How to Stay Clean in the Outdoors

Staying clean is an important part of staying healthy in the wilderness. Good personal hygiene protects you from sickness and infection, and it makes you far more popular with your traveling companions!

Soap in the Backcountry
All soaps, even biodegradable ones, can damage fresh water supplies, so keep your soap use to a minimum whenever you visit the wilderness. Be sure to follow the general rules below whether you're bathing, washing dishes or washing clothes:

Make sure that any soap you use is biodegradable. Biodegradable products break down into non-toxic substances and are easier on the environment.
Be sure to use your soap sparingly.
Do all of your washing at least 200 feet away from all fresh water supplies. This will limit the amount of soap (and other debris) that makes it into the water. Pour soapy waste water out where you wash, so the ground can filter it before it returns to the water supply.
Consider your alternatives - unscented baby wipes can be great alternative to cleaning up with regular soap. They're also lightweight, compact and easy to pack out with other garbage. Rinsing with water alone may also work in some situations.

Bathing
On short trips, focus on keeping your hands, face and feet clean to stay comfortable and keep germs at bay.

Hands—dirty hands can transfer germs to your food and to your mouth. A quick wash before every meal will lower the risks considerably.
Teeth—For your traveling companions' sake, as well as your own, use a toothbrush and toothpaste on every trip.
Feet—Keeping your feet clean reduces the risk of blisters and bacterial and fungal growth (which can occur quickly inside your warm, moist boots). Make sure your feet (and your socks!) are clean each morning before you put your boots on, and each night before you go to bed. If you prefer sleeping in socks, pack a clean pair just for sleeping.

Washing Dishes

Wash all dishes at least 200 feet away from fresh water supplies to keep contamination to a minimum, and use as little soap as possible.
If your waste water contains food particles, either strain it with a fine cloth (pantyhose works well) and pack the food residue out with your other trash, or pour the waste water into a 4-6 inch deep cat hole and cover it well.
Rinse your pots and utensils thoroughly after each meal and leave them to dry in your kitchen area. Remember to use treated water when washing your dishes.

Washing Clothes
Chances are, you won't have to wash any clothes on your first several backpacking trips. But if you choose to, wash them well away from the water's edge (like your dishes). Just a few drops of soap should be enough for a handful of items.

A Note on Disposing of Human Waste

Use established latrines whenever they're available. When they aren't, dig a small "cat hole" (at least 6 inches deep) no less than 200 feet away from all water sources, campsites and trails. Be sure to cover these holes up completely and pack them down tight. The practice of burning toilet paper, performed carelessly, has sometimes resulted in wildfires and is thus not recommended. In popular areas that attract frequent visitation, toilet paper should be packed out in doubled plastic bags that feature a "lockable" closure.

NOTE: A few wilderness areas now require that visitors pack out all solid human waste. Check with the ranger or wilderness manager in the area you are visiting.

Keeping your campsite clean

Don't forget to keep your campsites clean during every backpacking trip. Think about things like:

Visual impact—Keep your gear and clothing off of branches, bushes and rocks, and keep your equipment organized and packed away as much as possible. When you can, choose gear items that use natural, subdued colors rather than bright, easy to spot ones. Keep all trash stored in refuse bags.
Auditory impact—For the sake of other campers (and any wildlife in your area), keep noise to a minimum, especially after sunset. Talk in a normal voice at all times, and leave your radios at home. If you're camping near a lake or river, remember that noise carries very well across water.