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Hygiene and Sanitation · Formula · Book recipe 9.4

Wash hair without shampoo (baking soda)

For days when hair smells off and a full shampoo isn't an option, or as an occasional rescue between regular washes.

Member articleHandle with careWorks without power

How it works

Dry brush
Soda wash
Vinegar rinse
Odor reset

Inside this article

What you'll need
Steps
Warnings
Storage and shelf life

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What is in this article

  • The method at a glance: dry brush, then soda wash, then vinegar rinse, then odor reset
  • The exact numbers: wash, rinse, pre-brush, frequency, dry
  • The full materials list (5 items, with grades and substitutes)
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  • The hazard box and the caution notes: what never to mix it with and when to stop
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  • A printable one-page PDF of this article

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Prefer paper? This is Recipe 9.4, page 44, in Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide.

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

How do I wash my hair without shampoo?

Baking soda dissolved in water lifts scalp oils and neutralizes the odor compounds bacteria leave behind, and a diluted vinegar rinse brings the scalp back toward its natural acidity. Treat it as an occasional rescue, not a routine.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

What's the recipe for baking soda hair wash?

The wash is baking soda dissolved in lukewarm water, paired with a diluted vinegar rinse that smooths the cuticle the alkaline wash roughs up. Dry brushing helps the wash reach the scalp, where odor concentrates.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

How often can I wash my hair with baking soda?

Only occasionally. Baking soda is far more alkaline than your hair and scalp, so regular use damages the hair shaft, and the vinegar rinse does not fully undo that.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

Can I use apple cider vinegar as a conditioner?

Yes, a diluted vinegar rinse can be left in as a light conditioner. The acid restores scalp pH and smooths the hair cuticle, and the vinegar smell fades completely as your hair dries.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

Can I pre-mix baking soda hair wash and store it?

No, mix the wash fresh each time. Store the ingredients separately instead: dry baking soda keeps indefinitely in a sealed, moisture-free container, and vinegar stays in its original bottle.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

Keep going

Read nextHygiene and Sanitation When the Water Is OffWhat to do when the water goes off: bucket toilet, hand washing, waste, body, teeth, laundry, dishes, disinfecting, and pests, with the shelf item and recipe page for every job.Hygiene and Sanitation · Guide

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Hygiene and Sanitation · FormulaSource: Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide, Recipe 9.4, p. 44 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

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