Hygiene Tips for an End of the World Scenario
Today, it’s all about the hygiene tips that everyone needs during an end-of-the-world scenario. When a disaster strikes, most people tend to focus only on their immediate needs, like making sure they have shelter and enough food and water to hold them over. Yet many preppers don’t even realize the ramifications of neglecting their personal hygiene during that period of time.
It may be hard for some of you to believe, but failing to keep good hygiene would not only take a toll on your health, but it could also prove fatal at an end of the world scenario. So I’d like to spend a little time with you and go over a few tips that would be essential if S ever HTF. Let me remind you that I prep for unexpected situations, not necessarily for the end of the world.
Ensure that You Have Clean Water
Without a supply of clean water, you will have a hard, if not an impossible time maintaining good hygiene. It’s already the number one essential supply item that every prepper should have for their drinking purposes during an emergency, but having clean water also for your hygiene is something that should not be ignored. By now you know I recommend 4-gallons of water per person in your family per day. The American Red Cross recommends one gallon per person per day. That’s just not enough, my friends.
Filling your bathtub with water, along with stocking up on dozens of cases of bottled water will be an immediate solution, but that will only get you so far. For an end of the world scenario, you will need a drinking source once your stockpile of drinking water has run out. If you have to leave your home and head off the grid, it would be crucial if you lived close to a stream or lake. Digging a well for your water supply would be even better. Lastly, consider using rain barrels for backup, and boil your water to make sure that all parasites and bacteria have been killed.
You can consider checking into and using a WAPI. I quote Sun Oven WAPI, “A WAPI is a reusable transparent tube which contains wax. The wax melts and drops to the bottom of the tube when it reaches 150°F (65°C) for 6 minutes indicating that the water has been pasteurized and is now safe to drink.”
Stock Up on Supplies
As a prepper, it’s imperative that you plan and prepare ahead for an emergency, and even more so if you’re gathering enough supplies for your entire family during an end of the world scenario. These are some of the hygiene items that you will need to stockpile to maintain good healthcare:
- Antibacterial soap
- Shampoo
- Rinseless Shampoo Waterless
- Welmedix No-Rinse 3 in 1 Cleansing Foam
- Deodorant
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper
- Wet wipes (anti-bacterial and regular)
- Tampons
- First aid kit
- Castile Soap (is great to stock up on) Incase you missed this post, What is Castile Soap and Why You Need It?
Getting Clean
As long as you have a supply of clean water, staying hygienic will still be possible. But if you no longer can get hot water from the shower in your home, fret not, all hope is not lost. You can still use a camp shower or a solar shower to get clean. You’ll just need to fill the bladder with water and then hang it from a tree branch. The sun will heat the water so that you can still enjoy a warm shower, even if it is the end of the world.
Keeping “Your Business” Sanitary
Even if your home septic system is still working following a major disaster, that will be the case only for a short period of time. You will need to have another sanitary method, especially when you have to go number two. If you’re able to remain in the comfort of your own home, you can always use a bucket of water to flush your waste.
If you’re living off the grid, you will need to dig a pit so that you can use it as a pit toilet. Just make sure you dig the hole at least 200 feet away from any water source. Make sure that your family members wash their hands with soap and warm water, or at least use hand sanitizer every time they use the pit “restroom.” Here are more waste disposal methods that you may find helpful.
Don’t Neglect Your Dental Health
While you certainly will have your hands full during an end-of-the-world scenario, it’s still not the time to get lazy about taking care of your mouth and teeth. Your dental health affects not just your teeth and gums, but can also play a huge impact on other areas of your body, including your heart.
Consider stocking up on not only toothpaste, but also sugar-free gum, mouth wash, toothpicks, and dental floss. Baking soda is another substitute that you can use in the place of toothpaste if you one day you were to run out, so don’t hesitate to stock up on that. Another thing you can do if your situation gets desperate enough, is to chew on sticks like the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans did.
You may want some temporary tooth filling/crown repair for emergencies Den Tek or Den Tek Instant Oral Pain Relief
Managing “That Time of the Month”
Unfortunately, a menstrual cycle isn’t going to wait around until your situation improves. It’s gonna show up just like it always does, so don’t allow that time of the month to surprise you by not having enough feminine supplies to hold you over. Don’t hesitate to gather more tampons, pads, and sanitary napkins than you know what to do with, because following a major disaster, they still will only last you so long.
If you’re looking for a long-term solution besides these, reusable rubber cups are a way to go. They’ll last for a long time, as long as you store them in a dry sealed container each time after they’ve been washed. You can always make Reusable/Washable Menstrual Pads with my pattern, How To Make Reusable Menstrual Pads
Keep Up with the Dishes
Most of us take for granted that we have dishwashers to help us keep up with all our other household chores. However, if your home no longer has electricity, you’ll be left cleaning them by hand. This is important so that bacteria don’t start to grow. You will have to find a way to heat some water, and use soap to keep your dishes clean.
I’d also encourage you to have an abundance of paper plates, cups, and eating utensils. This will help balance out your stockpile of soap and fuel to heat the soapy water and rinse water. If you’re sharing your dishes with a group of people, it wouldn’t hurt if you rinse your dishes with a light bleach solution.
Keep Up with Laundry
If I see or hear that a storm is coming, my prepping instinct kicks in by way of looking in the laundry bin. The power may stay on or it may stop without any warning. So, I start the laundry immediately, I rarely have more than two loads of wash since we are empty nesters. But, I would rather have all the laundry done before I have to wash it by hand or hang it up to dry. I hope you have thought about having an emergency washing machine, yes, you can use your bathtub as long as the sewers are not backed up. If you can’t drain the water, you will be sorry, just giving you the heads up here.
In case you missed this post on laundry, How To Clean Your Laundry After A Disaster. My new favorite emergency washing unit is now the Lavario, (currently unavailable), it can do sheets and blue jeans.
Hygiene Tips for an End of the World Scenario
Final Word
These are a handful of hygiene tips for an end of the world scenario. Hopefully you found them to be both insightful and informative while noting the steps that you should take to keep you and your family healthy following a cataclysmic event. What are some other things that you could do to maintain good hygiene? May God Bless this world, Linda.
Copyright Images: Personal Hygiene AdobeStock_346924327 by HildaWeges
Linda, if we think we need to wash our hands a lot now, just wait until TSHTF. Also, there is a new variant of Covid called P1 that apparently is more infectious and more deadly for young adults than it’s predecessor. It originated in Brazil and has already spread to the US and numerous other countries. It also allegedly is not defeated by current vaccines–though this has not yet been confirmed by scientific studies. Proper sanitation has never been more important.
Hi Ray, I totally agree with you on needing to keep washing our hands and often! I have always worried about a power grid outage. But the viruses are right up there now. I keep watching the news and I can’t imagine sending my kids off to another country as in the USA. My heart aches for those parents who feel so desperate. One of the biggest fears I have is the diseases they may be transporting without even knowing it. God Bless all of us, we will need it. Linda
I read today that the shot given is causing every one that receives it to create a mutation. Just imagine that.
This may be why the double speak about having a shot every 6 months has been suggested.
Hi JayJay, I didn’t know they suggested the vaccination every six months. The last I heard it’s yearly, but who can we trust? No one really knows how this vaccination will be. The mutation, wow. Linda
JayJay,
I’ve been doing a lot of research on this very subject. It does sound as those who are receiving the vaccine are causing more virulent mutations – much more contagious & deadly. Apparently not only are the shots harming their own immune systems, but they’re shedding these more dangerous strains to others.
And of course, the vaccines do not provide them protection from mutated strains.
I really hope this information is wrong or we’re in a huge world of trouble.
Linda, re your comment about laundry. I always hang up my laundry to dry whenever possible. The sun’s UV is one of the best sanitizers around and it’s free. Besides, my wife and I both like the smell of sun dried laundry and can’t stand the stench of scented laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets. (We use unscented detergents, bleach and softeners). Using unscented bleach is especially important if you plan to use bleach to sanitize your drinking water supply.
Hi Ray, a great reminder about the unscented bleach! It’s so funny I was looking at a clothesline several years ago. It had to be the perfect one because I live in a crazy HOA. Enough said! LOL! I had to find one that I could take down or fold up, whatever. I sent an email to a company (one of my sponsors) and I asked I asked if I could make a video with one of their clotheslines. I picked out the one I wanted and they shipped it to me in exchange for a review. I was thrilled. The video is still on their site. I’m not a professional video person! LOL! I need to see if I can grab the link for you. Since you hang up your clothes you will understand why I liked this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koKwmNPKytM&t=19s Life is good if we can hang out our clothes to dry now or when the SHTF! Linda
I use a retractable line on my covered porch and love it–same reasons as you list.
Which is also how I know last year we had no chemtrail sprays/not one day.
Two weeks ago, the planes started here.
Today was bad as I worked outside yard work.
I really like my retractable–now you see it, now you don’t.
I have two 6 X 6s that carry the weight.
Hi JayJay, I like the retractable ones. Are you saying the planes are spraying overhead in your neighborhood? I keep telling my husband I keep hearing planes flying way too close over our neighborhood. He said they are helicopters, I saw 4 today, they are small planes. Now I’m wondering if they are spraying. I need to look into this. Linda
Linda, your clothesline is nice! I think I’d want a taller one. Mine is the old standard posts with cross arms and four twenty foot lines connecting them type. I think the main advantage is UV sterilization though the fresh scent is a real bonus.
About the “vaccines,” my wife pretty much insisted on us getting the shots and I’d rather comply than argue. I was going to let other people guinea pig it for us but decided happy wife, happy life was the best approach. We’ve had no ill effects at all. The Moderna vaccine doesn’t cause mutations, it causes the RNA in the cells of our body to produce Covid receptors that block the virus from attaching to our cells. Basically, the virus can’t attach to and infect our cells because our cells appear to it as if they are already infected.
If the virus continues to mutate, like the Brazilian P1 version has, then we may need to get at least annual Covid shots, like we get flu shots now.
Regarding Jane’s Macaroon recipes. She going to look them up today and I’ll get them to you soon.
Hi Ray, I think all of us will be using clotheslines more and more. I can still picture my grandmother’s clotheslines with the sheets blowing in the wind. No hurry on the recipes, if she finds them, I would love them. Linda
Linda, I’ve made some washable pads for that time of the month. I do t need them, but they are for bargaining. I also try to keep several months worth of toilet tissue on hand as well as wipes. I have been thinking of making some personal cloths for if and when. . . We never know from one minute to the next what will happen. Even though the mask mandate has been Rescinded, I bought me some more. I will be putting decorations on them. These are for my safety. I will continue to wear a mask. Not only for my health but for others as well. We also stock up on shampoo and toothpaste as well as extra brushes.
Hi Deborah, I’m with you keep stocking up, things could change on a dime as they did in 2020 and in Texas this year. If we don’t need some of the stuff we stock, we can barter or help others in need. Linda
How does the Lavario compare to the Wonder Washer for doing laundry?
Hi Kay, I looked at the Wonder Washer years ago and I was not impressed so I made my own washers with buckets. Then I saw the Lavario, I was sold. You should look at the Lavario YouTubes. It’s amazing. Linda
Linda,
For those who have a septic system, keep it pumped regularly so that when TSHTF, you will have a much longer time before it will need servicing. Also, be mindful of what you put into it.
When we moved to the Texas Hill Country, we had never had a septic system and no one, including our builder, told us that it needed periodic pumping. So, consequently, we went almost 12 years before we had it pumped. The guy servicing it told us that, based on our usage, we could easily go at least 10 years before needing to pump it again. We only put gray water and black water into it along with soluble toilet paper, no food, no wet wipes, etc. And, even though it has only been six years since we had it pumped, we are going to have it pumped again now. That way, when TSHTF, we will have a long time to use it. Luckily, ours is a conventional system rather than aerobic. So, it is basically maintenance free except for the decade schedule of pumping. Glad we have it.
Hi Harry, you are smart to have it pumped before it needs to be. We had a house in Logan, Utah that had a septic tank. I was a new bride back then and had never heard of a septic tank! LOL! Luckily we never had any trouble, it was a brand new house, but boy, would I love a septic tank NOW!
Life is so good! Linda
Yes sir. We had ours done as covid was coming. I figured if we had to band together here we’d be a dozen deep and I didn’t want to be a dozen deep in poo.
It’s a scheduled thing now. I’m getting it done every 5 or less. I put it in my phone calendar.
Hi Matt, a great reminder for everyone who has a septic tank! Linda
Well, we have two acres that back up to a 500 acre ranch. The back of our property is behind my storage sheds and is not visible from the road. So, if need be, I could dig a deep hole and build a rudimentary outhouse over it. I used one of those on our farm back in the 50s when I was a kid. Necessity is the mother of invention. LOL!!
I read this article with a lot of interest! You gave a lot of great advice. Like you, I don’t prep for the End of the World As We Know It, but even 3-6 mos without our normal hygiene things, it would seem like it? I’d like to throw in my dollar’s worth of ideas. I happen to live in MN, the land of 10,000 lakes, so finding a water source is less of a problem versus in other areas. Lol, on the other hand, using this natural resource of rivers/streams/lakes could be a problem if people camp or settle right next to the water, doing ‘their biz’ near the shoreline, even if using a dug hole in the ground. There are many times here that lakes get a Warning Edict about the safety of a particular one because it is Unsafe, for human consumption, swimming, and fish caught for eating…because of human feces contamination found in the water. This can originate from a well-used beach but most often from Old seldom used, but now regularly used, septic systems. (As in lakeside cabins now lived in year-round.) I have no idea what it would take for boiling to make this water safe for consumption. It’s just something to consider if a person needs to leave their home. There is one thing a person can do ahead of time…study a state/county map of water bodies that they may want/need to use; get info Now about the water safety, even if it means getting a testing kit and collecting water for it, sending it in to the lab. I test my lake water once a year, and there’s only 5, maybe 6, separate owners of the lakeshore property: the DNR, then my family, and 3 other neighbors. We don’t have a bunch of small cabins with each having just a small lot, and old time (grandfathered in) septic systems. And there is No farmland with fertilizer/herbicides that drains into our lake. Once strained, my lakewater is considered Potable. Would I still boil it? Yep. ‘Cuz I don’t know who might be camping on the shore in a shtf scenario.
Hi Wendy, wow, you are so lucky to have all that water near you! Yeah, I would boil it as well, but at least you have it to boil. Where I live the water would be quite a hike. You know this is why it’s so awesome to talk to one another because it helps us think outside the box or our box so to speak. When you mentioned that I started thinking about where I would have to hike to get water. Sometimes listening or reading another persons comments keeps us thinking and planning. Great comment, Linda
I used google map to find the water resources around my neighborhood. Several and one owner is a nursery dealer-vegetables and peaches; he has a huge pond. I bet he isn’t a prepper and could barter with me.
Hi JayJay, that would be a great person to barter with for sure! Linda
Hi y’all,
I am a Shaklee distributor because I love the environmentally safe cleaning products. The products have never hurt my family, friends, or pets. I highly recommend each and every one to do your own due diligence regarding cleaning supplies. This will help the water supplies for today and tomorrow. Their are products that advertise being green. Please research the ones that may be best for you.
Hi Sandy, thank you, Linda
Linda, loved this article! We try so hard to do the right thing, to be prepared, etc., but unfortunately, we’re constrained by where we live. We can do all we can but it comes down to … water. We live in the county but are hooked up to “city” water and that’s our only source. Nothing is near enough to us to gather water, other than rain (which we don’t get nearly enough of in N. Nevada) and I only have so much space to store water. It’s a constant “discussion” with my husband. I can only pray that this won’t be an issue. My husband is a professional engineer and has extensive knowledge with septic systems so, should that be an issue, he could build one in the backyard but I pray we’ll never need that either.
I’m old so I don’t have to worry about “that time of the month” but I have, however, kept the new packages of products from when it was needed. They’ll make great bandages for large wounds! :o)
Something to consider for hygiene – look at the products sold for bed ridden people, i.e. waterless or rinse free shampoo. Amazon has a number of different brands (many for pets but many for other uses). I always take waterless shampoo and other non-rinse hygiene products when I go camping because I am limited on the amount of water I can carry when I primitive camp but I still want clean hair as well as a clean body!!
I have also made my own wipes using 1/2 a select-a-size paper towels (cut the roll in half). Then I made a solution of baby wash, water, and baby oil (I think I used 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of baby wash and 1 tablespoon of baby oil – could also use other oils that you like such as fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, rose oil, etc. I think you could also use your favorite body wash rather than baby wash). I placed the paper toweling in a #10 can, made enough solution to saturate the paper toweling but not so much as to make it too drippy! After pouring the solution over the paper toweling, I closed the can with the lid. After a few hours, I was then able to remove the cardboard tube. Since I use these typically when I am camping, I then burn the paper toweling in my fire. If that is not an option, they can be disposed of in the garbage.
I purchase laundry soap from a company called MyGreenFills – it comes in a small bag of powder that I mix in a reusable jug supplied by the company. It comes in scented and non-scented. Each packet makes enough for 50 loads of laundry. They also have other products that are “green” but I haven’t tried them. The nice thing about this is that I can store the powder easily and make laundry detergent easily and I have several packs stored.
Hi Leanne, oh I love this! I need to make one of these and show my readers. I love it! You know I love ideas! Thank you! I need to look at that company MyGreenFills. I need to look for those waterless shampoo links or rinse-free shampoo. I needed this reminder, thank you! Linda
I make my laundry detergent with arm and hammer, borax and Zote from Kmart.
I made a gallon in 9/2019 and still have a half gallon jug left.
I did laundry for two till December/2020 and now only for myself.
So, I used a half gallon in 15 months and G worked every week day for those 15 months.
Great bargain.
I do make my own laundry soap. I use a bar off Fels Naptha, lye soap, washing soda, and Borax. It takes 2 Tablespoons of it per large load. It cleans real well. And takes out stains after several uses. I keep the supplies on hand at all times. You can use Oxi Clean and scent beads if desired. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. I use a food processor to chop the bar soap and mix in some of the powdered ingredients s well. I have used ivory soap, too. It’s a lot milder. I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle.
NOTE: there won’t be any soap bubbles, but it cleans so well.
Hi Deborah, your recipe sounds similar to mine. It’s so cheap to make!! I need to do white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Yeah, no bubbles because there is no filler. I love the smell of GAIN, so I buy these pebble deals in a container. Some people prefer zero fragrance, I get it. I just love the smell in those green containers. Crazy, but I do! Oh, they are scent beads like you mentioned!!! It’s awesome knowing we can make detergent with so few ingredients. I love it! Linda
Linda, I agree 100% about the being able to make it. I also love the smell of Gain. I tried making the liquid soap, but hated it. It was too slimy looking for me. And you had to stir it before use. I don’t use the dryer sheets or the fabric softener. It clogs up the lint screen. Of course you can take it out and scrub the lint screen, but that’s just a pain. I have a couple of wool dryer balls and my clothes are soft. I can use essential oils on them if I want scented clothes. But . . . Larry doesn’t want to smell like a flower. LOL.
Oh, I did find a recipe for laundry soap using Dawn dish soap and water. I think it had some washing soda or Borax in it. I can’t remember now. It worked as good as ours we make. I do use Dawn when I have a grease spot, on the spot as soon as I see it. In fact, I have a dot of Spaghetti grease on the shirt I have on. I need to put some on it when I take off the shirt.
Hi Deborah, it’s so funny we are so much alike! I do not like homemade liquid detergent. It took up too much space. The dryer sheets are bad for sure in our dryers. I also stock Dawn Liquid soap, I’m OCD and they have to be lined up like soldiers on the shelf. Mark doesn’t want to smell like a flower either!! Life is so good! Linda
I have the wool dryer balls and have used then for about 5/6 years now.
Got 6 online and they are still good.