way to keep everyone healthy, so you can prepare meals with confidence that no one will get sick. Have everyone use the hand sanitizer before digging in as well, just to be safe.

Clothing Choice

You can encounter a lot of dirt when out hiking or biking the trails of your campground and the surrounding parks. There’s also a lot more sweat produced when you’re very active. As a result, you’re going to find your activities could leave your clothes smelling less than fresh. This can be even worse if your trip includes backpacking instead of setting up your tent at a single campsite for your entire vacation. Either way, you want to consider the clothes you pack to help prepare you for any eventuality while also still being able to travel light. One of the challenges with camping is it can be hard to know how warm or cold it might get, not to mention the possibility of rain. Here’s a good list to use so you have the right clothes for your camping trip, rain or shine:

Breathable underwear and socks
Moisture-wicking T-shirts and pants or shorts
Lightweight hat or visor
A T-shirt or tank top
A breathable long-sleeved shirt
A sweatshirt
Sweatpants
Galoshes or waterproof shoes
Raincoat or poncho with hood
Bathing suit
Sturdy shoes
Flip flops
Bandana to keep your hair neat or help prevent sweating

Many campgrounds have laundry facilities so if you’re on a longer camping trip you can always toss a load of laundry in if you’ve experienced an especially sweaty or muddy day! And don’t forget to pack at least one towel per person for swimming.

Wash Your Hands Regularly

As mentioned, hand sanitizer is a great help to keep your hands clean. However, you can’t use it too frequently as it can interfere with your ability to fight off germs naturally. An excellent idea is to set up a portable hand washing sink at your campsite if possible. A bowl of clean water and some soap can be used by family members to wash hands before meals.

Go for Natural Bathing

Access to cool clean water provided by mother nature offers the opportunity to keep clean and fresh with a quick dip every day. Streams and lakes are wonderfully refreshing and can help remove excess oils from hair and skin that can make you feel (and smell) dirty. Just avoid using stagnant water often found in smaller ponds.

Pack Hygiene Essentials

Unlike staying at a hotel where you can find a good supply of soap, shampoo and conditioners, camping requires you to pack all of your own personal hygiene items including:

Unscented, alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer
Biodegradable soap
Toothbrush
Dental floss
Cotton washcloth
Unscented moist towelettes or baby wipes
Quick-dry microfibre pack towel
Toilet paper

While baby wipes might sound like an odd thing to pack if you don’t have kids, you’ll soon find you can’t live without them! They can be used for all kinds of messes keeping you feeling a lot fresher and making it easier to wash up after grubby work like making hamburger patties or wiping away ash from your campfire.

Many campsites have public showers where you can enjoy the luxury of a complete daily wash as if you were at home or in a hotel. In this case, be sure to bring your flip-flops along and wear them while in the shower to avoid picking up foot fungi. Plus, every morning and evening you can boil some fresh water and fill a basin so you can wash before bedtime. This will leave you feeling clean and fresh and also make it easier to conduct a daily routine, so you look and smell more like your clean self.