How to Shower While Camping
Camping is a great way to fully enjoy nature and escape your busy lives. That said, many people (especially ladies) struggle with the fear of camping due to hygiene concerns. After all, not many campsites offer full toilet and shower facilities and not to mention if you are at a dispersed campsite in the middle of nowhere.
The good news is, there are many portable showers available on the market which make a shower possible while camping. Alternatively, you can make a portable shower system for yourself too.
In this post, we are going to teach you how to make a portable shower step by step. Remember, just because you're enjoying mother nature, you don't have to smell like dirt, you can always stay fresh and clean while camping!
DIY Portable Shower System: What You’ll need
Compressed-air sprayer
Knife or blade
Surgical tubing
Plastic bags
Rubber bands or duct tape
Rope and clips
Cooking pot
Camping stove or fire
Umbrella
Shower Curtain
Step 1: Choose the right size
If you are making a portable shower system for 2 people, you should get a 2 to 3-gallon compressed-air sprayer with a spray hose that extends 8 to 10 feet and a wand that is a couple of feet long. Remember, the bigger, the better, especially if you don’t want to have a rush shower, a bigger sprayer means longer shower time.
Step 2: Extend the hose length
Extend the length of the spray hose by replacing the original hose with surgical latex or rubber tubing. Leave one inch of the original hose connected to the sprayer and the wand, and then use rubber bands or duct tape to secure the rubber tubing to the ends. You can also tape the tubing in place, but you won't be able to disassemble your portable shower system for easy storage.
Step 3: Warm the water
If you want a warm shower, you can use the rope and clips to hang the water bags from a tree in a warm, sunny location and let them sit in the sun for a few hours. Make sure to squeeze the air out before sealing the bags. By doing this, the water will become warm in several hours.
If you want a instant hot shower, you will need to heat the water in a metal or stainless-steel bucket over a camping stove or a campfire. Transfer the heated water to the compressed air bottle, making sure it is not too hot for your shower.
Step 4: Set up a shower curtain
You can easily build a shower enclosure with an umbrella. First, open the umbrella and tie one end of the rope to the umbrella handle, remember, the umbrella should be turned upside down. Then throw the other end of the rope over a tree branch and tie it to the tree trunk, meanwhile, hang a flashlight on a tree in case you need an evening shower. Last, hook the holes in the curtains onto the stretchers of the umbrella, a shower enclosure is made!
Conclusion
Creating a DIY shower is easier than you think. With these four simple steps, you never have to stress about cleanliness on your camping trips. A warm shower can make all the difference.
Also, maintaining personal hygiene is vital amidst the pandemic while camping. You should always bring baby wipes, hand sanitizer, paper soap, and a clothing line so you won’t stink out your fellow campers with dirty feet or smelly clothes.