When you’re evacuated to an emergency shelter the council provides warmth, water, and simple food. What they don’t provide is your personal hygiene kit. Toiletries are one component of a complete grab bag – see our full 72-Hour Grab Bag guide for everything you need.
Complete Guide
72-Hour UK Grab Bag
The ‘get out quick bag’ for rapid home evacuation in the event of fire, flood, or other incidents. Every essential for 3 days away from home in one bag.
Emergency shelters (officially called Rest Centres) are often school halls, leisure centres, or church buildings converted into temporary shelters. Showers might not be available immediately. Communal facilities will be shared by dozens of people. You need to stay clean, comfortable, and healthy while you wait to return home.
This isn’t about luxury—it’s about dignity and hygiene when you’re already stressed.
Why Pre-Made “Travel Kits” Are a Waste of Money
You’ll find plenty of “TSA-approved travel toiletry kits” on Amazon for £20+. They’re designed for airport security, not UK emergencies.
What you get for £20:
- Shampoo 95ml
- Antiperspirant 75ml
- Folding toothbrush
- Toothpaste (trial size)
- 3-in-1 body wash 55ml (which also claims to work as shampoo—so why include separate shampoo?)
- A plastic bag with “TSA approved” printed on it
That’s £3.33 per item you didn’t choose, in scents you might not like, in a configuration that doesn’t make sense, and still lacks essentials.
You can build a better kit for £8-£15 with products you actually want to use.
What Goes in Your Toiletries Kit
This kit assumes you’ll be in a rest centre for 72 hours to 1 week. Everything should be compact, lightweight, and functional.
The Core Essentials
Manual Toothbrush
Not electric. Batteries die, charging points are scarce. A basic manual toothbrush works every time.
Toothpaste (Travel Size or Small Tube)
50ml is plenty. Don’t pack your full-size family tube.
Deodorant (Roll-on, Travel Size)
Roll-on packs better than aerosols and won’t explode under pressure. Travel size (35-50ml) is enough for a week.
Wet Wipes (Large Pack)
The workhorse of emergency hygiene. When showers aren’t available, wet wipes become your bath. Use them for:
- Full body “sponge baths”
- Face washing
- Hand cleaning before eating
- General freshening up
Get a pack of 50-100 wipes. Go for fragrance-free if possible (less irritation, especially for sensitive skin).
Hand Sanitiser Gel (Small Bottle)
Communal facilities = lots of germs. A 50-100ml bottle of antibacterial gel is essential. Aim for 60%+ alcohol content.
Small Microfibre/Camping Towel
Regular towels are bulky and take forever to dry. A microfibre camping towel:
- Packs down to fist-size
- Dries in hours, not days
- Can be stored damp in its own bag
- Costs £10-£18 depending on size
Even a small one (40x80cm) is enough for a post-shower dry-off.
Folding Hairbrush OR Comb
A folding hairbrush is compact, cheap (£2-£4), and multi-purpose. It works for detangling, grooming, and keeping kids sorted. Choose either a brush or comb—you don’t need both.
Sanitary Products (If Applicable)
Pack 7 days worth of pads or tampons. Don’t assume the rest centre will have them, or that they’ll have the type you prefer. Periods don’t stop for emergencies.
Lip Balm
Stressed environments = dry lips. A small stick of lip balm takes up no space and prevents cracked, painful lips.
Pocket Tissues (Small Pack)
More versatile than toilet paper. Use them for:
- Emergency loo roll backup if the hall runs out
- Nose blowing
- Quick spill cleanup
- General tissues
A small pack of 10-20 tissues is enough.
Bin Bag (1 Large)
One heavy-duty bin bag serves multiple purposes:
- Dirty laundry storage
- Wet towel containment
- Rubbish collection
- Emergency privacy curtain if needed
Optional But Useful
Sunscreen (Small Tube)
Yes, even in the UK. If you’re evacuated in summer and spending time outside queuing or in temporary outdoor shelters, you’ll want SPF 30+ protection. A 50ml tube is enough.
Basic Plasters (Small Pack)
5-10 plasters for minor cuts, blisters, or scrapes. Don’t go overboard—this isn’t a full first aid kit.
Small Antiseptic Cream
A 15-30g tube of antiseptic cream for cuts or grazes. Again, keep it minimal.
Storage: How to Pack It All
The Problem:
Most “travel toiletry bags” are designed for week-long holidays and take up half your grab bag. You need something compact and waterproof.
The Solution:
Option 1: Budget (£2-£3)
Use a pencil case or small makeup bag with a zip. Add individual ziplock bags for liquids (toothpaste, hand gel, deodorant) to prevent leaks. Total cost: under £3.
Option 2: Organized (£5-£8)
Get a compact hanging toiletry organizer with multiple compartments. Look for one that’s A5 size or smaller. Still use ziplock bags for liquids as backup.
Packing Tips:
- Put all liquids in one ziplock bag (toothpaste, deodorant, hand gel)
- Wet wipes stay in their original pack
- Sanitary products in a separate small ziplock (keeps them dry and discreet)
- Towel rolls up separately or goes in the main grab bag
- Bin bag folds flat at the bottom
Your entire toiletries kit should fit in a space roughly the size of a large sandwich.
Two Build Options: Budget vs. Premium
Budget Build (£8-£10)
Where to Shop: Poundland, Home Bargains, Savers, Tesco own-brand
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Manual toothbrush | £1 |
| Toothpaste (small tube) | £1 |
| Roll-on deodorant (travel) | £1 |
| Wet wipes (pack of 80) | £1 |
| Hand sanitiser (100ml) | £1 |
| Folding hairbrush | £1 |
| Lip balm | £1 |
| Pocket tissues | £1 |
| Pencil case | £1 |
| Ziplock bags (pack of 20) | £1 |
| Total | £10 |
Add sanitary products (£2-£3) and microfibre towel (£10-£12) separately.
DIY Bonus:
Buy small empty travel bottles (3x 50ml for £1-£2) and fill them with your own shampoo/shower gel. You get the scents you like at a fraction of the cost.
Premium Build (£12-£15)
Where to Shop: Boots, Superdrug, Tesco
| Item | Approx Price |
|---|---|
| Oral-B manual toothbrush | £2 |
| Colgate travel toothpaste | £1.50 |
| Sure/Dove roll-on (travel) | £2 |
| Wet wipes (fragrance-free, 100pk) | £2 |
| Carex hand gel (100ml) | £1.50 |
| Tangle Teezer compact brush | £8 |
| Carmex/Blistex lip balm | £2 |
| Pocket tissues | £1 |
| Small toiletry pouch | £3 |
| Total | £23 |
Note: The Tangle Teezer is overkill—drop it for a £2-£3 folding brush and you’re at £17 total.
Add sanitary products and microfibre towel separately.
Where to Buy Each Item
Poundland/Home Bargains:
Best for budget builds. Everything is £1-£1.50. Stock varies by location but covers all basics.
Boots/Superdrug:
Better quality brands, still affordable. Look for “travel size” sections near the tills. Regular sales (3 for 2 deals, etc.).
Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury’s:
Own-brand travel sizes in the toiletries aisle. Cheaper than branded, perfectly functional.
Amazon:
Useful for bulk items (wet wipes, hand gel) or specific gear (microfibre towels). Watch for inflated “emergency kit” pricing.
Camping Shops (Go Outdoors, Decathlon):
Best place for microfibre towels and compact toiletry organizers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Packing Full-Size Products
Your 250ml shampoo bottle is dead weight. Travel sizes or refillable bottles only.
❌ Forgetting Waterproofing
Toothpaste explodes. Deodorant leaks. Everything goes in ziplock bags.
❌ Overpacking “Just in Case”
You’re going to an emergency shelter for 3-7 days, not the wilderness for a month. Keep it minimal.
❌ Buying Pre-Made Kits
You’ve already read why this is a waste of money. Build your own.
❌ No Storage Plan
A loose pile of toiletries in your grab bag = chaos when you need to find something quickly. Use a case or pouch.
Maintenance: Check It Twice a Year
Your toiletries kit isn’t “set and forget.” Check it every 6 months:
- Replace expired items (sunscreen, antiseptic cream)
- Refresh wet wipes (they dry out over time)
- Check toothpaste hasn’t leaked
- Ensure sanitary products are still sealed
- Test ziplock bags for damage
Set a reminder for March and September. Takes 5 minutes.
Final Thoughts: Dignity in Disruption
When your home is inaccessible and you’re sleeping on an airbed in a church hall, being able to brush your teeth, wash your face, and change into clean clothes isn’t luxury—it’s basic dignity.
A well-packed toiletries kit costs £10-£20 and takes up less space than a lunchbox. It’s one of the easiest parts of your grab bag to get right.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t overspend on pre-made kits. Just pack the basics, keep it waterproof, and you’ll be sorted.
📋 Clarissa
I’ve Made A Checklist
This kit is for the bag. My hygiene checklist is for the house: hands, teeth, periods, the toilet and the kitchen when the water’s off. Print it and tick it off. Obviously.
Download: Hygiene Checklist →Further Reading
Build Your Resilience
Further Reading: Related Guides
All our guides can be found listed on our resilience hub.
Quick Checklist
☑️ Manual toothbrush
☑️ Toothpaste (travel size)
☑️ Deodorant (roll-on, travel size)
☑️ Wet wipes (50-100 pack)
☑️ Hand sanitiser (50-100ml)
☑️ Microfibre towel
☑️ Folding hairbrush or comb
☑️ Sanitary products (7 days)
☑️ Lip balm
☑️ Pocket tissues
☑️ Bin bag (1 large)
☑️ Pencil case/toiletry pouch
☑️ Ziplock bags for liquids
Total weight: Under 1kg
Total cost: £8-£15 (excluding towel)
Total space: Sandwich-sized pouch
Stay prepared. Stay dignified.
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