Have you ever not had hot water one morning and wanted to take a shower? All you need to do is heat up a 1/2 gallon of water in a good sized pot or tea kettle. You need an empty and clean one gallon milk jug with the type of lid that screws on and not snaps on.
Heat up an ordinary sized nail by holding it with pliers over your stove element, gas stove or wood stove fire. I put seven holes in the lid by poking through with the heated nail. Six around the perimeter but not close to the threads and one in the center. If you have only a really small nail than a few more holes will be needed. The most important thing is that you have to fill your gallon milk jug 1/2 full with cold water first. Then fill up the rest with your really hot water.
Now the best method is the "Navy Shower Method". By tipping the jug, wet your hair first and then shampoo. Leave shampoo in hair and wet the rest of your body by repeatedly tipping the jug (to let air in so it will release the water). Now with a bar of soap and a wet rag work a good lather up and scrub yourself well.
Now with the remainder of the water in the jug (which should still have 2/3 left), start by rinsing your hair first. Keep rinsing with the remainder of the water to completely rinse off. Every time I have been able to take a complete shower with one gallon of hot water and felt very clean.
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas; I'll be trying them. Here, due to the heavily mineraled 'n orange water, I stopped using the hot water heater. About a gallon of water is heated in the microwave oven. Then it sits on the side of the tub and mixed w/cold tap water; using a qt-sized container (from recycled yogurt or cottage cheese), water is slowly poured over hair then the rest. Used is a 2-n-1 shampoo for dry hair, which rinses off quickly. If the well is running 'fine' a wash cloth is used; if it's sluggish, it's not and less water is used, from 1-3 gal.
This is a great idea for a shower! Here in hurricane country (and also while tent camping) this would prove to be a good idea to keep in mind. I've read that you can also paint a plastic milk jug black, set it in the sun for most of the day, and it will be good and hot for that much needed shower later in the day. Thanks for sharing your tip!
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