Waterless, Reusable Essentials That are Perfect for Your Go Bag

Go bags are a great way to be prepared for emergencies, should you need to evacuate your home, car, or even your workplace in a hurry. In your go bag, it's good to have some food and water, safety supplies, and important items like personal documents and cash. You can find our full go-bag list here.

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It's also good to have hygiene items at the ready, and we've found that waterless products are particularly handy for this. Many of our personal care products come in liquid form, like body wash, shampoo, and toothpaste. But some brands make waterless alternatives that drastically reduce plastic use. These are great for go bags because waterless options typically take up less space, weigh less, and they're easier to divide and portion for your exact use case.

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Reusables will also come in handy to replace single-use disposables, which can take up a lot of space in a go bag.

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Of course, if you already have lots of sample products or travel sizes to use up, your go bag is a perfect way to do that! But if you need to purchase some new products to stock up for emergencies, here are some of our favorite waterless and reusable personal care brands that could be great options.

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Toothpaste tablets

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Tablets create less mess than traditional toothpaste. Just pop one in your mouth, add a bit of water, and brush! Great for go bags, travel, and of course, everyday use at home. You can find them at these top-rated brands.

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Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

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You'll save space and cut down on leakage with shampoo and conditioner in bar form. Sure, after an emergency, your hair care routine isn't your top priority, but if you need to be away from home for a while, having your hair bar of choice may be a small comfort. These brands offer shampoo and conditioner bars for various hair types.

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Pro-tip: A little bar goes a long way. Cut off half the bar for your go bag and use the rest at home, or divide the bars into multiple go bags.

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Soap Bars

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This isn't revolutionary, but bars of soap are the OGs for a reason. In a pinch, you just need a bar of soap and wash rag to clean up. Find soap bars at these top-rated brands.

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Menstrual Products

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We wouldn't recommend ditching disposable period care in your go bag altogether. Depending on the situation after an emergency, you may not have easy, sanitary access to a bathroom or sink which could make it hard to safely use reusable products like period discs or period underwear.

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We recommend keeping enough tampons or pads to get you through one period. If you can afford it, consider adding a reusable period disc or period cup too. Here are some options.

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Go Bag Reminder

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Remember to check your go bag once or twice a year to take stock of what you have and make sure items haven't gone bad. Check the expiration dates on perishables, especially food and drink. Also, check your batteries to make sure they still work and haven't corroded.