72-Hour Grindstone Family Readiness Guide
HYGIENE
After a disaster, hygiene becomes a health and sanitation issue very quickly. You may have
plenty of drinking water and food, but if the toilet won't flush, nobody can wash their hands,
garbage is piling up, and everyone is using the same limited space, you've created another
emergency inside your home.
In Week 2, we talked about one of the most important resources in any emergency: water. We
focused on making sure your family has enough safe water to drink, cook with, and meet basic
needs when normal services are disrupted. But stored water has another important job. When the
faucets stop running, we still need to wash our hands, clean ourselves, care for our families, and
manage sanitation safely. This week, we’re building on water preparedness by looking at
hygiene and sanitation because staying clean during an emergency isn’t just about comfort; it’s
an important part of keeping your family healthy.
People tend to prepare for food, water and flashlights and completely forget about what happens
when someone says, “Okay...but where am I supposed to go to the bathroom?”
Before the Emergency: When severe weather is expected, a few simple preparations can make a big difference. Catch up on laundry, fill the bathtub or other containers with utility water when appropriate, make sure prescriptions and special hygiene supplies aren’t running low, empty household trash, and clean the bathroom beforehand.
Those small preparations can make three days without normal utilities considerably easier.
When normal routines are disrupted, even the simplest hygiene tasks can become difficult.
Having the right supplies on hand means you won't have to figure it out in the middle of an emergency. Most of what you need is inexpensive, easy to store, and may already be in your home.
As you build your 72-hour hygiene supplies, think about the everyday needs of each person in your household and what you would need to stay clean, comfortable, and sanitary without running water or normal utilities.
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Personal Hygiene: Maintaining basic personal hygiene can prevent skin irritation, infection, and discomfort when normal utilities aren’t available. Keep soap, washcloths, body wipes, deodorants, combs or brushes, feminine hygiene products, and other regularly used personal care items in your supplies. Clean underwear and socks for each day are especially important, even when a full bath isn’t possible.
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Handwashing without running water: Even without running water, proper handwashing is essential for preventing illness during an emergency. Set up a simple handwashing station using a container of clean water with a spigot, liquid soap, paper towels or a clean towel, and a basin to catch wastewater. Wet your hands, scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds, rinse with clean water, and dry thoroughly. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is a good backup when water is limited, but soap and water should be used whenever hands are visibly dirty or after handling human or animal waste.
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Toilet needs when the water is off: When water or sewer service is disrupted, your toilet may not be safe or practical to use, so having a backup plan is important. If the sewer system is still functioning, stored non-potable water may be used to manually flush many toilets; however, if sewer lines are damaged or officials advise against flushing, stop using them. A simple emergency toilet can be made with a 5-gallon bucket, a toilet seat or secure lid, and heavy-duty trash bags, with cat litter, sawdust, or another absorbent material added to help control moisture and odor. Keep toilet paper, disposable gloves, handwashing supplies, and extra bags nearby, and securely contain waste until local authorities provide safe disposal instructions.
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Waste disposal: Human waste, used diapers, feminine hygiene products, and contaminated cleaning materials should be contained carefully to prevent odors, insects, and the spread of germs. Use heavy-duty plastic trash bags, preferably doubled for human waste or heavily soiled materials. Seal bags securely and place them inside a sturdy container with a tight-fitting lid. When conditions allow, store the container outdoors in a shaded location away from children, pets, food preparation areas, and stored or natural water sources until local authorities provide instructions for safe disposal.
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Bathing without a shower: When a shower isn’t available, you can still stay clean while using very little water. A basin of warm water, soap, and a washcloth can provide an effective sponge bath, focusing on the face, underarms, groin area, and feet. Body wipes or no-rinse bathing products are also useful when water is scarce. Use only the water you need, keep bathing water separate from drinking water, and remember that during an emergency the goal is good hygiene and health, not your normal bathing routine.
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Dental care: Dental care is easy to overlook during an emergency, but maintaining your normal routine helps prevent discomfort and dental problems, especially if an outage lasts longer than expected. Keep toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and any denture or orthodontic supplies in your emergency kit, and brush at least twice a day using a small amount of safe water. If water is extremely limited, prioritize brushing thoroughly rather than skipping oral care altogether. Store each person's toothbrush separately and keep dental supplies away from toilet and waste areas to prevent contamination.
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Laundry and clothing: Having clean, dry clothing is important for both comfort and hygiene during an emergency. Keep enough underwear, socks, and weather-appropriate clothing for at least 72 hours, and include an extra set in your evacuation bag in case clothing becomes wet or contaminated. If laundry must be washed without power, a bucket or basin with a small amount of detergent and water can handle essential items by hand. Prioritize underwear, socks, and heavily soiled clothing, and allow everything to dry completely before wearing or storing it.
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Children, Older Adults and Special Hygiene needs: Children, older adults, and family members with disabilities or limited mobility may have hygiene needs that require additional planning. Stock enough diapers, wipes, incontinence products, disposable gloves, skin-barrier creams, denture supplies, and other personal-care items for at least 72 hours—and preferably longer if space allows. Consider what assistance each person normally needs for bathing, toileting, dressing, or grooming and how those needs could be met without running water or electricity. A little extra planning can help preserve comfort, cleanliness, health, and dignity during a difficult situation.
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Pet hygiene: Pets have hygiene and sanitation needs during an emergency too. Keep waste bags, cat litter, disposable gloves, paper towels, pet-safe cleaning supplies, and extra trash bags with your emergency supplies. Designate an area for pets to relieve themselves, especially if severe weather or evacuation prevents their normal routine and promptly collect and securely contain waste away from food and water supplies. Keep bedding and feeding areas as clean and dry as possible, and have towels or wipes available for muddy paws, accidents, or other messes. Good pet hygiene helps protect both your animals and the people sharing their space.
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Sanitation supplies: Keeping your living area sanitary is especially important when water, sewer, or trash services are disrupted. Keep a supply of heavy-duty trash bags, disposable gloves, paper towels, disinfectant cleaner, household bleach, hand soap, and cleaning cloths for spills, waste, and contaminated surfaces. Store cleaning products safely and follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper use and dilution. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other household cleaners, as dangerous gases can be produced. Designate separate supplies for cleaning bathrooms and waste areas to help prevent contamination of food preparation and living spaces.
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A small hygiene kit: Prepare a small personal hygiene kit for each family member so essential items are easy to find at home or grab quickly during an evacuation. Include a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hand sanitizer, deodorant, washcloth, body wipes, comb or brush, toilet paper, tissues, and feminine or other personal-care products as needed. Store everything in a waterproof or resealable bag, label it with the person’s name, and keep it with your 72-hour supplies. Individual kits also reduce the need to share personal items and make it easier for everyone to maintain a basic hygiene routine when normal facilities aren't available.
