"Where do you shower?"

Although I love being in the van, I don’t necessarily want to look like I live in a van (down by the river). When planning for van life, I knew hot showers and hot water would become more of a rarity, so I had to get creative when it came to hygiene while living on the road. All while following my rule for vanlife: keep stuff to minimum and make sure it’s worth it. Lucky for me I didn’t have to adjust too much since I wasn’t a product junkie before, but I did have to make decisions such as “bring nail polish or not?” and “do I really need both day and night moisturizers?” (those answers were no and yes). But I did manage to cut back on my beauty and bath supplies by a LOT, and I made some swaps to make my routine more efficient. So I’d like to share what I have learned, and what I do to make myself look and feel my best for good van living. 😘

So fresh and so clean after a swim and shower at Banff Upper Hot Springs.

One of the first questions we get asked about van life is “where do you shower?!” Well for one, I don’t find it necessary to shower every single day (unless I’m particularly stinky…). So I tend to go every other day or, let’s be real here, sometimes a couple days if we can’t find a good place to shower. I’m not afraid of a lil dirt 😉. So without daily showers we save money and water, and my hair tends to look better with a little bit of extra grime in it (for real though). 

Where or where will we shower next?1

When we do need a shower, we have a few options:

Gym: We signed up for a Planet Fitness membership that is only $20 a month for us both to get in. The only catch is that I’m the primary membership holder so Theo can’t go inside alone.. I have to be there. But that’s not a big problem. Bonus: we also get a place to work out!

Gas stations with travel centers (aka: truck stops): Not as gross as you’d think! Places like Love’s, TravelCenters of America (TA), and Pilot offer showers to travelers. They’re usually at least $10, sometimes up to $14, so the expenses can add up here. But these centers sometimes also offer laundry centers and TV rooms with comfy recliners. Not too shabby! Each shower room is cleaned after every person, and so far we’ve had nothing but good experiences.

Rec centers and public pools: We found this one out after googling “public showers” near Breckenridge, CO. There happened to be a rec center not too far and according to their website, use of the showers cost just $5! And they usually have towel rentals for $1 or 2, which we like to use instead of having two wet towels in the van. Bonus: pay just a bit more and take advantage of the pool, jacuzzi, gym equipment, etc.

Rivers and lakes: One of my favorite ways to get a bath, but this one requires some rules: For rinsing off only as soap in waterways is a big no-no. Also, google the body of water before swimming to check for any harmful algae. There’s currently outbreaks of deadly blue-green algae in many parts of the East Coast and South, perhaps even in more locations. 

My favorite potions & gadgets

Body powder: 'Anti Monkey Butt' powder to be exact! This stuff is magic. I was at a music festival in Virginia this summer and oh boy, the sweat and heat made evvverything sticky. Our festy neighbor and new bestie Chris gave me some of this to borrow and it saved my life. Chafing and friction, bye bye!

Boar bristle brush: Keeps hair looking shiny and clean between washes.



Dry shampoo: For my bad hair day emergencies only. It gives my hair a nice boost, but does leave a sticky feeling that I’ll need to wash out soon after. (Natural, non-aerosol dry shampoo recommended, such as Organic Dry Shampoo Powder.)

 

Travel bidet: I’ll admit that I’ve never used one, but my boyfriend swears by the bidet! And when you’re feeling extra yucky in the van, this could really help out 👍.

Travel oil diffuser: This USB-powered, tiny essential oil diffuser will change your life. It instantly  brightens up the van and cleanses the air, making it not so stinky. Pure heaven.

 

A good hat: If you don’t already have a snazzy travel hat, do yourself a favor and get one now. One product that offers sun protection, bad hair day solution, and instant coolness.

 

Spray bottle: I always keep a small glass spray bottle of water to spritz on clothes that inevitably get super wrinkly in the van. It’s one simple thing that can make me look not too homeless. 

 

See? This vagabond couple cleans up purty good. 

Keeping it eco-friendly

I mentioned before that by not showering every day, it not only saves us money but also water! I’m a proud and practicing environmentalist, and follow the Leave No Trace guidelines. This wasn’t going to change when I moved into the van, but I did need to get a bit more creative. So here are some tips to make “on the road” hygiene regimen more eco-friendly:

• Properly using biodegradable soap: We have to be careful how we do our dishes on the road since our van doesn’t have a built-in grey water storage tank. We have a bottle that we put underneath the van while camping to catch this water, then we have to dispose of it in an environmentally-friendly way, which means not in a body of water even if we are using biodegradable soap. In general, getting any soap in a water source is not acceptable. The soap can cause all sorts of issues from increased nitrogen to actually causing significant harm to aquatic inhabitants. And yes, this also applies to biodegradable soaps, which many folks are unknowingly using these kinds (Dr. Bronner’s is a popular one) and either washing directly in a natural water source or dumping their grey water directly in. The manufacturers may claim its safe for the environment, but unfortunately it’s not. It’s best to use it 200 feet from water and to dispose of it in a cathole (hole in the ground 6-12 inches deep, then bury it). It’s better to have it deep in the soil rather than tossing it out across the ground, where the food particles will attract wildlife.
• Not using wet wipes: I’ll admit, it’s tempting to buy wet wipes and take a “wet wipe bath” for days when we go without showers. But I’m trying to maintain a low-waste lifestyle, especially minimizing plastic use, so these are a no-go for me. Most wet wipes contain non-biodegradable plastics such as polyester that will never break down in a landfill. In keeping with true honesty though, I do keep one package on hand for any hygiene “emergencies” 😳 in which we really can’t get to a bathroom. But like I said, for emergencies only!
• Soap bar versus liquid soap: Both liquid and bar soaps are equally cleansing (and hygienic if you don’t buy into the rumors that bar soap holds bacteria on it), but according to a 2009 study, the carbon footprint of liquid soaps is 25% greater per wash than bar soaps. Liquid soap takes more energy to create and are usually in a plastic bottle, compared to bar soaps that are wrapped in recyclable paper or not in a container at all. Plus, we tend to use more liquid soap than if it were a bar. Bar soap can become an annoyance when they break into small parts or get too tiny to use. I recommend buying a little bag, made of hemp or some natural fabric, then you can put the soap pieces in there, get it wet, and lather up!
• Using coffee grinds as facial exfoliate: One of my favorite zero-waste life hacks! Exfoliation for my face and neck is key to maintaining a healthy glow and smooth skin. Rather than buying commercially-made facial exfoliate cleansers in plastic bottles, I just use used coffee grinds! It’s effective, free (if you’d be already drinking coffee anyways), eco-friendly, and gives your skin a nice little caffeine boost for that extra glow!
• Eco-friendly sunscreen: This is especially important if you are near the ocean and swimming while wearing sunscreen. A 2008 study found that roughly 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers annually in oceans worldwide. Plus, coral reefs are directly threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching due to the specific ingredients of these sunscreens. Take a quick peek at your sunscreen and if it has these chemicals- Octinoxate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-2, Avobenzone, Homosalate, and/or parabens- switch to a different brand. Mineral sunscreens are the best option; they contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and reflect ultraviolet radiation back from the surface of the skin like a mirror, whereas chemical sunscreens absorb ultraviolet radiation like a sponge. When buying, look for words like “reef-friendly” and always check the ingredients. Some of my favorites are Organii and Sun Bum.

Hiking usually requires a shower afterwards!
Glacier National Park, 2018

  On Not Always Living the Van Life

When it gets to be too much, if the van is a mess, if we’re unsuccessful in finding a decent shower and a nice bathroom, or if we just can’t stand one more hot or cold night, we will bite the bullet and get ourselves a darn hotel room. We knew going in that van life would be a mess sometimes, so we are very fortunate to be able to afford a hotel room or Airbnb when it’s really needed.

Another great resource for getting a house to ourselves, but for much cheaper is TrustedHousesitters.com. This is an amazing site that connects those that need house sitters and those that sit!

Trusted Housesitters gig in Jackson Hole, WY

And sometimes, when we're really lucky, an opportunity to house and/or dog sit comes along. I've worked as a professional dog walker and sitter for a number of years while living in San Francisco, and I've been able to make it work while living on the road using the Rover app. I have to change my address a lot, and hope that job opportunities align with our travel schedule, but so far I've had a decent amount of jobs in really cool areas. Getting paid to stay in a cabin in Colorado? Yes please!

Rover dog and house sitting gig in Allendale, CO. 

Thanks for checking out my blog on how I manage to look presentable and somewhat clean while living in a van. It's not always easy, but I like a challenge!

***A list of my favorite VanLife Essentials