Waking up in the morning and taking a shower is a routine for many people – but not David W.
David claims that he hasn’t showered in over 12 years.
But it’s not because he’s homeless or lives deep in nature and away from civilized society.
No…
David is a chemical engineer in Boston, who simply believes that humans don’t need to shower.
He even claims that using soap daily may actually remove healthy bacteria from your body.
But there is zero evidence that bacteria gained from not showering is beneficial to your skin.
David first stopped showering after talking to a friend about horses.
They discussed how horses roll around in the dirt.
He believed that the horses did this because there was something in the dirt that made them feel clean.
He concluded that horses do this to cover themselves in a bacteria that isn’t found on human skin.
The specific bacteria found on the horses actually works to breakdown other types of bacteria.
And he speculated that humans didn’t have the good bacteria on their skin because of the obsession with soap and hygiene.
On the other hand, Dr. Cameron Rokhsar doesn’t recommend skipping showers.
The doctor says that if you don’t shower you will begin to smell as a result of bacteria and dead skin on your body.
In addition, if you don’t shower, your skin will become oily and dry.
And over time it could become infected with fungus and bacteria.
This could lead to warts and other skin conditions.
And this is why, when you cut your hand, you wash it with soap and water.
If there was a buildup of bacteria on your skin, you could suffer a soft tissue infection from even a tiny cut.
Also, don’t forget about dandruff.
Your head would become extremely itchy if you never washed your hair.
Essentially, you need to consider all the areas of your body that would buildup fungus and bacteria.
Areas like your groin, and in between your toes can develop fungus that could cause painful burning.
So, showering every day isn’t necessary, but it sure is nice to do it as often as possible…
In fact, when you are bugging out… or camping… or even during an extended power outage…
You may not even have the option to shower.
And your only choices might be a sponge bath or using a river or lake.
But, you probably shouldn’t go more than 3-4 days without showering.
Because you could begin to accumulate a build-up of bacteria and fungus on your skin.
So, here are three showering options you may want to add to your survival gear in case you are stuck without utilities.
Zodi Extreme:
The Zodi Extreme is one of the nicer options when it comes to portable showers because it has so many features.
First, it has an adjustable pressure, which is not seen in other showers.
The pressure is controlled by a hand pump with an on/off lever.
It also has a kink-proof hose that is 6 feet long.
The canister that holds water can be set directly on top of a stove until the water reaches the temperature you want.
It also has a temperature gauge and typically heats to 100 degrees in 5-10 minutes.
The Zodi Extreme is one of the heavier portable showers and it’s not very compact, so it’s not ideal for bugging out.
But it is a good option for your bug-out trailer or even in your survival stockpile in case your home shower fails.
The Zodi sells for $180 new.
NEMO Helio Pressure Shower:
The Helio shower is a combination of function and portability.
It has a foot pump that creates pressure without taking your hands away from whatever you’re cleaning.
It has a 2.9-gallon capacity that provides about 7 minutes of continuous water.
The shower head looks like a kitchen sink sprayer and has a 7-foot-long hose.
It weighs 1.5 lbs empty, and folds up, so it’s compact.
The Helio has no way to heat the water so you would need to do so before adding the water to the shower.
The Nemo Helio sells for $100 new.
Sea to Summit Pocket Shower:
If space is your main concern then this is the shower for you.
The Sea to Summit comes in a little 6-inch by 3-inch case.
But it opens into a 2.6-gallon shower and only weighs about 5 ounces.
The top of the shower opens so you can easily fill it without spilling.
And the bag is made from black nylon so it can soak up the sun and provide some warmth to the water.
There is no pump for the shower, so you must secure it in a tree or above you for it to work.
The shower provides about five minutes of continuous water flow.
When space matters, this is the perfect option.
It can fit in your pocket and sells for only $35.
During a disaster taking a shower might not be your biggest priority.
Yet, for children, elderly, or those with medical issues, not showering can lead to more health problems.
Not to mention…
Even though David W. claims that he doesn’t have body odor…
If you stop showering, your family members might let you know the (smelly) problems with his theory.
