Just because you live in a van doesn’t mean you have to be smelly! No longer will you need to wonder where to take showers. With so many ways to keep clean on the road, if you’re concerned about hygiene, this post is for you. Now lets stomp out those dirty hippie stereotypes and get to cleaning with this handy dandy shower guide!
Built-ins
The easiest way to keeping clean, and the most obvious, is having a built-in shower in your rig. These showers look and work pretty much exactly like a shower in your house. RVs are great because they come with a shower already installed. Pretty much any rig that you can stand in can have a shower built into it, so this is also a great option for skoolies and sprinters. Sitting showers and baths can also be an option if your rig isn’t tall enough for a standing shower. The system works the same – your space just needs to be water proof and able to drain.
Keep in mind, where there is water, there has to be a way to hold it. Built-in showers require a holding tank of clean water as well as a holding tank for gray water. This does contribute to the weight you’re carrying on your rig. You will also have to take the time required to empty and fill those reservoirs.
Semi-built-ins
Space is always in high demand when living on the road, so if you don’t want to set aside the full amount that is required for a built-in, it is possible to make a built-in sort of shower outside your rig. Essentially, you stand outside your rig, while you turn on your built-in shower. Back doors and hatches can be a really great way to get the height needed for a shower from the ground, instead of the floor of your rig. They can also offer a great privacy set-up by using privacy tarps to create an enclosed shower.
In LuLu, I have actually built her kitchen in a way that the sink faucet rotates through the window to the outside so that I can, at the very least, wash my hair.
Gyms
Another pretty common way of finding a place to take a shower is through utilizing public showers. These are obviously only readily available if you’re spending time in more populated areas or near cities. Many gym memberships, and probably all commercial gyms, include showers. This is a great way to go get in a work out and also get clean. And if you’re worried about just popping in to take a shower, just remember – you’re paying to be there and no one is really paying you any mind! I highly recommend Planet Fitness, not only for their shower, but for the price, you get so many amenities.
Truck Stops
If gyms aren’t readily available, don’t forget truck stops! They are literally the OG travelers center. Truckers have been living out of their trucks for a long time, so truck stops have showers and baths available just for this purpose. There may be a wait time and you will need to pay for your shower. This is still a great option because even in some otherwise remote places, you’ll be able to find a truck stop.
Campgrounds
Campgrounds are also a great place to find a shower. Not all campgrounds offer this amenity, but if you’re at the point in your journey where you’re really needing a shower, its worthwhile to find a campground that offers showers and park your rig there. The quality of the camp showers will vary, but I’ve stayed in pretty cheap campgrounds with really nice showers. That being said, don’t write it off as a way to stay clean!
Beach
If you’re staying near the beach, keep an eye out for beach showers. Sometimes you’ll see a spot to wash just off the sand, so while you won’t have the most privacy, you can at least get a decent rinse. I’ve also seen some interior showers along the beach. They weren’t the most inviting, but they can still get the job done with a touch more privacy than being out in the open.
Portable Showers
The camping and outdoor industry has a lot of great options for outdoor showering. They make water bladders with shower attachments, so this is a great outdoor option. And if you’re worried about privacy, they also make wearable tents specifically for showering. The quality and use of shower bladders varies, so pay attention to what is best for you when making a purchase. Some utilize material and color to absorb as much heat from the sun as possible to warm up your water (marketed as solar showers), allowing for at least a luke-warm wash. Once your water is warm, you’ll just need to find a place to hang the bag and get to showering.
Bucket/Tote Showers
There is more than one way to skin a cat, so the saying goes. There are so many methods to keep clean that if you can think it, you can do it. One creative method I’ve encountered is the use of storage totes as water catchers. This is a versatile option that can work well inside and outside of your van, depending on weather and privacy. The process is simple – stand in a storage tote. Use water to get yourself wet. Lather up. Rinse.
With this method, you can really personalize it for what works best for you. I have a pump-action shower head that you can submerge into water and it will pump the water through the shower head. It has great pressure and can be used essentially until it runs out of water. So you could put this in a bucket of water next to your tote, and easily wash off. In theory, you could start with water in your tote and pump recycled water over you until you’re almost done, then do a clean-water rinse. Or, you could utilize a solar shower bag. Even yet, you can use just a plain old jug of water and pour it over yourself.
And better yet, the tote that you stand in can be a multi-purpose tote, allowing you to save space in your rig!
Lakes, Rivers, and Streams
If you’re near a water source, like a lake or river, the water can go a long way to keeping you clean. You can’t use soap in lakes or rivers, so its best to use this method in combination with something else, but this is a great option for rinsing off. Even if you’re not sparkling clean, you’ll feel a lot better!
They do make biodegradable soap, so taking some water from a river or lake off the shoreline and using it as a rinse is a good option and will make you a lot cleaner than just swimming in the lake itself. If you’re planning to be remote or boondocking for an extended period, its a good option to rinse off in a river or lake often. Think of it as “staying clean”.
Baby Wipes
At the end of the day, the goal is to get clean. Maybe you’re wanting to preserve water. Maybe you’re out boondocking. Maybe you just need a refresher after a hike and you won’t be near a shower for a couple days still. In those situations, van lifers swear by this tried and true method: baby wipes.
Baby wipes are good to keep on hand regardless of your shower situation, but they really can be the difference between feeling disgusting and feeling fresh. These won’t work miracles, so its best to use them in between washes and not as a replacement for washing. They work great for wiping away dirt and sweat, so think of it as a way to stay fresh.
Don’t have the room for a shower (or maybe even to stand up) in your rig? No problem! There are plenty of really creative ways to use your rig and your resources to clean up. The reality of van living is that you may have to sacrifice space, but you don’t have to sacrifice routines. Especially if you’re an every-other-day or every-couple-days kind of showerer, you’ll have no trouble feeling clean in your rig.
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