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I hate the combination of sunscreen and playa dust. I feel so much better if I can remove a little bit of that crust. Weather permitting, I like to get cleaned up before dinner. Then I feel rejuvenated and ready for the evening.

Back in the “olden” days, we didn’t worry about getting greywater on the playa. We used a biodegradable soap and figured things were good. We’re enlightened now, and because of that, my evening cleaning ritual has changed. It’s easier, I don’t use as much water, and I’m just as clean.

Supplies:

• Solar shower
• No-rinse soap
• Shallow tub
• (2) large bowls for washbasins

I mix the the no-rinse soap in a small spray bottle. Just spray it on and wipe it off. Just like the name says, no rinsing is needed. It has a very slight “baby powder” smell, but I don’t notice it after I wipe it off. Since I rinse my hair out, the soap gets rinsed a little anyway. I stand in a shallow plastic tub (I think it’s the bottom of a plastic under-bed storage box) which catches all the used water. After I’m all done, the water goes into the evaporation pond. The no-rinse soap allows me to use a lot less water, which means less to evaporate. I use the bowl washbasins to rinse out my washcloth and wash my face.

I’ve found that if I shampoo my hair, it gets very dry and fried after a few days. I think the playa dust absorbs the oils in my hair, so simply rinsing the dust out is the the best thing for me.

If it’s a dusty evening, I might try to de-dustify a bit before getting into my sleeping bag. Unscented baby wipes are great for that job. During the day it’s usually pointless to try to remove the dust.

All-in-all, the thing to remember is that clean is relative. If the weather is nasty and you can’t use your shower setup, you’re in the same boat as everyone else. Swipe a baby-wipe across your face, put a bandanna over your hair, and go out and have some fun anyway.

[Photo credit: “Shower” by qousqous on flickr.com]