A Must-Have Supply for Camping

EDIT: A commenter asked what the ingredients in Shaklee Basic H2 are, and lo and behold, they’re not on the bottle! I really dislike companies who won’t disclose. I went looking online for the ingredients and discovered that they’re pretty hard to find. This site listed them supposedly from the MSDS and had some concerns, although if you read all the comments they may not be warranted for one reason or another. 

I do actually agree with that author that companies who care about being “green” should always disclose, no matter what.

This I found this guy who is even a Shaklee distributor and recommends NOT using Basic H2 on skin like people used to do with Basic H, simply because it’s so much more concentrated. So…If that’s all true, or if even part of it is true, I get to totally retract this post (and find a new go-to for refilling foaming soap dispensers). Darn…

I am a huge fan of anything that can save, time, money or space.

I like doing two things at once or repurposing items that are often thrown away, and I especially love things that I can use for more than one purpose.

I was thinking while camping (Link no longer available)last week that everyone who camps needs to know about my favorite item on the packing list:  Shaklee Basic H2 (formerly Basic H). It’s an all-purpose cleaner that has (literally!) 1000 uses. At home I use it as the refill for my foaming handsoap pumps and to make baby wipes. Here is a bit of the conversation inside my head while packing for camping last week:

“Got toilet paper? Check. Got the H2? Check. Where’s the handsoap? Oh…Basic H2. Do I need dishsoap? Oh…Basic H2. Should I bother packing shampoo and soap? Oh, right…H2. Don’t forget the bug spray for the kiddos! …H2 again.”

I am totally tickled that I didn’t have to pack all this:

But only this ONE bottle:

A Soap Concentrate for Everything

Shaklee Basic H2 is totally biodegradable and safe for the environment, which is super important while camping, and it’s safe for my family’s skin.

I made up a fresh batch of wipes for the trip, not just for diaper changes but for wiping hands and faces and grills and tables. (Related: how to make homemade wipes.)  I try to create as little waste as possible, even while out of my home, so I did use a washcloth as often as possible to wash tables and faces, but sometimes conserving water is most important when you have to haul in your own. (We didn’t even go through the whole box.)  I like that H2 is concentrated, so I don’t need to use very much and I don’t have to throw away or recycle many bottles.

Finding an effective bug spray that is natural and safe for little ones can be a tough job. When my friend who sells Shaklee told me that Basic H can work as an insect repellent, I was surprised and skeptical. I didn’t believe it worked until I was working in my garden getting pummeled and eaten alive by mosquitoes. I came in within two minutes of going outside and tried the Basic H2, dabbing it on my skin with a paper towel. I was (very pleasantly!) surprised when the skeeters left me alone when I returned to my work! (Related: Natural Insect Repellent Reviews)

Now I’m not affiliated in any way with Shaklee. I don’t sell it, and I don’t even use any of their products other than this one (I just use vinegar and baking soda for most of my cleaning). I’m a big fan of the Basic H though. If you go looking for it, try to find an independent distributor in your area to purchase from. It’s important to support families and stay-at-home-moms who are trying to earn income this way. Here’s my friend’s site if you don’t have your own distributor.

A bottle of Basic H2 costs around $12 or so, which sounds expensive until I tell you that I’ve had my bottle for over two years, and it’s made dozens of refills of foaming soap, countless containers of wipes, come camping and protected our family from pesky mosquitoes through three summers. That’s a bang for your buck!

By the way, did anyone who saw my photos so far of the camping trip (Link no longer available) notice the winter hats and mittens? That, to me, is the most hilarious part, not just that we captured a fun family vacation. It was August, and we wore winter clothes. When we woke up, it was 42 degrees. Sheesh. We could see our breath by dinnertime! Is anyone else impressed with my kids swimming in Lake Michigan’s 50-degree water? 🙂

Find other great real food and natural living CAMPING posts from me!

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