6 Best Travel Size Hand Soaps For RV Trips That Nomads Swear By

You pull into a dusty boondocking spot, kick off your hiking boots, and head to the sink to wash up before making dinner. You grab the soap bottle, only to find it has leaked all over the counter, leaving a sticky, scented mess. This tiny frustration is a classic RV moment, and it highlights a simple truth: in a small space with limited resources, even your hand soap matters.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Your Hand Soap Choice Matters in an RV

Living in an RV is a constant negotiation with three things: space, water, and waste. A standard pump-action bottle of liquid hand soap is surprisingly inefficient on all three fronts. It takes up precious counter or cabinet space, can easily leak during travel, and encourages you to use more water to rinse off thick gel.

The bigger issue, however, is your grey water tank. Every drop of soap, toothpaste, and shower runoff ends up there. Soaps with harsh chemicals, phosphates, or non-biodegradable ingredients can create sludge and odors in your tank. If you ever plan to camp off-grid or stay at places with sensitive septic systems, a biodegradable, tank-friendly soap isn’t just nice—it’s essential.

Finally, every item in an RV should fight for its place by being as useful as possible. A product that only washes hands is a luxury. A product that can wash hands, dishes, and maybe even your hair? Now that’s a smart use of space.

Dr. Bronner’s Bar Soap: The All-Purpose Classic

There’s a reason you see Dr. Bronner’s in nearly every van and skoolie. The bar soap version is a nomad’s workhorse. It’s concentrated, made with simple, biodegradable ingredients, and a single bar lasts for an incredibly long time. Most importantly, it can’t spill.

Its true power is its versatility. I’ve used the same bar to wash my hands, face, and body, and in a pinch, I’ve grated a few flakes into hot water to do dishes. This ability to consolidate multiple products into one small, solid bar is the holy grail of RV storage. It declutters your tiny bathroom and simplifies your shopping list.

The main tradeoff is the mess factor. A wet bar of soap will turn to mush if left in a puddle of water. You absolutely need a soap dish that drains well and allows air to circulate. The scents, like peppermint or tea tree, are also quite strong. I find them refreshing, but if you’re sensitive to smells in a small space, you’ll want to opt for the unscented "Baby Unscented" version.

Sea to Summit Pocket Wash: Ultimate Space-Saver

If you measure your storage in square inches, this is your soap. Sea to Summit’s Pocket Wash is a tiny, flip-top plastic case filled with 50 dry "leaves" of soap. It weighs next to nothing and is about the size of a matchbook. You can’t get more compact than this.

The design is brilliant for conservation. You pull out a single, paper-thin leaf, add a splash of water, and it lathers up instantly. This prevents you from accidentally using a huge glob of gel soap, which saves both product and the water needed to rinse it. It’s also TSA-friendly and perfect for throwing in a backpack for a day hike away from the rig.

Of course, there are downsides. The leaves are delicate, and if any moisture gets inside the case, the whole stack can fuse into a useless clump. It’s also more expensive per wash than a bulk product. Think of it less as your everyday sink soap and more as a hyper-portable solution for travel days, hiking, or as a backup when your main soap runs out.

Blueland Soap Tablets: The Eco-Friendly Pick

For those focused on sustainability, Blueland offers a fantastic system. You start with their reusable foaming hand soap bottle and then buy tiny, solid soap tablets as refills. You just fill the bottle with water, drop in a tablet, and you have a full bottle of foaming soap without the plastic waste.

The storage advantage is massive. Instead of hauling a big plastic refill jug, you’re storing a small, compostable paper packet of tablets that takes up virtually no space. You’re not paying to ship water, and you’re not creating plastic waste. This aligns perfectly with the "leave no trace" ethos that is so important to responsible RVing.

The system does require an initial buy-in. You need their specific foaming dispenser for the tablets to work correctly. It’s also a process—you have to plan ahead and mix your next bottle before the old one runs out. But if your goal is to minimize your environmental footprint on the road, this is one of the most effective and elegant solutions available.

Campsuds: The Biodegradable Outdoor Staple

Campsuds is the old-school, trusted choice for serious boondockers and backcountry campers. This isn’t just a hand soap; it’s an all-purpose outdoor cleaner. The formula is highly concentrated and biodegradable, designed specifically for use in nature (always 200 feet from any water source, of course).

One tiny bottle of Campsuds can replace your hand soap, dish soap, body wash, and even your laundry detergent. Its effectiveness on grease makes it a surprisingly good dish soap, which is a huge plus in a one-sink RV setup. The small, durable Nalgene-style bottle is leakproof and tough enough to get knocked around in a pack or cabinet.

The biggest learning curve with Campsuds is its concentration. You need literally two or three drops to wash your hands. New users almost always squeeze out a quarter-sized amount, creating a mountain of suds that takes a gallon of precious water to rinse off. Using this soap effectively requires discipline, but once you master it, a single 4-ounce bottle can last for months.

Dial Foaming Wash: Best for Water Conservation

Sometimes the best solution is a common one used in a smart way. Foaming hand soap, like the kind Dial makes, is an unsung hero of water conservation in an RV. Because the soap is aerated into a light foam before it hits your hands, it spreads quickly and rinses away with a fraction of the water needed for a thick liquid or gel soap.

Think about it: a quick splash to wet your hands, one pump of foam, a quick scrub, and a short splash to rinse. It feels clean and rinses completely, with no slimy residue. When you’re trying to make your fresh water tank last for a week, the ounces saved with every single hand wash add up to gallons. This can be the difference between heading to town for a refill and enjoying another day at your perfect campsite.

The downside is the packaging. The disposable plastic bottles are neither space-efficient nor eco-friendly. The pro move is to install a small, refillable wall-mounted foaming soap dispenser next to your sink. You can then buy large, economical refill bottles of foaming soap to store in an outside bay and top up your dispenser as needed, getting the water-saving benefits without the daily clutter.

Fomin Paper Soap Sheets: The No-Spill Solution

Similar in concept to the Sea to Summit leaves, Fomin Paper Soap Sheets offer another take on the dry soap format. These are wafer-thin sheets that dissolve instantly with water, packaged in a super-slim, credit-card-sized case. They are the definition of a no-mess, no-spill, no-fuss solution.

Their primary strength is their portability. I keep a pack in my truck’s glove compartment, one in my hiking pack, and one in the RV’s utility drawer. They’re perfect for those moments when you’re not at your own sink—using a campground bathroom, a public dump station, or cleaning up after a roadside repair. They provide a guaranteed clean wash anywhere, with zero risk of a gooey pocket or bag.

While you could use them as your primary soap, they function best as a supplemental or emergency option. Like other single-use formats, they can feel a bit wasteful for daily use at your main sink. But as a reliable, go-anywhere backup, they are unbeatable. Having a pack of these on hand means you’re never caught without a way to properly wash up.

Final Tips for RV Hand Washing and Hygiene

Ultimately, the "best" soap is the one that solves your biggest problem. If you’re a weekend warrior who values convenience, a foaming dispenser might be perfect. If you’re a full-time boondocker counting every ounce of water, a concentrated bar or Campsuds is a better fit. Don’t be afraid to have two systems: a primary soap at the sink and a portable option for adventures.

A few practical tips can make any system work better. If you use bar soap, get a "soap saver" dish that lifts the bar up to let it dry completely. To save counter space, consider a wall-mounted dispenser for either liquid or foaming soap—it’s a simple upgrade that makes a huge difference in a tiny kitchen or bathroom.

Remember that living in an RV is about creating simple, resilient systems. Your choice of hand soap is a small but meaningful part of that. By choosing a product that conserves space, water, and resources, you’re not just buying soap; you’re making your life on the road a little bit easier and more sustainable.

The right soap won’t make or break your trip, but choosing wisely removes a common point of friction, saving you water, space, and cleanup time—three of the most valuable currencies in the nomadic life.