The homeless lifestyle is a busy one, between gathering resources such as food or water, lugging around personal belongings, trading or bartering, or just caught up in the latest drama and gossip it's easy to forget to take care of yourself. Without convenient means of showering, eating anything you can and not paying any mind to nutrition, it's easy to forget how long you have been wearing the same outfit until it causes discomfort. Let's be 100% honest, it's easy to get used to the smell of our own body odor and only shave when it comes to the point that you have to.
I'm going to share my own personal hygiene methods that I used while I was homeless, as well as share practices used by homeless folks that I am personally acquainted with. Here's a composed list of helpful hints and survival tips for How to take care of yourself while homeless.
1. Collect as many hygiene kits as possible, there are multiple organizations that hand out free hygiene products, to find them in your area do an online search or ask anyone that works with Outreach programs and providers.
2.Keep yourself as clean as possible to avoid the possibility of picking up bacteria, viruses or other diseases that can be avoided with good hygiene. There are places that offer showers, however, If you don't have access to a shower, it's time to get creative!
- Find a 5 gallon water jug preferably one with a spout on it, fill it up and stand underneath it, try to attach some sort of hose to it.
-Run through a sprinkler, if you decide to go this route, be prepared for the attention this could bring, or try to find one that goes off at night
-Public Restrooms with a sink are good for bird bathing, however be courteous, try to make it quick, and wash away any dirt or debris you may have left behind.
-Join a gym. There are some gym memberships that are surprisingly affordable and even have electric outlets for personal grooming.
3. Eliminate shoe or feet odors, switch off between sandals and shoes, wash your feet, shoes and socks with baking soda. Also placing baking soda inside your shoes will help absorb sweat and odors. Baking soda will also work for under arms!
4. Baby wipes or anti bacterial wipes work amazing
5. Keep your hair tangle free, for women, find curling irons or hair straighteners and heat them with a hand held torch or over a fire, wipe it off with a tee shirt or towel, don't worry these hair devices can withstand heat up to 450° degrees Fahrenheit
6. Brush your teeth! If you don't have a toothbrush, apply a little toothpaste to a q-tip or cotton swab. If you don't have toothpaste mix some water and baking soda and mix it til it becomes a paste, another alternative is sea salt, you can dip your toothbrush directly into sea salt and brush that way or dissolve it in water first Coconut oil will also work as a toothpaste. Rinse your mouth out with equal parts water and peroxide for 20 seconds, do this a couple times a week.
Do not be discouraged if you are homeless and your hygiene isn't 100% all the time. Do the best you can with what you have and keep in mind there is help and resources available, it's ok to ask for help! Letting yourself and your hygiene go is a sign of Depression, if you feel depressed, taking the steps to care for yourself will help boost your confidence. If you still find it difficult to take care of yourself speak to a counselor or mental health professional. It's never too late to start bettering yourself, the secret to getting ahead, is to get started!
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