Personal hygiene is important all the time, but particularly so in a survival setting.

Here are some natural hygiene options you have if you find yourself without traditional hygiene methods.

Improvised Toothbrush

So you lost your toothbrush and don’t have any toothpaste you can rub against your teeth. No problem. Just look for a willow bush and grab a small branch. Cut off one end and you can flay it out into the shape of a brush. It may not be exactly what you’re used to, but you can manipulate it until you get it as soft or as coarse as you like.

Deodorant

If your wilderness survival situation occurs in a tropical region, consider hunting for some betel leaves. They come from a vine that is known for its medicinal properties, and it also kills off bacteria that produces body odor. You can chew the leaves or grab a handful and make a tea. Consume the leaves a couple of times per day, and you may be amazed at how much odor control they can provide. You can also make a mash out of the leaves with a little bit of water and apply them directly to the affected area.

Soap

If you are in a forest that has plants that contain saponins, then you can process them into a soap. Unfortunately, the bulk of plants that produce this compound are found in Europe, but there are some alternatives that are in some forests in the United States as well. Do a little research to see what plants produce a suitable amount of saponins, and you’re good to go. There are a number of different ways that you can process these plants, and you can also scrub with them directly as you bathe in a nearby river or lake.

For most of us, the importance of personal hygiene is drilled into us from virtually our first day on the planet.

In a survival situation, however, maintaining good hygiene is no less important, but much, much more difficult.

Fortunately, nature gives us options; to learn about more hygiene options, check out Survival Kit.

Featured Image via Miswak Stick