9 tips on staying clean and healthy at festivals

So, you’ve got your ticket, your tent, and your glitter. But how do you survive a weekend in a field without feeling (and smelling) like you’ve been dragged through a cow shed? Keeping clean and healthy at a festival isn't just about looking good for your social posts; it's about staying healthy so you don't miss your favourite headliner and going home with few after-effects – though this won’t stop you from feeling exhausted from a lack of sleep! Here’s how to conquer the grime and have an amazing, hygienic-ish time.

1. Take a festival cleaning toolkit

Forget long queues for questionable showers. A strategic "tent wash" is the way to go. Here’s your essential cleaning arsenal:

• Wet wipes: The undisputed essential of festival hygiene. Get a pack for your body and a separate one for your hands and face.
• Hand sanitiser: Get an alcohol-based one, as it is more effective than non-alcohol versions. Use a generous amount and rub it all over your hands, including your fingertips. 
• A flannel and soap: Use a wet flannel (facecloth) for a more thorough tent wash. Bar soap washes off the body quicker than liquid soap.
• The rest of your kit: Don’t forget your toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper and plenty of plastic bags to keep your clean stuff dry and to quarantine your dirty clothes.

2. Take towels and tissue for drying 

Keeping dry at festivals is an important part of preventing fungal and other infections — and staying warm. 

• Microfibre towel: These are super light, compact and dry incredibly quickly. A large towel can also double as an extra blanket, a portable sunshade or a shoulder wrap when it gets chilly. 
• Paper kitchen towels: These are great for quick hand and face drying as they are more durable than toilet tissue. They also come in handy for general wiping of dirt and spills around your tent.

3. Toilet survival guide

Let's be real, festival toilets can be a traumatic experience. They are a primary hazard for hygiene. Be cautious with every surface, from door handles to toilet seats. 

• Come prepared: The onsite toilets will inevitably run out of loo roll or hand gel when you need it most. Always bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitiser. Flushable wet wipes can be a lifesaver. You can also buy disposable toilet seat covers for extra peace of mind. 
• The hand-washing strategy: Soap and water are always better than sanitiser for killing certain germs like Norovirus. If you do use the taps, avoid touching them with your clean hands. Use a paper towel or your elbow to turn them off. 
• Please, don't pee on the land: It might seem like a quick solution to avoid the queues, but peeing on the ground pollutes the site, which is often a working farm. Festivals like Glastonbury actively campaign against it to protect the local environment and wildlife. 

4. Hand hygiene is your first line of defence

Most festival-ruining illnesses like sickness and diarrhoea come from unwashed hands. 

Always wash or sanitise your hands:

• Before you eat anything. 
• After every trip to the toilet. 
• After touching rubbish bins. 
• Before and after dealing with any cuts or wounds.

Remember, sanitiser doesn't remove actual dirt, it just mixes with it, so if your hands are visibly dirty, you need to use soap and water. 

5. Avoid dodgy food from festival food stalls

You'll likely rely on food stalls for most of your meals. While they are supposed to follow the same hygiene rules as any restaurant, here are some quick checks to avoid a dodgy meal and potential food poisoning. 

• Give it a vibe check: Does the stall look clean? Is rubbish overflowing, attracting swarms of flies?  If it looks grimy, walk away.
• Watch the staff: Are they handling money and then touching food without washing their hands or changing gloves? Are they using dirty-looking cloths to wipe surfaces?  These are major red flags.
• Check the temperature: Food that's meant to be hot should be hot (over 63°C). If it's lukewarm, it's a breeding ground for bacteria. A busy stall with a high turnover is usually a good sign that food is freshly cooked. Cold food, like sandwich fillings, must be kept chilled in a fridge (below 8°C). 
• Trust your gut (literally): If the food smells or tastes off, stop eating immediately. It’s better to lose a few quid than to spend the rest of the festival in a toilet queue. If you do get sick, report the stall to the festival's medical centre to help protect others. 

6. Keep some basic campsite kitchen rules

One of the best things about camping is an early morning bacon buttie (sorry, vegetarians) and a cup of tea to start the day before the long trek to the stages. Bringing and preparing your own food is naturally a lot cheaper than buying from onsite stalls, but it has some risks because camping is not an ideal situation for storing and preparing food.

• Choose your food wisely: Tinned goods, UHT milk and dry foods like rice and cereals are your safest bet. Fruits, vegetables and preserved meats like salami can last a few days. Fresh meat and dairy are risky and will go off within hours in a warm tent. 
• Keep it cool: If you bring fresh food such as meat, milk, cheese or butter, you must keep it in a cool box below 8°C, which means regularly topping it up with ice. 
• Avoid cross-contamination: Keep raw meat separate from everything else. Use separate utensils and wash your hands thoroughly after touching foods like raw burgers or sausages. A great hack is to use pre-chopped or pre-cooked meat that you can tip directly into the pan.
• Keep it clean: Wash your plates, pots and cutlery with soap and water after use. Keep all your food in sealed containers to protect it from pests and soil. 
• Keep food covered or contained: Campsite food is a treasure trove for flies, wasps and ants, and even rats and mice. Store food in sealed containers and don’t leave meals and snacks, or dirty dishes, tools, pots and pans lying around. Dispose of food waste ASAP, as fermenting and decaying food gives off lots of attractive smells!

7. Happy feet are festival feet

You'll be doing a lot of walking, so look after your feet.

• Footwear is key: Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. If there's even a chance of rain, wellies or other waterproof boots are essential. 
• Stay dry: Wet feet can lead to fungal infections and blisters. Bring plenty of spare dry socks. Always make sure your feet are clean and dry before you get into your sleeping bag at night. This gives them a long period to recover.
• Beware the mud: The soil can contain nasty bacteria that can infect damp skin or any cuts and blisters. 

8. Water is your best friend

Water is essential for both drinking and cleaning.

• Stay hydrated: Always have a bottle of water with you, especially in hot weather or after drinking alcohol.
• Keep a supply: Festivals have free water taps, so bring a collapsible water container to fill up and keep plenty at your tent for washing, brushing your teeth, cooking and cleaning.

9. Avoid insect pests

Festival sites, often located in rural fields and farmland, provide the perfect habitat for a variety of insects. Be prepared to encounter:

• Mosquitoes, midges and horse flies: These biting insects thrive in damp and humid conditions and are perhaps the most notorious of festival pests, leaving behind itchy bites.
• Wasps: Attracted to sweet drinks and food, these stinging insects can be a painful nuisance, particularly around catering areas and campsites.
• Flies: The common housefly is a constant presence, especially around waste bins and food stalls. 
• Ticks: Often found in long grass and woodland areas, ticks are a more serious concern due to their potential to transmit Lyme disease. It's crucial to be vigilant against these arachnids.
• Ants: While generally harmless, ants can become a nuisance and invade your tent if you leave food, crumbs and spills lying around.

Your insect defence strategy

A combination of smart camping, personal protection and food management can significantly reduce your chances of being bothered by bugs.

Campsite selection is key

• Choose your pitch carefully: Choose a spot that is open and breezy, as this will deter flying insects.
• Avoid water sources: Avoid setting up your tent near ponds, streams or large puddles, as these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes and midges.
• Keep your distance from bins and toilets: These areas are magnets for flies and wasps.
• Stay away from dense vegetation: Ticks are more prevalent in long grass and wooded areas.

Personal protection

• Use insect repellent: Products containing DEET are highly effective, but repellents with lemon eucalyptus oil, citronella or lavender are good options for those seeking a natural alternative.
• Cover Up: Wear long-sleeved tops and trousers, especially during the evening and early morning when insects are most active. Tuck your trousers into your socks if you walk through long grass to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
• Light-coloured clothing: Many insects are attracted to dark colours, so opt for lighter shades.
• Keep your tent zipped up: This simple habit will prevent many unwanted guests from making themselves at home in your tent.
• Check for ticks: After spending time in grassy areas, thoroughly check your skin and clothing for ticks. Pay close attention to your legs, groin, hairline, armpits and waist. Don’t squash a tick. Clean the skin and use tweezers to pinch the tick near its head and pull it out. Then wash the area with soap and water. Check online for more advice about ticks, as they can give you nasty diseases.
• If you are bitten or stung, wash your skin with soap and water to help prevent infection from dirt. Seek medical advice onsite if the bite becomes painful or you feel unwell

After all that, remember to have a good time!