If
you've ever stepped off a plane with stained and rumpled clothes, a
pore-clogged face, a lag-induced headache, and a mouth that still tastes
like hours-old airplane food, you know how tricky it can be to stay
clean and rested while traveling. And that's just the first leg of your
trip. Where do you turn when access to basic facilities -- like a shower
and sink -- becomes a distant memory? If you're properly prepared,
you'll be ready for whatever travel trial comes your way: to use an
apple or lemon to improve your breath, to take a shower without water,
or to fall asleep in even the most cramped, cacophonous of airline
seats.
Enter the holy sextet of travel freshness: hands, mouth, face, body,
clothes ... and mind. Whether you're on a trek through the Amazon jungle
or a bus tour through Germany, keeping fresh and clean on the road can
improve your spirits, maintain health, and assure that fellow travelers
and locals aren't scared off by your haggard appearance and penetrating
odor. Check out our travel hygiene tips below.
Hands
While doctors mostly agree that washing hands with hot, soapy water
is best for preventing the spread of germs, there are times when this
simply isn't an option for travelers. In these cases, your best bet is
an alcohol-based sanitizer (in cloth or liquid form) such as Purell.
Squirt and rub before a restaurant meal, when leaving a bathroom or
after fondling a stone bust of Nefertiti at a souvenir shop. Other top
times for a squirt while traveling? After using an ATM, riding an
escalator or handling llamas in South America.
Face
Beyond staying hydrated, there's the question of facial cleanliness.
There are a bevy of water-less facial products that can be used on the
road -- say, while camping. Pur Minerals has Mineral Quick Clean, a
rinse-free facial cleanser and makeup remover. And a company called
basis offers "so refreshing facial cleansing cloths," another highly
rated choice. These individually wrapped cloths are alcohol- and
soap-free -- and don't require any water.
