Hygiene is important to medical preparedness
From homemade dry shampoo to reusable toilet wipes—because the apocalypse doesn’t have to stink.
There comes a time in every prepper’s life when they must ask themselves one haunting question: Do I smell like a human or a hibernating badger who just lost a fight with a garlic clove?
Let’s be honest. Self-reliance is beautiful, empowering, and deeply rewarding… but it also has the potential to get real funky, real fast. Especially when the power’s out, the water’s rationed, and you’re washing your underwear in a salad spinner. (Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.)
Thankfully, the art of smelling semi-civilized doesn’t have to die with the grid. Whether you’re hunkered down through a storm or simply embracing your inner Little House on the Prairie—with Wi-Fi—these DIY hygiene hacks will keep you fresh enough to not be banned from your own living room.
The No-Shower Shuffle: Dry Shampoo, Baby!
When your shower’s become a storage unit for buckets and batteries, it’s time to embrace the miracle of homemade dry shampoo. Mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder (or cornstarch if you’re not fancy) with 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder if you’re a brunette—because smelling like a brownie and not looking like a ghost is a win-win.
For blondes, silver foxes, or those rocking rainbow unicorn hair:
Just use arrowroot powder or cornstarch alone. They’re both light-colored and blend in easily without making you look like you’ve tried to camouflage yourself in the baking aisle.
Shake it into your scalp with a makeup brush like you’re powdering for the apocalypse pageant, massage it in, and—voilà!—less grease, more grace.
Toothpaste That Won’t Make You Miss the Store
Toothpaste is one of those things we never think to stock enough of—until we’re brushing with salt and regret. Here’s a better plan: Mix 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, and a few drops of peppermint essential oil. It’ll taste a little like your dentist and a piña colada had a very awkward date, but your teeth will thank you.
Reusable Toilet Wipes: Yes, We’re Going There
Now before you start yelling “That’s where I draw the line, Kellene!”—hear me out. When the Charmin is gone and the neighbors are looking at their phone books with new appreciation, you’ll wish you’d prepped a stack of soft flannel wipes. Pro tip: make them out of old pajamas or baby blankets. Anything but burlap. Trust me.
Use a “wet wipe solution” made from warm water, a splash of witch hazel, a drop of baby soap, and a dash of tea tree oil. Store it in a spray bottle and squirt on your reusable wipe before using. Then toss the used ones in a bucket with a lid and wash with hot water and vinegar. (This is the exact moment you realize why you stored that bucket of vinegar.)
Deodorant You Can Trust When Life’s Sweaty
Store-bought deodorant might one day be a distant memory, like Blockbuster or politicians who tell the truth. In the meantime, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup arrowroot powder, 4 tablespoons coconut oil, and a few drops of lavender or tea tree oil. Smash it into an empty deodorant tube or apply like a lotion.
Bonus: You’ll smell like a field of socially-distanced wildflowers. Not bad for the end of the world.
Sponge Baths That Don’t Feel Like Punishment
Dry shampoo is simple to DIY.
If your idea of a good time doesn’t include hunching over a bowl of lukewarm water with a washcloth that smells like old camping trips, I get it. But sponge baths can be delightful if you spice them up. Use a mix of water, a few drops of Castile soap, and a splash of rubbing alcohol. Start with your face and work your way down, saving the feet and nether regions for last. You know… respect the order of operations.
Light a candle. Hum a tune. Pretend you’re on a spa retreat called “Eau de Crisis.”
Sock Swap and Undie Rotation: Hygiene’s Unsung Heroes
When you can’t wash your clothes as often as you’d like, embrace the mighty power of the daily switcheroo. Rotate socks and underwear like your life depends on it—because let’s be honest, your dignity might. Air out your shoes in the sun, rinse your clothes with a few drops of pine essential oil in water, and hang them like victory banners around your homestead.
Razor-Free and Fancy-Free
Ladies, gents, and those in between: hygiene in hard times means embracing your inner ‘70s if needed. If razors are hard to come by, keep skin exfoliated with a sugar scrub (equal parts sugar and olive oil with a dash of lemon). Smooth skin, no blade, no shame.
Here’s the thing—taking care of our hygiene when the world gets weird isn’t just about keeping our noses happy. It’s about hope. It’s saying, “I still matter, even when things are tough.” It’s drawing a line in the sand and saying, “Yes, I may be cooking over a rocket stove, but I’ll be clean doing it.”
Self-care isn’t vanity. It’s dignity. And that’s worth preparing for, too.
So next time someone scoffs at your homemade dry shampoo or reusable wipes, just smile and let them know: when the world goes sideways, you’ll be smelling like victory.
And maybe a hint of lavender.
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