7 Ways To Stay Clean Whilst Living In a Van or an RV Without a Shower

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This is one of the most asked questions when it comes to van life. In most self-built camper vans there is no space for a shower – so how does one stay clean whilst wanderlusting?

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1. Take an advantage of a shower every time when possible.

This one is a no-brainer for most, but really, if you keep your eyes open, there are so many possibilities to shower out there. In most sea side towns the beaches offer (usually cold, I admit) free showers. Good places to check are also “try us for free” offers from local gyms.

One of our favourite places to have a shower is in local pools, operated by the local councils – for a few of the local currency you can enjoy a refreshing swim as well as a shower.

Other good places to check out cheap showers are campsites, they sometimes offer “shower only” option for a small fee. Even if you can’t see a sign, it is always worth it to ask.

If you are travelling in one country for a longer time, many gyms offer a membership where you can use all of their gyms nationwide, for example Pure Gym in UK or LA Fitness in US and Canada do this. Handy way of getting your workout done at the same time!

2. A shower tent with a 12v shower

This is a great option if your van is too small to fit the shower in, and in many cases the most cost effective option as well. Personally, I would reserve a separate water tank from your essential everyday water though – showering takes a lot of water and you don’t want to run out in the middle of nowhere!

A shower tent is handy even if you don’t have a proper shower, as it still gives you some privacy whilst washing up with a bucket or a solar shower (check below).

3. Solar shower

Solar shower is a cheap option to get a warm shower even if you don’t have a water heater in your van. Essentially it’s a black bag you leave in sunshine to warm up, then just hang it up and use the tube to shower yourself.

Minus side is that you’ll have to wait for it and find a place to hang it from, above your head as there is no water pressure in it.

Just a thought – you could take the advantage out of the sun with the 12v shower too – just paint your water container black or use a bag like this and leave it to warm up.

Take note! If you warm up your solar shower on the roof of the van, remember to take it down before you set off…. I didn’t, and believe me when I say I almost had a heart attack when it finally flew in front of me whilst driving and blew up under the tyre…

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4. Lakes and rivers

This is a super nice way and goes really without saying it, but I would like to mention if you use soap, please don’t use it in the river or lake itself! It is very bad for the environment, even if the soap says it’s ecological and/or biodegradable. Take the water into the bucket and go at least 200 feet/60 meters away from the shore to soap up. If you are interested in reading more about the subject, check out this great little article.

Handy bucket for this purpose is a collapsible one like this.

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5. Biodegradable baby wipes

As easy as baby wipes are, I hate how much waste they create and how many people just throw them into the nature. That’s why I was so pleased to find out that there are more eco friendly options out there nowadays! For example check out these biodegradable, vegan and plastic free wetwipes from Mum and You.

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They are great way to freshen up on days when you don’t have an access to a shower.

6. Dry shampoo

Life saver for anyone with hair! Just spray on your hair and the powder sucks up all the grease and makes your hair look refreshed instantly. One more budget friendly option would be baby talc, also works wonders!

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7. Shower less

I know this sounds pretty grim! But the truth is, your body adjusts to the frequency you wash yourself. If you shower everyday, you also get smellier quicker and this works vice versa. If you get over the first week or two you’ll find it easier and easier. In fact the new studies even suggest that showering too much could be bad for you!

Any more ideas on how to stay clean in van life? What is your best practice? Let me know in the comments below!

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