04 July 2019

Keep yourself clean this festival season

Written by Anita Smith

Initial’s Guide to Festival Hygiene

Thunderstorms, rain and humidity – the UK’s summer festival season is definitely upon us! Whether the weather continues to soak us to the skin or decides to give us the sweltering heat of last year, we will be heading off in our droves to muddy fields up and down the country to enjoy the best of music from Britain and beyond.

But across the musical variety offered between Download and Creamfields, one thing remains the same – hygiene standards may become far from ideal after three days of mud and sleep deprivation.

Yet fear not, at Initial we have some simple hygiene tips that will help to keep you clean as the weekend goes on, meaning that hopefully your memories will be dominated by the great music and experiences you’ve had, instead of getting ill and not enjoying yourself.

So here are some top festival hygiene tips for the coming UK Festival Season to keep you on top of your hygiene:

Keep wet wipes and hand sanitiser on you at all times. Foam based, alcohol-free hand sanitisers will not dry the skin on your hands. Use these after toilet visits and before eating to ensure you stay clean when you need it most. These are also great for whenever you feel a little bit grimy and need to freshen up.
Use a piece of paper or an elbow to open and close the festival toilets. The thousands of people passing through the toilets will all have varying hygiene standards, so make sure you minimise contact as much as possible.
Wipe the toilet seat before you sit down either with sanitiser and toilet paper or with a wet wipe (but remember to dispose of the wet wipe responsibly instead of flushing it away). When you cross public toilets with alcohol the effect can be fairly unsanitary. Prepping the seat can save you from having a hygiene nightmare that could ruin your weekend.
Carry some spare tissue or toilet paper for when supply can’t keep up with demand. You will have the last laugh when the long queue in front of you has taken all the toilet paper.
When you are done in the toilet facilities, look for the nearest place to wash your hands with soap and water, wash them for around 20 seconds and do not forget to wash your thumbs. If hand washing facilities aren’t available, many festivals have hand disinfection stations that you can use instead.
Food hygiene is crucial when you’re looking to replenish all the energy used when dancing. In the UK, the strict rules around food safety includes festivals, but if choosing food that is ‘handled’ (burgers, tacos, pizza) as opposed to ‘spooned in’, then ensure your own hands are cleaned with soap or hand sanitiser.
Depending on the weather, festival showers, love them or hate them, maybe something you are forced to use. Always wear flip flops, sandals or crocs to keep your feet out of the muck. Spreading foot fungi through the communal showers is never a good look for the summer, so it is wise to keep your feet covered.