How to wash without running water: a plain UK hygiene plan

Quick checklist

Why washing needs a plan

Water can stop for many reasons, such as a burst main, repair work or a power cut that stops a pump.

Be Ready, the government campaign, asks households to plan for three days of disruption, and to store 3 litres of water per person per day. That figure covers drinking and basic needs. Our guide to how much water to store for an emergency shows how to add a little extra for washing.

How to wash without running water: the order that matters

Think in order of importance. Do the first step every time, and the later steps when water allows.

1. Hands. Wash them with soap and water for about 20 seconds before you eat or handle food, after the toilet, and after touching rubbish.
2. Face, armpits and groin. A damp flannel with a little soap, then a second flannel dipped in clean water to rinse.
3. Feet and the rest of you. Do these when you have water to spare.
4. Hair. Leave it. Tie it back or wear a hat for a few days.

The hand-washing method that uses almost no water

You do not need a running tap. You need a bowl, a jug, soap and a towel.

1. Pour a small amount of stored water into a bowl. Half a litre is plenty.
2. Wet your hands, put the bowl aside, and lather with soap for about 20 seconds.
3. Rinse by pouring a little clean water from a jug over your hands, held over the bowl.
4. Dry with a clean towel. Use a separate towel for each person if you can.

A liquid hand soap refill (Retailer link coming soon) keeps a pump bottle full. A bar of soap works too, so use what you have.

A full wash with a bowl and a flannel

Fill a bowl with about two litres of stored water. Warm water feels better, but cold works. Wet a flannel, add a little soap, and wash one part of your body at a time, face first and the groin and feet last. Rinse the flannel in a second bowl of clean water. Dry as you go to stay warm.

If you want warm water in a power cut, use a kettle only when the power is on, or fill a flask with hot water while you still have power. Never boil water on a camping stove, gas heater or barbecue indoors, in a garage or in a porch. These give off carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell.

Wipes: what they do well and what they do not

Wipes are good for a quick freshen up and for cleaning surfaces. They do not replace soap and water for your hands when you have both.

• Face and hand wipes. A pack of unscented wet wipes (Retailer link coming soon) is cheap and keeps well. Unscented ones are kinder to skin.
• Body wipes. Larger waterless body cleansing wipes (Retailer link coming soon) suit a day with very little water, or a person who cannot easily stand at a basin.
• Bin them. Put every wipe in the bin, even if the pack says flushable. Wipes block drains, and a blocked drain makes a bad day worse.

Speak to your pharmacist if someone has sensitive skin or eczema.

Hand gel: only a back-up

Alcohol hand gel can help when there is no water at all and your hands look clean. As a general rule it works less well on hands that are visibly dirty or greasy. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitiser (Retailer link coming soon) as a back-up, not a replacement for soap. Keep it away from heat and naked flames, and out of reach of small children.

Toilet, rubbish and used wipes

If the water is off, the toilet may still flush once from the cistern. After that, you can flush by pouring a bucket of water into the bowl; use water you would not drink. Do not flush wipes, nappies or sanitary products.

For a longer interruption, a toilet waste bag kit (Retailer link coming soon) can be worth having. Use strong, tied bags and keep them out of the house until your council can collect them.

Strong heavy-duty refuse sacks (Retailer link coming soon) let you double-bag used wipes, nappies and kitchen waste. Tie them, keep them somewhere cool and outside, and wash your hands after handling them.

Babies, older people and anyone unwell

Babies, older people and anyone with a health condition may need more care with washing. Speak to your health visitor, GP or pharmacist about what suits them. If someone relies on water for a medical reason, tell your water company and ask about the Priority Services Register at thepsr.co.uk. Our guide to what to do when the water supply is off covers who to call and what to expect.

Do this today (free)

1. Check you have soap, a towel, a bowl and a jug within reach of the bathroom.
2. Fill one clean, food-grade container with tap water and label it "washing". Swap it every six months, when you check your other supplies.
3. Write your water company's number on a card.
4. Find your stopcock, and check our emergency kit list for what else to gather.

If you have £10, £25 or £50

These are budgets, not quotes. Check the current price first.

• About £10: a pack of unscented wipes, a refill of hand soap and a roll of refuse sacks.
• About £25: add a second pack of wipes, hand gel and a washing-up bowl kept for the purpose.
• About £50: add larger body wipes, toilet waste bags and a few spare towels for a household of four.

Sources and further reading

• Be ready for emergencies: checklist and household plan
• NHS: how to wash your hands properly
• Priority Services Register