The primary reason we need to stay clean is to maintain control over the harmful bacteria that can manifest itself in all the crevices of our body that make us smell bad and breed disease.

The easiest way to accomplish this is to focus on the areas with the most potential for bacterial growth and go from there. What areas are those?  Just follow your nose.  It’s no coincidence that the areas that provide our embarrassing body odor are the areas we most need to target.  Just like a clogged kitchen drain or backed up sewer system, if the smell is there, the bacteria is there.

The most common ways of battling the ongoing war of cleanliness are via large amounts of water in the form of a shower or bath.  But, what if you suffer from skin irritation issues, or you’re in the middle of a drought, are taking a 3-month journey into the wild, or just want to conserve water a little more?

Not to worry!  Here are some carefully researched and compiled weird but wonderful ways you can clean and sanitize yourself without using excessive amounts of water.

Smoking.  No, Really!

Not to be confused with what you shouldn’t be doing with a pack of Camels Lights.  I’m talking about being away on an extended camping trip or living off the land, forget the waterhole, you can smoke yourself and your clothing by the fire. Smoke from firewood has antibacterial properties and should leave you feeling fresher than going without.  Yeah, you’ll smell like smoke, but that smell is better than deadly bacteria that could be on verge of damaging your body.

Dirt Baths

Similar to how those fancy mud and clay masks work at the local health spa.  If you have access to very fine and completely dry dirt with no extra additives like fertilizer or animal by-products, it will work wonders to absorb excess oil without over drying your skin.  Simply cover yourself in the dust, allow it to sit for a while, then scrape yourself clean and give yourself a final polish with clean fabric.  Additionally, if your hair is driving you crazy, you can create a mud “shampoo” by adding a little water, working it through your roots then letting it dry.  Afterwards, break up the caked areas and brush it out.  Your scalp will feel refreshed and ready to go.

Use Baking Soda as A Cleanser and Dry Shampoo

A great way to tackle the oily buildup in your hair while at the same time giving yourself a waterless body scrub is by using Baking Soda.  Sprinkle the soda onto your head and rub into the scalp.  Continue by sprinkling more soda into your hand or directly onto the other parts of your body for a clean and exfoliation that would put a loofah to shame.

Related Article: “DIY Soap”

If plain baking soda feels too abrasive, mix it with baby or talcum powder for a gentler cleanse. Afterwards, wipe off the excess and brush out your hair.

Use Olive Oil to Avoid Clogged Pores and Stay Moisturized.

If you have especially sensitive or dry skin, consider taking an olive oil sponge bath.

Unlike standard cleansers, oils rich in vitamins and antioxidants balance the natural oils of our skin and helps dissolve the excess oil our body and face produce, which contributes to clogged pores.

For best results, rub a small amount of it into your skin and then wrap yourself in warm, dampened towels or a robe, or a bed sheet covering your face and body for about a minute. Use the towels to wipe away the excess oil and then let yourself air dry.

If you suffer from oily skin, try castor oil with a few drops of tea tree or peppermint oil to keep your skin from staying greasy.

And there you have it! Four weird but effective alternatives to getting yourself soaking wet and sudsy.