When you are in a survival mode, hygiene is almost as critical as eating well, because poor hygiene will make you sick, itchy, and stinky, and that takes away from your usefulness in your survival role. So, you are probably trying to figure out how much shampoo and toothpaste you can fit in your basement.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with commercial products, good ones are expensive to stock up on and they will eventually run out. So whether you are looking for better options, reading this post-collapse, or are trying to figure out which products are versatile and worth hoarding, I have a few suggestions for you.
First, you should stock up on these basic essentials…
- Coconut oil – incredible product to use on dry skin, treat hair, use on sore gums, make lip balms and lotions. It is also incredibly economical, with a little dab enough to moisturize really dry hands.
- Olive oil – another great moisturizing agent and bath oil.
- Tea tree oil – not just a good aromatherapy oil, tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties, cleanses skin when used in a bath, gets rid of and prevents lice and eliminates dandruff.
- Baking soda – not just a teeth whitener, baking soda cleans dirty hands, nails and heels.
- Baby powder – great for cleaning hair and keeping your feet and armpits from smelling bad.
- Flower – hair and skin degreaser.
- Rubbing alcohol – use on a cotton ball or a small rag for a “dry bath” and follow up with a moisturizer.
- Liquid castile soap – can be used for shampoos and body washes.
If you are looking for better pre-made products, you can take up soap making. It is much cheaper than buying organic or artisan soap and has a long shelf life. It is healthier and softer on the skin than store-bought soap. You will need to get soap base to make it.
Another long lasting personal care product is hair treatment. If you have dandruff, use a few drops of tea tree oil. If your hair breaks, coconut oil and olive oil are perfect to keep it healthy.
You can also make you own lip balm by adding some simple ingredients (like honey) to coconut oil, but it does not have as long of a shelf life.
Post-collapse, I suggest you use baking soda or a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to keep your teeth clean and healthy.
You can also use a tablespoon of white flour or baby powder to clean your hair. Distribute evenly all over the scalp and rub vigorously all over scalp and hair. If you have long hair, brush it through with a fine tooth comb. Both baby power and flour absorb grease from hair and once you shake them out of your head, it will look and feel a lot cleaner.
To get started with basic DIY care products, check out The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Making Natural Beauty Products. It will walk you through the process step-by-step, and prepare you for the day when you really need this knowledge.
To your survival,
Richard Marshall
