Did you know that you can easily create amazing solar shower DIY plans, from solar bag showers to roof rack shower ideas? You just need to get cheap materials from Amazon, and you’re good to go!
Some of the best DIY plans are usually ideas you get online. Of course, you can also get some amazing ideas from friends and relatives, or when traveling. Online platforms, in particular, have some terrific solar shower ideas that stand out.
I did some digging myself and came up with simple yet gorgeous solar shower plans, and I’d like to share some of them with you.
But before we go ahead, it’s important to understand that most of these solar shower ideas are vastly different, and you need to pick an idea that suits your specific needs.
For instance, where are you located? What’s your budget? Is your solar shower mainly for outdoor or indoor use? How many people will be using the solar shower – that is, how big is it? Are you a camper?
There are so many questions you need to take into consideration You need to know how solar shower works, and that’s just the beginning. You’ll also need a few tools and materials to build some of these DIY solar showers.
The Solar Shower Ideas in a Nutshell
If you find this article a TLDR, just know that most solar shower ideas are mainly in three categories:
- Car-top (roof rack) solar shower for camping – this works great when traveling or on a road trip. Such a shower DIY idea helps you clean your grubby pets or cool off whenever you take a break from driving.
- If you love an off-the-grid lifestyle, then you’ll never be limited to solar shower ideas. There are lots of solar shower plans that are best suited for off-grid cabins.
- Then there are simple shower ideas that are perfect for summertime, especially if you’ve got kids who play a lot. You’d like them to clean up outside before getting into the house after an outdoor activity. Such solar shower ideas are also great if you consistently work on the farm or do lots of work in the yard.
With that said, let’s take an in-depth look at the best solar shower DIY plans.
1. A Simple DIY Bucket Solar Shower
What You’ll Need
- 5 gallon bucket
- Rope hanger pulley
- Drilling gun
- Drill bits set
NOTE: All these materials and tools are available on Amazon.com for very cheap.
The first and simplest DIY is using a bucket. It’s not only simple to do it yourself, but it’s also probably the cheapest and quickest way to make a solar shower.
- You’ll need a bucket, preferably a 5-gallon one, then make small holes in the bucket.
- Once you’ve made the small holes, the next thing is to color it black. This helps absorb sunlight to make the water warmer faster.
- Finally, attach the bucket with a pulley, and then hang it somewhere above, either from a tree or a pole. Make sure the pulley is attached in such a way that you can easily adjust its height for refilling water into the bucket.
Pro Tips: It’s best to go with the smallest drill bit, so you don’t lose much water when taking a shower.
2. Roof Rack Solar Shower (Car-Top Shower Idea)
This is an excellent idea if you’re always on the road. You can install a DIY solar shower on your car’s roof rack.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
- 4 inch 5 ft ABS pipe (you can also go with a PVC pipe)
- 4-inch ABS T-Joint
- Rubber O ring
- Waterproof cement
- Schrader valve
- Foam block
- Hose bibb/Spigot
- 4-inch ABS end caps
- Bike pump
- Hacksaw
- Drilling gun and Drill bits set
- Tie-down straps
Instructions
The first step is to cut the ABS pipe into half using a hacksaw, to which you’ll attach the T-joint in the middle of the two piping sides you’ve just cut out.
In attaching the pieces together, you’ll use waterproof cement and the O-rings. As expected, you’ll also put together the ABS caps on both ends of the piping. Once again, use the cement and the O-rings.
Leave the setup to dry out for a few hours.
Once everything is attached, pick one end of the piping and drill two holes – for the spigot and the Schrader valves.
Make sure the Schrader valve hole is right above that of the spigot. Also, use the appropriate drill bit size for both holes. If the spigot size is ¾-inches, then the drill bit should be ¾-inches. The same applies to the Schrader valve.
Attach the spigot, and make sure it faces downwards.
Attach the Schrader valve. Once again, use the waterproof cement to attach the Schrader valve and the spigot.
The next step is to attach the entire piping setup to your car. Attach it longitudinally from the front to the back. One end of the piping should be facing the front of the vehicle, and the other end facing the rear end.
If the car has a roof car, the tie-down straps will work perfectly. But if it doesn’t have a roof rack, it’s advisable to use a form block. Attach the foam block on top of the car, and then place the piping before strapping using the tie-don straps.
Once you’ve made sure the piping is firmly attached to the car, fill it up with water.
DO NOT fill it entirely. Leave some space for pressurizing the piping.
Use a bike pump (or an air pressure pump) to pressurize the piping setup.
Now attach the spigot with a hose that has a nozzle.
Finally, test the setup.
Pro Tips: Please don’t use the water for drinking, especially if you’re using PVC piping. This is because PVCs release lead when temperatures are high. Although the ABS pipes are much safer than the PVCs, it’s still best to adhere to safety measures.
3. Solar Shower Tents
The aforementioned solar shower ideas aren’t exactly offering privacy. For those seeking privacy, that’s when the shower tent comes in handy.
It’s a great shower idea if you love camping or you are always doing lots of outdoor gardening in your backyard.
Shower tents are simple to set up, and when folded, you can carry them with you anywhere you want. It’s best for camping.
All you have to do is get one of these shower tents, and you’re good to go. The Vidalido Portable Shower tent is a recommendable option.
The shower tent is not only easy to set up but also comes designed with a mesh window that lets you see outside. This is a great feature if you’re taking a shower in the forest and want to remain aware of potential wildlife.
For bathing water, you can always use a bucket and the Ivation Handheld Showerhead. An alternative to the showerhead is using a 5-gallon shower bag. You just need to hang the shower bag on a firm and steady tree (or on a wall) and then direct the water inside the shower tent.
Final Thoughts
With these solar shower DIY ideas, you can pick whichever fits your needs. Apart from the roof rack solar shower plan, the DIY plans are easy and simple to complete. And they are cheap too!
None of these ideas are prohibitively expensive. They mostly average $10 or less. So good luck DIYing your solar showers.