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12 Easy Steps to Save Water While Boondocking – Bathroom Edition

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

7. Wash with a dry shampoo

dry shampoo for rv boondocking

Dry shampoo products are great for keeping hair oil-free and feeling clean.

PRO BOONDOCKER TIP: If you don’t want to buy a product, rub a small amount of cornstarch into your scalp and brush it through for a clean feeling.

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8. Catch rinse water

simple rubbermaid bucket
Hard to find, simple Rubbermaid bucket

When you do wash your hair, rinse it off into a large bucket. Keep the bucket in the tub and use it for toilet flushing.

9. Utilize campground toilets

Contract: NRSO Park: 70234

Using fresh water to flush RV toilets doesn’t make much sense, but unless you have a composting toilet or install a RV gray water recycling system, you’re stuck.

Another option: use a campground toilet if one is available – or go in Mother Nature

By the way, did you know there’s an app for locating rentable toilets?

10. Don’t flush toilet paper

human waste bagsIf you’ve had a septic tank before you know how important it is to not flush anything BUT toilet paper.

But with boondocking, even toilet paper is a flushing no-no.

If you’re confident your used toilet paper won’t be offensive to anyone, put it a bag and place it in the trash (preferably one with a lid on it) to avoid rinsing it down with water.

You can buy a boondocking toilet kit here.

11. If it’s yellow let it mellow

rv toilet odor neutralizer

Even the shortest toilet flush uses water. Consider leaving urine in the bowl after adding a toilet waste odor neutralizer.

12. Clean up with bathroom cleaning wipes

rv disinfectant

Pre-moistened, anti-bacterial clean-up towels for counters, toilets and sinks are ideal for cleaning bathrooms and hands without using water. A paper towel sprayed with your favorite cleaner serves the same purpose.

Extreme Boondocking Calls for Extreme Measures

As you can see, some of these tips are more drastic than others.

Depending on your personal hygiene comfort level -and what you’re willing to do to extend your dry camping experience – some of these tips might not be for you.

If you’ve found that some tips work better than others or if you have new water conservation ideas to share, please let us know in the comments!

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