Living without running water is part of off-grid living or homesteading. It's relatively easy to meet your hygiene and sanitation needs without running water in case of an emergency.
But for a long-term scenario where you have no running water, you need to get clever. Here's how you can keep your homestead clean without running water:
1. Use disposable products
Disposable cleaning wipes are great for cleaning and sanitizing your food prep areas. You can also use a wipe to eliminate the crud on dirty dishes before washing them in soapy water. That way, you won't spend ages removing the crud from soapy dishwater before reusing it for more cleaning around the house.
2. Rinse dishes in a basin of water
You go through a lot of water when you rinse your soapy dishes under running water. A smarter way of rinsing the dishes would be to fill a basin with water. Dip your dishes into that basin to rinse them. You can then reuse the rinse water when you're done. This way, not one drop of water is wasted down the drain.
3. Use dishpans for washing dishes
Don't stop at using a basin for your rinse water only. Make every drop count by filling a basin with soapy water. Wash your dishes in that basin instead of in the sink. Basins used for this purpose are called dishpans. They can save you both water and money, particularly if you're still connected to the city water supply system.
4. Reuse dishwater
You can always reuse the water you used in your wash and rinse basins as long as it won't compromise hygiene. For example, you can't use your rinse water to wash your clothes, but you can use it to mop the floor. You can also use soapy dishwater to flush toilets. You can also reuse the rinse water you used to mop with for flushing.
5. Clean counters with disposable wipes
In case of an emergency where you won't have access to cleaning water for a few days, you may need to resort to disposable wipes for cleaning around the kitchen, especially kitchen counters and frequently touched surfaces. Just make sure to brush or scrape off visible dirt, gunk and crumbs before going in with wipes.
6. Use a basin and rag for cleaning counters
If you don't have disposable wipes on hand, a clean rag and a small basin will do. Just fill your basin with water and dunk the rag there while you clean your countertops. Squeeze out the rag over the drain to get rid of any crud from the countertops. (Related: Homesteading hacks: Non-toxic DIY glass and window cleaner.)
You can spray them afterward with a simple vinegar solution for disinfecting. Follow this recipe to make your own all-purpose vinegar spray.
7. Wash used rags
The key to a clean homestead is keeping your cleaning supplies clean. That means carefully washing, rinsing and wringing out the rags or linens you used. Hang them to dry outdoors so that they don't foul up the air indoors. If you used disposable products and ended up making a big mess, throw them away properly.
8. Keep a basin of water in the bathroom
Keep a dishpan or a small basin filled with clean water in the bathroom for handwashing. This helps save water the same way you save water by washing and rinsing dishes in basins.
Just dip your hands into the water, pump soap and scrub. Dip your soapy hands into the same basin and rinse. Then, pour the water into the toilet tank for flushing.
Learn more about cleaning without running water at Preparedness.news.
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