Basics: Hygiene

Prepadoodle said:

OK, so the power is out and won't be coming back anytime soon. There's no city water, no working sewer system, and no stores to shop. Several months have passed since everything went medieval, and it seems the worst of the chaos is past. Now what? We are on well water, although with no electricity to run the pump we will have to setup a carrying system, luckily the access is right on the front porch.

How will you take care of your personal needs? How will you wash your clothes? What will you do for the basics we take for granted; soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, toilet paper, those mysterious "feminine" products? I stock several years worth of dish soap, bath soap and MANY years of toothpaste/toothbrushes. Worst comes to worst I can make my own soap but toothpaste and toothbrushes are a little harder to make in good quality. (if only because I have very sensitive teeth and use sensodyne) Feminine products - we keep a couple bulk boxes from Costco on hand - but this is a temporary solution, I'm thinking of buying a couple cloth napkins that are reusable or a 'moon cup' that I've seen over on survivalblog. TP - I have enough to last probably a year with a little care, after that it will be phone books and leaves?

If you have a septic system, what happens when it needs to be pumped out? Do you know how to set up an outhouse that won't pollute your well? Other than digging a deep hole where it won't overflow or have runnoff, not really. Trying to learn this! Anyone help with resources?Can you even get water out of your well with no electricity?

We beat the AR vs AK debate to death, and go on at great length about which is the best survival knife, but what about the less glamorous needs of basic hygiene? Do you have a plan?

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