The reality is, when you’re out cruising—whether for a season or full-time—access to clean, natural products is often limited or nonexistent. Provisioning space is tight. Weather is hot. Resources are inconsistent. And yet, the choices we make on board directly impact both our personal health and the ocean we live on. I’ve been in an ongoing discussion in the Women Who Sail Facebook group on this exact topic, and thought I’d share some of the conversation and research that’s come out of the thread.
Let’s talk about the everyday items we often default to out of habit or convenience—dish soap, shampoo, sunscreen, hand soap, lotion. The old school stuff we grew up with, and still find lining the shelves of tiny island stores. These products are loaded with sulfates, synthetic fragrances, preservatives, parabens, and chemical UV blockers. They’re convenient—but quietly toxic.
Take Dawn dish soap, for example. Sure, it’s used in wildlife rescue after oil spills, but that doesn’t make it safe. It contains harsh surfactants and synthetic ingredients that disrupt our skin and gut microbiomes—and when they go overboard, they head straight for the reef. Not to clean it, but to pollute it.
Sunscreens? Most are made with oxybenzone and octinoxate—both known to bleach coral and disrupt marine life reproduction. They also mess with your hormones. So when you’re applying that SPF 50 daily, you’re not just protecting your skin—you may also be compromising your endocrine system.
So what can we do, especially with limited access and storage?
Natural Swaps + DIY That Work on a Boat
- Castile Soap (like Dr. Bronner’s-unscented of course): One bottle, endless uses—body, hair, dishes, laundry. Biodegradable, safe, and concentrated.
- doTERRA OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate: One small bottle lasts forever because it’s ultra-concentrated. Space-saving, non-toxic, and great for cleaning every surface on board—plus it smells amazing without the synthetic junk.
- Baking soda + vinegar + essential oils: Clean almost anything naturally. Disinfect, scrub, deodorize, and keep the ocean (and your lungs) clean.
- Reef-safe habits: Instead of chemical sunscreens, cover up with UPF clothing and use only pure essential oils like lavender or helichrysum post-sun.
- DIY lotion bar: Melt equal parts coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax. Add your fave essential oil and mold into a solid bar—no mess, no plastic.
- Apple cider vinegar rinse: Perfect as a conditioner substitute and also helps with scalp health in salty conditions.
Buying Tips While Cruising
- Stock up on clean, concentrated products before you leave. Choose multi-use items.
- Order to major marinas or use shipping services like DHL or Amazon Locker (if you’re in a country that allows it).
- Connect with fellow cruisers to split bulk orders.
- Make DIY swaps on board with pantry basics and essential oils you trust.
At the end of the day, this isn’t about being perfect. It’s about doing better—with what you’ve got. Your health matters. The reef matters. And small, consistent changes lead to big impact.
