Since childhood, we have all been familiar with the basic rules of hygiene: washing hands before eating, brushing teeth, washing dirty clothes, washing, etc. In harsh conditions of survival, in the absence of the benefits of civilization, sometimes there is neither the time nor the opportunity to follow these rules. But still, we should not forget about them, because violation of hygiene rules entails serious and sometimes quite severe consequences: decreased immunity, illness, infection, and so on...

Before you go on a hike, you should prepare something in order to save yourself from some of the troubles that a long stay away from home entails:

• you need to cut your hair short, shave your mustache, beard ( if you have a beard, you can simply trim it with scissors - approx. website=), cut off fingernails and toenails;
• choose comfortable, light clothing, durable and comfortable shoes;
• take several pairs of replacement underwear and socks. Wet socks and underwear are very often considered the cause of abrasions, which cause great discomfort.

General hygiene

On a long hike, first of all, you need to keep your clothes and body clean, no matter how difficult it may be. In hot weather and provided there are clean bodies of water, swimming and washing clothes is a must! There are several ways to wash yourself if there are no ponds or other sources of water nearby. Wiping with wet wipes is a fairly simple and convenient method in the absence of water. Wet wipes won't take up much space in your backpack, and one pack is enough to clean your entire body. You can also use a towel after moistening it with a small amount of water. Of course, if the supply of drinking water is not so large, then it is better to refrain from washing “until better times.”

If resources still allow you to spend a little water on maintaining personal hygiene, then you can also use wiping with a sponge or soft cloth. Washing begins with the face, periodically wetting the sponge and wiping the entire body. Particular attention should be paid to abrasions and scratches (we also wash them with clean water, first of all after the face), armpits, groin and legs. When washing, do not use soap - this will significantly increase water consumption. Plus, soap scum will cause discomfort, dryness, and possible abrasions from clothing.

Chemicals and washing things

Many have probably heard of such products as dry shampoo and antiseptics. The first option is in no way suitable for our purpose (maintaining hygiene), because such a shampoo has a weak effect and is intended mainly for cosmetic procedures (quickly getting your hair in order). But antiseptic is a completely different matter. It cleanses the skin well and kills bacteria. The antiseptic can be used locally (for disinfecting wounds, cleaning hands and face) and for the whole body. The only problem is that it is usually sold in 250 ml bottles and is unlikely to last long. For long-term use, an antiseptic that needs to be diluted in water (for example, Dettol) is suitable.

An important aspect of personal hygiene is keeping clothes clean. It is unlikely that it will be possible to arrange a full washing of the equipment, but it is advisable to air, shake out and dry the clothes at the end of the day. Underwear (underwear, socks, T-shirt) should be washed, preferably with soap. If there is no soap, you can put the clothes at the bottom of the stream and press them down well with stones. In half an hour the clothes will be clean.

Dental and oral hygiene

And finally, one more personal hygiene item that should never be forgotten is brushing your teeth. After all, a bad tooth can become a big problem somewhere in the forest or in the mountains. Yes, and it affects the condition of the oral cavity. A toothbrush and toothpaste won't take up much space in your backpack. You need to brush your teeth morning and evening with boiled running water. After eating, you should rinse your mouth thoroughly. If you forgot your brush, you can brush your teeth by spreading toothpaste on your finger wrapped in a bandage. If you forgot your toothpaste, you can brush your teeth with charcoal (ash), salt or soda. Activated carbon must be chewed (ash from the fire rubbed into the gums), then brush your teeth with a damp toothbrush. Brush your teeth with salt or soda according to the usual pattern, sprinkling a damp brush with one of the indicated substances. Soda should be used less often, as it strongly corrodes the gums. If you don’t have a brush or paste at hand, you need to carefully remove any remaining food between your teeth with a blade of grass, a pine needle or thread, and rinse your mouth thoroughly. If you find sage, wheatgrass or mint among the herbs, you can chew their leaves. They have a disinfecting effect and eliminate unpleasant odors.

Toothbrush made from natural ingredients

Natural toothbrushes, or more precisely, sticks for cleaning teeth, are found in the forest. A pine stick is an ideal, but unfortunately forgotten by us, means for cleaning teeth. You need to take and chew one end of the branch, it immediately becomes soft. You can perfectly clean your teeth, interdental spaces, and massage your gums. In addition, the entire spectrum of beneficial substances from pine will have a beneficial effect on the oral cavity.

On young branches there are pine buds or embryos of young cones all winter. It turns out that the dental stick is saturated with vitamins.

Everyone knows that pine roots have special properties of flexibility, strength and softness, which are used by craftsmen in weaving various things. It turns out that pine branches partially retain these properties, thanks to which the twig turns into a soft and fluffy panicle.

A pine stick will perfectly clean and strengthen your teeth, get rid of unpleasant odor and inflammatory processes. This natural pine stick for cleaning teeth does not contain harmful substances.

We prepare the sticks like this: cut branches of pine, spruce, cedar or fir (the diameter of a pencil) into small pieces (5 - 15 cm) and dry them. When necessary, soak in water until softened (or immediately in the mouth) and chew one end of the branch until soft. It will look like a fluffy brush. The chewing process itself disinfects and heals teeth and gums. The used part of the wooden stick is already infected with various bacteria and it is better to cut it off if you use long sticks up to 15 centimeters. And short sticks can be used as disposable ones, so they are very convenient for travel and more hygienic.

By the way, in general, almost any type of wood is suitable for making such toothbrushes - you can experiment to your heart’s content. One thing is important - that when rubbed or chewed, the wood “fluffs up” and can act as a brush. Well, we talked about toothpaste options a little higher.

So, by following these seemingly not very simple, but completely doable rules of personal hygiene, you can successfully follow the axiom “A healthy mind in a healthy body!”, avoid unpleasant moments, illnesses and ailments, and maintain excellent health and a great mood, being in nature =)

To be continued…

The day before the hike, you need to trim your fingernails and toenails. Everyone needs to take a small towel with them, preferably a waffle one. Don't forget your toothbrush. Those who like to save weight can be advised to use a hacksaw to halve the handle of a toothbrush. Save 9 grams. Take one toothpaste for the whole group, but to save weight, you can also take powder.

How to wash your hair while hiking

In the Khibiny we had several half-days, when you could splash around in the icy rivers.

Someone washed their hair with dry shampoo - you boil the pot over a fire (or saved gas), dilute it and it’s great. You can also plunge into icy lakes and streams, but this is more for health than for cleanliness. Individual parts of the body can easily be washed in a stream. And what’s surprising is that when brushing your teeth at home, the water flows and flows, and a 7-degree mouthwash is enough for two sips.

It’s difficult to wash your hands before eating - you climbed into the tent, just warmed up and changed clothes, but outside there was a stormy wind and it was very wet. For hand hygiene, some people use wet wipes or smear their hands with disinfectant. But it has such an unpleasant chemical smell that sometimes it’s better to spit and wipe it off with toilet paper.

By the way, do you know how to wash dishes with almost no water?
Toilet paper!

At home you rub a fairy sponge under hot water, but it doesn’t wash off, but then a drop of freshly melted glacier - voila! And why pay more?

- I don’t like the white trim of the thermal underwear, it will soon become dirty
- So this is an indicator that it’s time to wash!
- What, can you do laundry while camping?

It is possible, it is still possible and even necessary. Dirty things are not only unsightly and unpleasant, they are worse for warmth and bring a lot of trouble to the skin.

Wash them while camping with regular laundry soap, one for the whole group, one at a time. But soft water from mountain streams (without salts) washes out soap very poorly, you will have to try.

You can stuff stones into your socks or weigh your pants down with stones and throw them to the bottom in a place with a rather large current. It's risky, but in an hour everything will be clean and fresh. It takes a long time, but it doesn’t cramp my hands.

It is good practice to wash your socks every evening.
and panties and T-shirts - once every 2-4 days.

Drying on the go

There is high humidity in the Khibiny Mountains and don’t expect your laundry to dry quickly. For example, you have three pairs of socks. One pair is for you, the other is drying, and the third is a spare pair.

Options for drying clothes while camping:

1. It is best to dry in the wind in the sun - warm and cheerful. Or just in the wind, on the branches. Don't forget to dry your clothes in the parking lot!
2. You can string socks on sticks and place them near the fire.
3. In rainy weather, you can hang laundry around the tent so that it falls on the face of those sleeping or someone constantly rubs their nose into someone else’s wet socks. The downside is that small items can easily get lost in a pile of junk.
4. The fourth option is to place damp clothing between the layers of the tent. If it doesn’t freeze to the outer layer, it will get wet from condensation, or, worse, fall to the ground. Therefore, this method is for non-urgent drying of things when it rains outside.
5. You can also dry raw materials in a tent. On a sleeping bag. But don’t get carried away, sleeping bags don’t like that. And for down sleeping bags, contact with wet underwear is completely contraindicated.
6. Or on yourself if you need to dry urgently. You put it on, climbed into your sleeping bag and lie there, drying it with yourself. You keep warm, the sleeping bag absorbs, the cold creeps up...
7. Well, you can hang little things on your backpack, let the rain drip on them, branches scratch, dust fly, and socks can get lost so easily. Also an option.

Do not dry your boots close to a fire.
The melting point of some shoe adhesives is 60-80 degrees.

Feminine hygiene

Girls are very popular on the hike. They are loved in general, but especially in the mountains. “Can you imagine two tents of men? Do you understand now why we go 50/50?” Girls mean cheerful chatter and delicious food, but also certain difficulties.

They are always freezing, where it is normal for a guy - the girls are cold. That’s why the guys in the tent sit against the wall and put extra warm jackets on their girls on the passes. Cold is one thing, it can be tolerated, but harm to health is something else entirely. “Once we slept on a glacier... two foam pads, a normal sleeping bag, a down jacket on top... I don’t want to anymore. I think if a girl plans to have children in the future, she shouldn’t sleep on ice.”

Girls love cleanliness. With them, hanging unwashed socks, but damp from sweat, around the tent is somehow not comme il faut. Girls try to wash themselves at every opportunity, especially their heads. At the very least, so as not to itch. Heating water in a pot over a fire, or not heating it, depending on your luck.

Also, the weaker sex spends a lot of time on braids... And this is not even for beauty, it’s just that hair blowing out of the wind interferes with the view of the most beautiful views.

And they also get tired. Tough, sad and sad. They are brought to lighten backpacks or generally drag the last meters to the halt. In general, there is little that compares with the ease when you take off your backpack in the mountains. Wings immediately grow and you are ready to go the same distance! Until you put it on again.

But besides all this, girls also have other, hidden difficulties.

It is important for beginners to know that in the first days of menstruation, girls unload their backpack. In first aid kits, both general and personal, there are several types of painkillers and antispasmodics. And if it’s very bad, they take a day or half a day. And this is important.

Regarding hygiene, there is a simple and ingenious solution - mountain rivers and streams. Yes, the water there is cold, but it’s better than if it wasn’t there.

Well, a mountain of pads, wet and dry wipes takes up a lot of space in the backpack. And all burning garbage can be burned at the first stop, where there will be fuel. And all is well.

If you follow all the rules of operation, your girl will reach the end safe and healthy!

Happy hiking everyone!

The issue of hygiene during a hike is raised quite often, but it is discussed at a general human level, without understanding that for women this aspect is much more important and carries much more difficulties. Girls, I am writing this article for you.

For normal, daily hygiene in the spartan conditions of the mountains, wet wipes are suitable. This is the simplest and most logical solution to the problem. But they have a couple of “buts”: if you take the amount of them that is pleasant for comfort, then, depending on the duration of the hike, the weight of the necessary napkins can exceed one and a half kilos. And this is already a significant burden: it’s difficult to carry, and it’s sad to share with others (they didn’t take it for that). In addition, wet wipes remove dirt, but cannot always cope with sunscreen. And, as for me, they still leave a slightly sticky feeling on the skin due to the composition of the impregnation. Better than nothing, but there are alternatives.

For example, on summer hikes, instead of napkins, I take small piece of soap. Also a very simple and logical step. It must be remembered that on a hike the dirt is of a completely different nature than in the city. In nature, our skin becomes contaminated with natural dust and our own sweat, at most - with sunscreen. In the city, there are also all kinds of exhaust fumes, a ton of cosmetics that we apply ourselves, and other chemicals that simply need to be washed off in the evening. In nature, the skin rests from such stress. I have often noticed that the water in springs and streams is much softer than city water and is more difficult to wash off with ordinary soap, even baby soap. But there is not always enough water to waste it like that. That’s why I don’t take ordinary soap, but tar. It washes off very easily and is much healthier for the skin. During the ten-day hike, I receive an almost cosmetological course of healing for the skin of the face and body thanks to the natural environment, the absence of exhaust gases, proper nutrition, tar soap and sunscreen, which is applied to clean skin and, protecting, moisturizes it.

For washing your hair, look for yourself dry shampoo. A very convenient thing. They need to sprinkle their hair and then comb it thoroughly. Eliminates the need to wet your hair in bad and cold weather, in the absence of water or time for regular washing. But even for this there is not always room or opportunity to buy.

That's why I use the standard feminine trick - headdress. I have a Buff that I put on at the start of a route and take off at the end. With this I pursue several goals at once. Often the hike takes place in the outback of countries where traditions are very strict. The further you go, the stricter the morals. Even though the locals are used to tourists, it is still easier and safer to do business with them when you look at least approximately according to their canons. And covered hair in many regions is an important element of female appearance. The buff also protects against ultraviolet radiation, which is not beneficial to either the skin or hair. And thirdly, the buff keeps your hair cleaner throughout the entire trip. They do not collect dust, do not get tangled in the wind and remain fresh much longer. Although it is worth considering that this is not visible under the headdress. But we don’t want to brag, we do it for our own comfort. At night, I release my hair from the clip or elastic so that my head can rest and, without removing the buff, I release my hair to the opposite end. It turns out that the hair is in a “case” but loose. Plus, at night, such a headscarf protects your head and ears from hypothermia.

After many years of hiking, I know well that 1.5 liters of warm water is absolutely enough for me to wash my body and head. Girls, if such a whim as warm water is expected on a hike, then take it with you glove-washcloth. It weighs very little, and allows you to save significantly on water and soap. Washing with it is faster, more pleasant and easier. And ask our amazing men to hang a pot of water on the fire after dinner. On "household" needs". A mug of boiling water can be diluted with a liter of cold water and you can obtain washing liquid at the desired temperature in sufficient quantity. Wash yourself by pouring water on yourself from a bottle, but don't unscrew all the way lid - water consumption will also be reduced. This is true when there are a lot of tourists, but there is no liquid.

But this is all good in fairly warm seasons: spring, summer, autumn. What to do in winter or high in the mountains, where snow and frost all year round? It is clear that there the spartan conditions become stronger and the comfort is noticeably less. But sunscreen is applied in an even thicker layer, “women’s” days do not agree to “wait until we go down,” the skin still requires at least some kind of cleansing, and you want to get rid of the smell at least sometimes. At such a moment, what saved me was that I usually carry a first aid kit. At first I used peroxide, but then quickly switched to chlorhexidine. In general, it is a very useful thing in a travel first aid kit, it is very multifunctional. But I will focus on its suitability for hygiene. A little chlorhexidine on a sponge (if they are not in the first aid kit, then on a piece of non-sterile bandage) and use it as a wet wipe! It cleans better than soap and you only need a few milliliters. The advantage of chlorhexidine is that it is sold in plastic bottles, which reduces its weight and the chance of breaking.

More about “inconvenient” and “embarrassing”, if this is not a hike in the taiga, where there is often a specialized camp toilet (large mosquito repellent film, for example), then in bad weather or cold this issue is also very critical for you and me. It’s also not easy in the alpine zone or in a field where there are simply no bushes or folds in the terrain. Helps out here travel mat. Just wrap it around yourself. It will protect you from both the cold wind and the casual glance of fellow hikers. The traces of the “crime” were politely buried in the manner of a cat, and again the tail was like a pipe - to conquer mountains and hearts.

I will mention simple and simple things: antiperspirant, a small mirror, tweezers and tiny scissors. And let the men laugh, then they themselves will run around asking to borrow. Moreover, they will borrow an antiperspirant to combat chafing and calluses, although it should also be used for its intended purpose. If you lubricate it in the place where your shoes are likely to rub, then there is a chance to avoid a callus or at least reduce its future size. I have scissors, tweezers, a nail file and a tiny knife connected into small Swiss multitool. It is the size of a third of a matchbox and hangs on the keys, which are always with me on hikes. Mirror - included in the lens kit. By the way, before removing/putting on lenses, I also clean my hands with chlorhexidine.

An experienced hiker will not find anything new in these recommendations of mine. Methods and advice are as old as tourism, and have been tested by it. But perhaps this will help make the hike more comfortable for someone who is still getting used to the mountains and discovering them for herself. After all " But what about washing?" - this is one of the most common questions that new tourists ask me. If you apply a little knowledge, then everything becomes simple and comfortable.

I wish you good mountains and wonderful, unclouded impressions!

Despite the fact that the human body is in harmony with itself in nature, it is still necessary to maintain hygiene while hiking. Many beginners, and especially girls, are intimidated by the possible impressive list of hygiene products that they have to take with them. In real travel conditions, you will need a minimum of things that can be kept clean.

Taking even a small bottle of liquid mil to maintain hygiene while hiking is impractical. No matter how sealed the packaging is, it may not withstand travel conditions. Take a small bar of soap with you. It is useful for keeping your body clean and for washing things. Some experienced tourists advise using tar soap instead of regular baby soap, but this is not necessary. The fact is that in nature, the water in streams and other sources is softer than from a city tap, so washing off regular or baby soap is more difficult than tar soap, and tar soap is also healthier for the skin.

In the warm season, hygiene while camping is easy to maintain with soap, since camp sites are almost always located near water sources. It is very convenient to pour water on yourself from an ordinary plastic bottle, slightly opening the lid. If desired, and in cooler weather, the water for such a “shower” can be heated in a kettle.

A light washcloth glove acts as a useful and space-saving optional addition to soap in the warm season. It’s much easier to wash with it, and it saves soap consumption.

Wet wipes

Soap in winter conditions for maintaining hygiene on a hike is not as helpful as in summer. When the air temperature becomes too low to take a “shower” outdoors, wet wipes will come to the rescue, and they will not be superfluous on a summer hike. You can take 3-4 standard packages (preferably for children and for intimate hygiene) or a package of baby wet wipes. They are larger in size, and one pack of these napkins can hold much more.

Toilet paper

Despite the fact that experienced tourists find dozens of options for using a roll of toilet paper in camping life, it is still a necessary thing to maintain hygiene on a hike.

Toothpaste and brush

Everything is clear here, because maintaining oral hygiene while hiking is just as important as in everyday life. Take a small tube of toothpaste with you, it will be more than enough for several people.

Just like with liquid soap, you don't need a bottle of shampoo to stay hygienic on your hike and have clean hair. If this is a week-long hike, then 1-2 sachets of shampoo are enough, depending on weather conditions. Dry shampoo is very convenient for camping, especially in autumn and winter, it weighs little, and one package is enough for several people. Many people do not worry about the cleanliness of their hair at all, putting on scarves, bandanas and buffs that protect their hair from hiking dust and prevent it from quickly becoming dirty.

Deodorant

A must-have item on the list of things needed to maintain hygiene while camping. Choose a solid antiperspirant and preferably take a mini-copy of the standard bottle with you. By the way, antiperspirant in a stick can be used to lubricate areas on the skin where calluses may rub.

Protective cosmetics

It is advisable to study this point with special attention for girls and women who have at home a whole arsenal of cosmetics for any time of day, season and even weather. There should be no talk of any decorative cosmetics while hiking; allow your skin to rest and heal thanks to contact with fresh air and clean natural water. Do not take foams, scrubs, tonics and other caring cosmetics with you.

The minimum amount of cosmetics required on a hike is sunscreen with a high level of ultraviolet protection and hygienic lipstick to protect against chapping. That's all, but if you are afraid that your skin will become too dry, take with you a small tube of moisturizing cream suitable for both face and hands. Instead of a moisturizer, you can take some kind of medicinal cream like sea buckthorn, “Rescuer” or similar products with panthenol. Such creams not only moisturize, but also heal damaged skin.

Repellents - according to season

Such products do not act as means for maintaining hygiene on a hike, but they are needed to protect against various blood-sucking insects and especially against ticks and midges that carry pathogens of dangerous diseases. You can choose repellents designed for children, because they do not have a strong odor and are better absorbed.

Useful, but not essential little things

We won’t remind you once again that before going on a hike, your nails need to be cut or shortened as much as possible if we are talking about long, well-groomed fingernails. To maintain the comfort and hygiene of your fingers, it is permissible to take with you small nail scissors, a small light file and the same small tweezers, which will be convenient for getting out random splinters. It is convenient if these manicure items are combined in one folding travel set or in the form of a multitool.

Here, perhaps, is the entire list of necessary things to maintain cleanliness, beauty and hygiene on a hike, while some of the indicated items are not mandatory. Already on your first trip you will notice what you did not use or what you could have done without, which means that on subsequent trips you will pack much faster and calmer.