How to Take Showers in the RV Motorhome

Forget about taking long, hot showers to relax or soothe aching muscles. In the recreational vehicle, your objective is to get clean while conserving your limited supply of fresh, hot water. The answer is the Navy shower, which originated on naval vessels and means you turn off the water except for the beginning and end of your shower. The average storage capacity of RVs is 50 to 55 gallons, including a six-gallon hot water tank. "A regular shower can use as much as 60 gallons of water, while a Navy shower can check in at about three gallons," says PlanetGreen.com.

Things You'll Need

  • Handheld shower head with on/off control
  • Liquid soap
  • 2-in-1 shampoo
  • Washcloth
  • Towel
  • Clean 1-gallon bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Light or turn on the hot water tank 30 minutes before you plan to shower.

    • 2

      Place liquid soap, a combination shampoo and conditioner, washcloth and a gallon bucket within easy reach inside the shower stall. Hang a towel outside the stall so it will remain dry.

    • 3

      Turn on the handheld shower head and use the bucket to collect the water while you adjust the temperature. As soon as the water is comfortably warm, turn off the shower head and remove the bucket from the shower, but do not throw the water away. Save it for other uses.

    • 4

      Disrobe, step into the shower, and turn on the shower head just long enough to thoroughly wet your hair and body. Turn off the water.

    • 5

      Shampoo your hair and continue on to soap the rest of your body.

    • 6

      Turn on the shower head and rinse. Start at the top and work down so that rinsing your hair begins to remove the soap on your body, too. As soon as you feel all soap and shampoo have been rinsed away, turn off the shower head and water flow. Dry yourself with the towel.