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Survival Hygiene: 52 Must-Have Items For Your Sanitation Kit

A Survival hygiene kit isn’t very sexy, but it is one of the most important aspects of surviving any catastrophe or major event. This is especially true if the event is long-term. The last thing you want to do is contract a disease or infection when the world is in turmoil. Below, take a look at the 52 hygiene items I suggest you stockpile in a hygiene survival kit to stay clean during a survival scenario.

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#1 Bleach (survival hygiene kit)

Keep bleach in a hygiene survival kit because it is used to treat drinking water and to make cleaning solutions that will sterilize cooking surfaces and bathroom areas. (Bleach should contain between 5-6% sodium hypochlorite)

For cleaning surfaces where you prepare food mix 1 tablespoon of bleach per 1 gallon of water. For human waste and diaper changing areas disinfect with a bleach solution of 1 Tablespoon bleach per 1 quart of water. Wipe area well and wait for it to air dry. Bleach solutions are only good for one day so remake daily.

NH DHHS Division of Health Services, Health Officers Manual

Amazon| Clorox Store

Interested in stockpiling for emergencies? Check out the Ready Squirrel article, “Canned Protein: 28 examples For The Apocalypse.”

#2 Eye Dropper

Use an eyedropper in your survival hygiene kit to measure bleach for water treatment.

As a general guideline, use 8 drops of bleach to a gallon of generally clear
water for best results. Based on the environment or cloudiness of the water, you may want to change
the number of drops to 16 per gallon for cloudy or murky water.

Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC)

Amazon| Ezy Dose Store

#3 Microfiber Washcloths

Microfiber towels are outstanding for survival hygiene because they dry quickly and are easy to clean. Using quick-dry towels is ideal when sleeping outside without power or when there is a limited water supply.. To clean microfiber towels use a laundry bucket and hang them to dry.

Amazon| Mr. Siga Store

#4 Microfiber Camp Towel (survival hygiene kit)

When hiking the Vermont leg of the Appalachian Trail I used a large microfiber towel. I’d clean up at night when we hiked into camp, and the towel would be dry in the morning. A little tip: tie a wet microfiber towel to your backpack as you are hiking; weather permitting, it will dry in an hour.

If you use cotton towels, they will pretty much stay damp.

Amazon4Monster Store

#5 Bar Soap (survival hygiene kit)

I keep my hair short, so sometimes I will wash my hair with bar soap as well.  This is a trick I learned from my depression-era grandfather.  It works.

The downside to bar soap is it can get messy if you don’t have a container or Ziploc bag to keep it in. If I’m out and about, I prefer liquid soap in a bottle, but bar soap is handy in camp.

Amazon| Dr. Squatch Store

#6 Baby Wipes

Baby wipes are pure gold for staying clean in a natural catastrophe or disaster. I used a lot of baby wipes when I hiked the Vermont leg of the Appalachian Trail. Staying clean isn’t just healthy it is also good for morale.

You can clean your entire body with baby wipes, also, check out products like Epic wipes, huge wet wipes the size of a small bath towel. 

Amazon| Huggies Store

 

#7 Comb (survival hygiene kit)

A comb is part of most standard grooming kits. My hair is super short, so there is not much combing going on. If you are surviving in the desert, a comb is the best way to remove jumping cholla cactus from your body or clothing. 

I was out jogging when living in Arizona and brushed a cholla cactus. One of the spiked balls stuck deep in my calf. I had to walk all the way home to get a comb to remove it.

Amazon| Ace Store

#8 Fingernail Clippers

Clippers help maintain good foot and hand hygiene and stop in-grown nails.  If you’ve ever hiked long distances with your nails cutting into your toes you know what I mean. 

Toenail clippers are also good for cutting fishing lines or small strings.   

Amazon| Hawatour Store

#9 Tweezers (survival hygiene kit)

Useful for removing splinters or cactus spines to reduce the possibility of infection.

Amazon| Tweezer Guru Store

#10 Metal Nail File

A metal nail file can be used to clean up fingers or an ingrown toenail. They can also be used to file small projects you are doing around camp.

Amazon| LePinko Store

#11 Luekotape (survival hygiene)

You can use flexible athletic tape to cover blisters and hotspots on your feet.

Amazon| BSN Medical

#12 Mirror (survival hygiene kit)

A small mirror can be used for hygiene and for signaling others in an emergency situation.

Amazon

#13 Hair Ties (survival hygiene)

A couple of hair ties or rubber bands are good to have on one hand. Use them for bundling and keeping small items together. I.e., paracord, pens, pencils, or packs of Q-tips and cotton balls.

Amazon| The Good Store

#14 Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera is the best solution for soothing sunburns and chapped or dry skin.

Amazon| Seven Minerals Store

#15 Tooth-Brush

Keeping your mouth clean is good for morale and it’s good for staying healthy. Go for the full-sized toothbrush and avoid using the dinky travel versions, as they aren’t as effective in getting a good brush.

Amazon| Colgate Store

#16 Toothpaste

Get a minty fresh mouth as the world crumbles. Go with a full-size tube to reduce pack weight if you are sticking around camp and the travel size.

Amazon

#17 Listerine (survival hygiene kit)

Listerine fights mouth bacteria.

Amazon| Listerine Store

#18 Dental Floss

Use dental floss in place of a toothpick, it keeps your mouth fresh and seconds as a super light-weight string.

Amazon| OralB Store

#19 Toilet Paper (survival hygiene)

Running out of toilet paper is a real pain.  You can wipe with leaves, but you better know your plant identification.

Amazon| The Presto Store

#20 Feminine Pads

Sanitary Napkins/ Tampons/Menstrual Cups. Sanitary Napkins can also be used as a wound dressing.

Amazon| Always Store

#21 Bidet (survival hygiene kit)

A device that allows you to clean the unmentionable areas of your body without taking a full-blown shower or bath. This isn’t something I would use, but I can see where it might be useful under certain circumstances.

Amazon| Brondell Store

#22 Clothesline (hygiene survival kit)

Consider packing some paracord to use in a wash station. Clean towels in a bleach bucket and hang them on a paracord clothesline. Paracord is a multi-use item that you should have in your emergency survival kit.  

Amazon| Amazon Basics

#23 Antibacterial Soap

Great post potty hand cleaner; seconds as a firestarter

Amazon| Dial Store

#24 Shovel

Have a shovel in your emergency hygiene kit to bury nasties and organic materials for composting and keep bugs off any kind of human waste. Keeping your survival camp clean is important to stay healthy in a survival scenario.

Amazon| Rhino Store

#25 Trauma Shears

Trauma shears for cutting bandages.

Amazon

#26 Bucket Toilet

Use kitty litter, sawdust, or a trash bag liner. You can purchase a lid that looks like the lid on a regular toilet.  I’d probably use the bucket, but that’s up to you.

Amazon| Camco Store

#27 Wash Bucket

Fill the bucket with clean water and bleach or laundry detergent; use it to clean clothing and surfaces.  

Amazon| Living Whole Foods Store

#28 Trash Bags

Trash bags are a must-have item for your survival hygiene kit because they are very useful in a survival situation to remove waste. If you use trash bags for your poop bucket, get a smaller size that fits in the bucket.  Large contractor trash bags are so handy that I can’t list all possible uses. Trash bags can also be used as a rain poncho, a waterproofer, or a shelter builder.

Amazon| Reli. Store

#29 Diapers 

If you have a baby don’t forget diapers and rash cream. Consider the extra wipes, hand sanitizer, and trash bags you will use.      

Amazon| Pampers Store

#30 Sunshower

These are a luxury, but worth considering if you have a good supply of clean water.  A couple of years ago I helped a friend build an off-grid cabin.  We were out there for several days at a time without running water.  I made it a habit to fill my sunshower first thing in the morning and lay it on a large rock in the sun. Great for morale.

Amazon| Advanced Elements

#31 Deodorant

I don’t consider this a necessary item but you might. Use it for the sake of the people around you.

Amazon| Native Store

#32 Shampoo

All-purpose biodegradable camping/ backpacking shampoo and all body wash.

Amazon| Direct 2 Boater Store 

#33 Washtub

Use a washtub to clean clothes or as a backup for other chores.

Amazon| Rubbermaid Commercial Store

#34 Clothes Detergent

Plan for some soap to clean your clothes and rags

Amazon| Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Store

#35 Lip-balm

Protect your lips from drying out and cracking.

Amazon| Burt’s Bees Store

#36 Q-tips

Use it to clean your ears, apply antibiotic ointment, clean electronic gear, or as a firestarter.

Amazon| SC Johnson Store

#37 Cotton Balls

Good for cleaning around your eyes, cleaning blisters, applying antibiotic ointment, or as a firestarter 

Amazon

#38 Antibiotic ointment

Neosporin provides infection protection and seconds as a fire accelerant 

Amazon| Neosporin Store

#39 Merino Wool Underwear & Socks

Merino wool is anti-microbial so it’s easier to keep down odors and other funk.  Keep an extra set of underwear and socks in your hygiene kit      

Merinotech Men and Women’s Store| Darn Tough Socks Store

#40 Kleenex

Tissues are a great thing to have for wiping the schnoz and around the eyes.

Amazon| Kleenex Store

#41 Lysol

Kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria

Amazon| Lysol Store

#42 Isopropyl alcohol

It kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, can be mixed with water and used in a spray bottle to clean surfaces, can be used to disinfect an injury, and can be used in a backpacker’s alcohol stove.    

Amazon| Solimo Store

#43 Spray Bottles

  Fill spray bottles with homemade cleaners, water, bleach, or water, and isopropyl alcohol.   

Amazon

#44 White Vinegar

It can be used as a natural cleaner, it will kill about 80% of bacteria and viruses, and can also be used to clean clothing and disinfect surfaces.

Amazon| Member’s Mark Store

#45 Baking Soda

Alternative toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shoe deodorizer, and cleaning agent.

Amazon| Arm and Hammer Store   

#46 Hydrogen Peroxide

Used as a cleaning agent 

Amazon| Solimo Store

#47 Buckets and Lids

You never know what you will need to clean or store. A clean bucket with a lid will keep stuff clean and dry. and Can be used to organize your supplies.

Amazon

#48 Portable Urinal

For Male or Female

Amazon| Cacovedo Store

#49 Shower Shelter

if you want to get fancy, you can put up a tent-like structure made specifically for sunshowers or use it as an outhouse in conjunction with your potty bucket.

Amazon| Giga Tent Store

#50 Gold Bond Medicated Powder

Controls moisture, soothes skin irritation, and reduces odor

Amazon| Gold Bond Store

#51 Zinc Oxide

To keep the sun off and keep from getting blisters that need to be cleaned.

Amazon| CeraVe Store

#52 Bug Spray

Reduces infection and discomfort from bug bites. I can think of 3 times in my life when I didn’t have bug spray and needed it. Please, don’t let this happen to you.

Amazon| Murphy’s Naturals Store

That is all for now, folks. Let me know if you have suggestions for other hygiene items in the comment section below. Keep on prepping.

CDC Water Sanitation and Hygiene

CDC Personal Hygiene and Handwashing After a Disaster or Emergency


                

      

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