How To Deal With Body Odor Effectively While Dry Camping

How To Deal With Body Odor Effectively While Dry Camping

Have you ever heard, “what’s that smell?” when camping; but never let it happen again!

It is possible you get to hear this while you are on your extended dry camping trip. But believe me, you can definitely look good and smell nice even in the backcountry. So what can you do to deal with body odor effectively while dry camping? Here we bring some smart tips.

While dry camping, you will not find the favorite amenities of the star hotel for fresh skin, sparkling teeth, and mostly inoffensive odors. But with the right tips, you can still be fresh in the backcountry. Have the right combination of gears, know-how, and obey the Leave No Trace ethics. Here we got you some great tips to stay clean and odor-free during camping.

Fresh up the pits and loins

Fresh up the pits and loins

Camping on hot, sunny days can easily make you sweat and stink. Think being too active going on long hikes, looking for firewood, playing camping games, etc. It is totally natural that your body gets cool itself off through sweat. But the problem comes when it does not smell good. And the body areas are more potent here to get stink than your butt, armpits, and genital area. With special bacteria resting on those areas, it tends to sweat way more.

Powerful bacteria will continue to grow in the armpits until they are properly washed. So if you do not wash your armpits for some time you will be able to visibly notice the growth of the bacteria on nodules from the armpit hairs. And that starts smelling so quick and will grow as long as you kept untouched.

The best solution here is using a deodorant. Consider using an extended one that can last up to 48 hours. But if you think about a natural therapy that could do better, get cornstarch or baking soda applied under your arms.

And for those who have the habit of leaving their armpit hairs to grow should consider shaving off before you go camping. This is especially considerable for men and that would make it easier to clean and feel a bit cooler.

Just as much you consider about keeping your armpits fresh, consider the hygiene of the nether areas, including butt and genitals. You can easily make baby wipes your best support here or alternatively can use the same scarf or tissue by wetting it with water when you use it for each wipe. If you are using wet wipes, think about wipes that are fragrance-free to keep away any wildlife.

Wash your hands so often

Wash your hands so often

Keeping your hands clean is of utmost importance to keep many other things clean. Especially after use of bathroom needs, you have to wash your hands to stop spreading harmful bacteria along with stink. After any camping activity including playing, cooking, cleaning, or any, remember to wash hands to stay clean all the time.

Brush your teeth regularly

Brush your teeth regularly

Body odors do not limit to armpits, butt, and genitals but count your teeth as well. Cleaning your teeth properly at least three times per day is essential when camping and make sure you pack the necessities. Have floss, a mini tube of toothpaste of your favorite flavor, and a travel-sized toothbrush.

When you are camping, probably you might be eating so often than you usually do. So the first thing to do after you wake up in the morning is brush your teeth which should be the thing before you go to the camping tent. And in between, spare some minutes to brush your teeth and feel fresh throughout the day.

Take hand sanitizer and body wipes

Cleaning your hands properly is essential during camping and hand sanitizer would work fast and efficiently. A small bottle of hand sanitizer works well for trail-dirty and can go a long way.

Another must-have piece of gear for dry camping is wet body wipes that you can take in a variety of sizes. These wipes are saturated with cleaning agents that work the best for full-body cleaning and will keep the body moisturized. There are some brands providing scented wipes to satisfy the nose. But it is better if you can use scent-free wipes, especially when in bear country.

If you do decide to use wet wipes, make sure you take a zip-supported poly bag to discard the used wipes carefully.

Bring multiple pairs of socks, and use them!

Bring multiple pairs of socks, and use them!

If you are planning to stay longer in the wilderness, there is a big chance to get your feet to stink pretty bad. Make sure you pack extra pairs of socks and change often to feel fresh at your feet. Get ready with thinner wool socks, as wool acts as an antimicrobial material helping with sweating and avoiding stinky feet. And in between the swapping from older to new socks, wipe your feet and dry quickly to feel extra comfortable. This is a perfect tip to deal with body odor effectively while dry camping.

Take a backwoods shower

Take a backwoods shower

Backcountry adventurers do not allow regular showers. But does that mean you cannot bathe? Not at all. To deal with body odors effectively, you have to take a shower at the earliest possible. You should find the perfect spot for a backcountry bath of a minimum of 200 feet away from any natural water sources. Make sure you pack a quick-drying camping towel with biodegradable and unscented soap. You can take easy-to-operate, portable best camping showers that you can easily heat up with solar energy for a comfortable bath.

If you have no access to clean water sources or have no camping showers, the great substitute is wet wipes for a backcountry bath. Find quality wet wipes to do the job right.

Wash your clothes on extended trips

Wash your clothes on extended trips

When you are on an extended camping trip, you have a huge part in the laundry. The worse part comes when the stink on your body wipes off the clothes and starts to stick around. So wash your clothes as necessary, especially underwear. This is a very important thing to do to stay clean on longer trips.

Use No-rinse soap and shampoo

Use No-rinse soap and shampoo

If you are dry camping and only have a limited amount of water to spend for hygienic needs, no-rinse soap and dry shampoo do a fair job. They only need a small amount of water to disperse them on the body and hair. You just need to lather up and wipe with the towel with no added water required. And if you are thinking about how to wash hair while camping, dry shampoo is a perfect solution. You can even find them easily at local stores. They will help to groom up oily hair together with a fresh look and scent.

Win over the excess heat

Win over the excess heat

If it is hotter outside, the more you go sweat and get stink. So avoid peak sun and temperature and make a plan to win over excess heat. Plan your hikes early in the morning before the sun hits. And if you have enough water, do involve in water activities to get freshen up during the daytime. By avoiding exposure to the sun, you can reduce sweating and the chance for stinks.

Air out your mattress

Air out your mattress

If you are out of bed from morning remember to air out your mattress by wrapping it on the tent. Normally, your body does some sweating when you are sleeping on it and take on the sleeping bag. If you get back in at night without airing it out, it would smell bad. To keep things deodorized, you need to air out your mattress for several minutes.

Hygiene Tool Kit for Backcountry

Hygiene Tool Kit for Backcountry

To maintain proper hygiene at dry camping, you need to prepare yourself with the necessities. Here is an effective tool kit to maintain backcountry hygiene and deal with odor effectively.

  • Liquid hand sanitizer
  • Wet wipes
  • Deodorant
  • No-rinse soap and shampoo
  • Ultralight, quick-drying towel(s)
  • Mini toothpaste and a toothbrush
  • Bathroom kit: toilet paper, trowel, and Ziploc trash bag
  • Pee cloth or pee funnel
  • Feminine hygiene products (sanitary napkins, tampons, or menstrual cups)

You can add up things as per individual preference, also considering the period of stay, the season of camping, etc.

You should never smell bad regardless of how long you are going to camp! Staying fresh is of the utmost importance to keep you happy and ready to adventure. Hope this guide helps you to deal with body odor effectively while dry camping. It is time for happy camping!

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