101 Frugal Items You Need For Survival

47 Comments

1. This is a post after my own frugal heart! 🙂 I printed it out – you have so many good ideas on here! I love stocking up on the frugal items that are multi-purpose like tin foil, garbage bags, Ziploc bags and so on.

   I’m happy you mentioned cloth diapering! We didn’t with our first child, but if we have another I am for sure going to go the cloth route.

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   1. HI Savannah, if only every young mother would use them our landfill would be filled less but the biggest issue they would save lots of money. I call it being frugal. Hugs! Linda

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      1. My daughter is on her 4th child (born the day after Thanksgiving!) and she has cloth diapered all of them.

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2. frugal??
   it seems to me being a prepper is about keeping the consumer society going , all by ourselves.
   if we stored everything we are advised to keep we’d need a warehouse the size of a football field.
   i’m sure my (british) grandparents survived with far less “stuff”.

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   1. Hi bigpaul, I’m sure we all got by with a lot less years ago. It’s the people who are not prepared I get nervous about. I can’t fill a warehouse to take care of them! Thanks for stopping by, Linda

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   2. Frugal in that nothing on the list really costs all that much. Of course, if I went out and stocked up all at once, it would cost a pretty penny!

      I can think of probably one half on the list that I could most likely survive without but if I am staying in place during an event, I would have most if not all of the items that don’t involve babies!! If I have to bug out due to an event, my car would not be able to carry half of that. AND, I would be loading my car with my camping gear more than “niceties”. I have all of the KEY items for survival in my camping gear.

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      1. Hi Leanne, you are my hero, again! You are so prepared, I love it! Linda

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3. A couple of other things that would come in handy are duct tape, Popsicle sticks and tooth picks. Great list!!

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   1. Hi Susan, you are so right! I am adding those right now! I love it! Linda

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4. Great list, and I know it probably seems like a lot to most people but there are so many things that don’t seem important until you really need them and this seems to cover most if not all of those things. I’m glad Susan added toothpicks too because that’s definitely one of those things – they don’t seem important until you have something wedged in your teeth!

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   1. Hi Kenneth, oh man toothpicks are really needed! I love when my readers help me with ideas, we all learn from each other! Linda

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5. Hi Linda! A few other cooking items I have in my kitchen that I wouldn’t live without…..rolling pin(s), a rolling mat for rolling dough, cutting boards (at least 2), strainers (metal and plastic), cookie/biscuit cutters.
   Also for laundry…clothes drying rack or clothes line with clothes pins, and a rack for drying sweaters and socks flat. Our ancestors dried their clothes on bushes, but I don’t have that many bushes, or low trees, to hang laundry on. 😉

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   1. Hi Trish, I’m adding these items to my list! Thank you so much! I couldn’t hang my clothes in the bushes in my yard either!! LOL! Linda

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      1. You’re welcome!! I couldn’t go without my clothes pins or a clothes line! They are multi-purpose items! The rolling pin could be used as a weapon…remember the old cartoons??

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   2. The first cookie cutters I remember using as a child/teen came directly from tuna cans!! Made biscuits really well too. We also, on occasion, used a glass or cup to cut out biscuits/cookies if we for some reason did not have the tuna can!! If using the can, clean REALLY well and cut out the bottom. Lasts for a good long time!

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      1. Hi Leanne, oh how I remember the tuna cans!!!! I love it! Linda

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         1. And, Linda, if one is “crafty” one could always shape the tuna can to make a shaped cookie cutter!

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      2. I totally forgot about the cans and glasses as biscuit/cookie cutters. I guess I got a bit spoiled over the years with the “modern” cutters. I have found that most of today’s cans are rounded on the bottom and would require another way to cut it off. But, being the crafty person I am, there is always a way to cut it off. A vice and a hack saw with a metal cutting blade followed with a file and sand paper to smooth it out would work. Leave some round and bend others into different shapes. Tuna cans come in a lot of different sizes, too!! 😉

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6. Hi, Linda – great list! I may have missed it, but needles, thread, small scissors, a few extra buttons would be wonderful for clothing repair. I’m a quilter so I have the whole “fabric thing” covered. Lol When I shop the yard sales I watch for dog & cat crates for lost pets. Sometimes I can get a great deal. The wire ones fold down & take a minimum of space.

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   1. Hi Linda, great idea on the pet crates! I’m a sewer and quilter as well, you and I take those items for granted. LOL! I’m adding this to my post! Thank you so much! Linda

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7. LInda
   along with a sewing kit I would suggest some plain paper and pencils regular and colored to help entertain children with (or adults who draw ) and coloring books
   Thanks for sharing and helping others learn to be better prepared.
   Pauline

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   1. Hi Pauline, great tip, I’m adding these to the list. Thank you so much! We need something to distract people from the stress of a disaster. Great comment, Linda

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8. Hi, Linda ~
   I read through the list of items and have a good many of them.
   Item # 2 – try to find the strike anywhere matches. Then you can carry them in a pill bottle and still be able to light them.
   Item # 3 – look for the military can opener (P-38, P-51). You can then have several in a minimal amount of space. You would also be able to have several to trade or share. These can be found on Amazon, at Walmart, etc.
   Item # 7 – to save storage space on the “several rolls of paper towels” – remove the cardboard center roll and flatten as much as you can. May not be as convenient when you need to use them but it will save storage space. Same goes for TP.
   Item # 35 – My daughter uses a stretchable diaper closure – eliminates the need for pins and allows for easy adjustment of the diaper for larger/smaller diapering. She uses Snappi Diaper Fasteners (5 pack on Amazon for $14.00).

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9. I would add decks of cards, dice and Yahtzee scorecards. The cards can be used for games like Memory, Crazy 8s, Old Maid, Go Fish for the younger members, games like Solitaire, Rummy, War for the older members. Also some jigsaw puzzles.

   I also store a lot of things in vacuum sealed bags. I have 3 totes of paper goods, 1 each of Kleenex, Toilet paper, Paper towels. I used my Foodsaver Vacuum Sealer to shrink each individual item, pretty much in half. I was able to store 6 – 9 mos. worth in each tote.

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   1. BDN – good idea on vacuum sealing the paper goods to conserve storage space. I have some of the really huge bags that came with my sealer and doubt I will ever use them for foodstuff so I think I will put them to use on paper products.

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      1. Great tip, Leanne! Linda

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10. Another handy item might be a large roll of heavy duty poly (like the vapour barrier stuff) to seal up broken windows after storms or earthquakes. You can use duct tape, staples or scrap wood and nails to put it up.

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    1. Hi Alice, thank you for this tip, I’m adding it to my post! Linda

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11. Just a personal observation: Except for the more special or unique items such as generators, solar panels, chargers, radios, propane cookers, dehydrators, quality knives, and so on, most of what we need is mundane stuff, often disposable and even cheap, yet invaluable to everyday life. And prepping always come back to food, water and medicine followed by shelter and clothing…. basic essentials.

    So for planning sake, once we have our special gear, all we have left to worry about is the same stuff we buy everyday and where possible, reusable and non-powered is preferable to one use disposable items.

    And I have seen that you can get good deals anywhere. I shop the Dollar stores, Walmart, thrift stores and yard sales. Gotta keep our eyes open. I have rarely paid full/regular price for anything since I became good at (Okay obsessed with) finding deals. Now I have to be careful not to over spend or over collect gear in lieu of supplies that are quickly consumed and must be heavily stocked.

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    1. Oh, Frank, I love your comment!!! You are so right, the things we need are the things we use every day! I’m like you, I love a good deal on preps at thrift stores, yard sales, etc. You rock! Linda

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12. Linda,
    It looks from the dates like you’re recycling some older articles; but, this is one I haven’t seen, so I’ll comments. BTW, You’ve had a few recent recipes, and I appreciate then you have the “printable” copy available on them, since I can easily “print” them as a pdf for later access.
    I really like lists, and will tackle yours one item at a time.
    1. Water in our case is available from at least three sources including a good well, and creek on the property, and water catchment.
    2. Fire starters can come in numerous ways from butane lighters and the BIC mini butane lighters and matches. Book matches stored in a zip top bag will keep for a long time without any special waterproofing. I wrap cotton butchers cored around the stick of a strike anywhere match, leaving the head intact (not wrapped) and dip the entire thing in paraffin. This method not only makes it waterproof; but, when you scrape off the paraffin from the head and you strike the match, the butchers cord (wick) and the paraffin burn long and hot like a candle. I also have some of the newer Plasma lighters that are kept plugged into USB outlets so the are always charged.
    3. We always have numerous ways to open cans and all are manual. We prefer the rather inexpensive but functional ”Swing-A-Way” and usually have at least 2 on hand, plus a few of the P-38’s on key chains. You can of course purchase some of your food in the pull top cans. We like Progresso soups and they come that way.
    4. We have both the silicone gloves and the older oven mitts that are a woven combination of Kevlar & Nomexl purchased as a Christmas present about 20 years ago and still working fine. We also have some hot pad , or what we call “pot holders”; but, for BBQ grilling, I’m as likely to just use heavy leather work gloves.
    5. Spatulas we have a plenty in both metal and plastic, all collected over the past 40+ years. These are usually a good purchase at any of the dollar stores.
    6. We have several Whisks; but, will often use a fork for many of those jobs.
    7. We purchase paper towels by the case and usually purchase the ones with the half towel perforation, since sometimes ½ is all you need.
    8. For dish towels we’ve recently settled on those made from Flour Sack Cloth. They are thin; but, very absorbent and dry quickly. Wal-Mart has there.
    9. See #8
    10. Instead of foil boxes, we just keep heavy duty aluminum foil on hand and build what we need when we need them
    11. For charcoal, it depends on what you mean. We will make our own char coal every few years, by heating a drum full of wooden blocks to produce wood gas that is burned off; but, could be processed as fuel in a pinch. When cooled, those blocks are “real” charcoal. When you purchase the Briquettes from companies like Kingsford, you don’t get real charcoal. They mix charcoal powder and clay and form it into Briquettes, which is why you have the gray clay powder left when you’re done.
    12. We have tons of bags from sandwich to gallon size. Other than the sandwich size, we only purchase freezer bags, since these are thicker and more durable, and the cost difference is minimal.
    13. Dish soap would be the large bottle of Dawn that is distributed to the smaller squeeze bottles for use.
    14. I have an entire cutlery collection, for both the Kitchen and otherwise. A complete set of Condor’s and the Habilis Bush tool can be used in the kitchen or in the field. You also need to keep them sharp so a way to do that should be part of your setup. We keep several ”Smith’s CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener” on hand and I highly recommend them. The Tungston Carbide side works well and the ceramic on the other side completes the task in seconds, This tool is usually less than $5.00 and we keep several around.
    15. We store bleach; but, also store sodium or calcium hypochlorite to make our own. Instructions for doing so are found everywhere on the web so I won’t go into details.
    16. We always keep laundry detergent and have the means to make more from numerous recipes on the web.
    17. In a pinch we can wash by hand with the old washboard and drying rack. I looked at your washing machine using buckets and it looks interesting and should not be too hard to duplicate with the ”Junque” we have on hand.
    18. I have a butane stove similar to yours with butane on hand, and a twin burner dual fuel Coleman camp stove; but, since we already cook and heat with propane and generally have 2000-3000 gallons on hand most of the time, those would be primary. We could of course also build a fire out back and use the Dutch oven. I purchased my butane stove @ Aldus for $16.00 and purchased a dozen of those same butane canisters. Great minds must really think alike.
    19. We have pots and pans in all shapes and sizes. When we combined households 36+ years ago we had more than one of everything, and that stuff rarely wears out.
    20. See #19 or use a simple Corel or glass bowl and the microwave oven.
    21. In the present time there are tons of very nice, inexpensive and very bright LED flashlights & Lanterns. We use rechargeable batteries and keep from of the AA & AAA Panasonic Eneloop or the 18650 Lithium Ion in the chargers at all times and have numerous ways to charge them. I purchased one of the ”Atomic Beam” lanterns a while back and then found a pair of them (generic markings) with batteries for $10.00 @ Aldi’s. Like that butane stove, you have to keep that mindset running all of the time.
    22. See #21
    23. We keep some paper goods on hand; but, find it easier to use real plates and forks and wash them. We have no dishwasher, so it takes little water to do so.
    24. Lots of serving spoons
    25. How is a pancake turner different than a spatula? We have them I ndifferent sizes and materials and don’t need something special for pancakes or French toast.
    26. Baby Wipes: You can get these in foil packets at the dollar stores, so they don’t dry out and are more portable.
    27. Every time we visit the dentist (at least yearly) we come home with a toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste.
    28. See #27 although a baking soda and salt mixture works fine.
    29. You can often find inexpensive floss in 100 yard or longer containers. This is also useful for other things, like basic strong cordage.
    30. Actually the small sport tampons for the FAK are great for nosebleeds
    31. Through 36 are not useful in our current situration
    37A&D ointment is handy and when mixed with Cayenne pepper can be a topical pain reliever for sore muscles
    38. No need for these
    39. Or these
    40. We have tons of underwear, socks, & T Shirts in our normal rotation
    41. We purchase TP in 20 or 24 roll packs and never have less than 100 rolls on hand
    42. We have some hand sanitizer; but, a good hand washing with soap works as well without drying out the skin from the alcohol
    43. We have portable toilet parts on hand; but, with a septic system, all we need is water in a bucket to flush.
    44. We keep many sizes of garbage bags including leaf and contractor bags
    45. We always have 100 or more pounds of kitty litter, since we have 2 indoor cats and also find it useful for other things.
    46. The Cyalume light sticks are almost always available at our local Dollar Tree. They used to be around only @ Halloween; but, ours now carries them all of the time.
    47. We purchase various kinds of soap in 3 packs or 5 packs. If you unwrap them and let them sit out to dry, they get a little harder and will last longer.
    48. We generally don’t keep Bag Balm; but, do keep a big bottle of Vaseline Intensive Care lotion
    49. We keep Epsom salts; but, also keep hundreds of pounds of plain water softener salt that may be used for many things.
    50. We purchase large bottles of shampoo and refill small bottles we keep in the shower.
    51. Brushes and combs are in good supply
    52. We have mittors all over the place
    53. We keep some razors; but, with a beard I don’t shave often or much area of the face.
    54. Band-Aids as well as gauze and paper tape are in a large, well stocked FAK.
    55. See #54
    56. Antibiotic ointment is also in the FAK
    57. No silver solution; but, we can make colloidal silver if we need it
    58. No essential oils, since my wide is sensitive to nearly any fragrance.
    59. We have some vitamins on hand; but, a well balanced diet makes these less of a requirement.
    60. I recommend utility knives with changeable blades and a good supply of blades.
    61. Duct tape and WD-40 are staples and we have numerous rolls and bottles
    62. I have several hundred N95 masks we’ve collected over the years
    63. We have a few hundred Nitrile gloves (Harbor Freight)
    64. We have several thousand feet of 550 paracord in various colors as well as hemp and nylon ropes.
    65. Benadryl also n the FAK
    66. Aspirin as well as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen in the FAK and the medicine cabinet.
    67. See #66
    68. See #66
    69. No babies around here
    70. Also no children
    71. Chapstick is in every Christmas stocking every year.
    72. We keep sunscreen on hand; but, here in Ohio seeing the sun is rare, LOL
    73. Generic Imodium is a staple and we keep quite a lot on hand
    74. Socks and underwear are a plenty as well as T Shirts
    75. We keep lots of glove for both warmth and work
    76. See #75
    77. We have always had various shovels, rakes, hoes, etc.
    78. We have a lot of seeds including a few of the Survival Seed Vaults. What BTW is an inorganic seed?
    79. Lots of buckets from the standard 10 quart plastic & metal, to the 2 ½ and 5 gallon ones and heated buckets in the barn for livestock watering in winter.
    80. We have one foldable (entrenching tool) shovel that rarely gets used.
    81. We keep bandanas on hand; but, I generally wear caps with a brim to shade the eyes or with ear flaps in winter.
    82. See #81
    83. Also see #81
    84. Jackets and coats a plenty.
    85. We have numerous shoes and boots and specific muck boots for outside work.
    86. Wool socks are OK; but, Wool Polypropylene are better, since they wick the sweat away and keep the feet dry.
    87. Why white? Just having long sleeved shirts on hand does the trick for us.
    88. We keep some Castile soap on hand
    89. We have several home brew filters using purchased filter elements and food grade buckets.
    90. I don’t have your book; but, since it’s available in Kindle, I might pick it up
    91. We have paper books, audio books, and videos on hand for entertainment and reference
    92. We have tons of cookbooks going back more than 50 years, plus a lot of recipes I’ve snagged over the years. You can find recipes for almost anything on the web; but, now is the time to get and stash them.
    93. We have several versions of the Bible here in paper and in digital formats.
    94. We have numerous decks of cards and a few board games left over from the kids. Jigsaw puzzles are also a good thing to keep on hand.
    95. We keep several kinds of vinegar and can make our own if we need it
    96. I don’t hear people mention witch hazel much; but, it’s a good astringent with some antibacterial properties.
    97. We purchase our hydrogen peroxide by the quart or liter @ dollar tree. In general it spoils (degrades) more quickly than other chemicals so it’s cheap enough there to keep a lot on hand and not worry if it loses potency.
    98. I carry a whistle as part of my EDC.
    99. We keep cough lozenges and syrup on hand as part of the FAK
    100. We try to keep at least a 6 month supply of all needed medications on hand.
    101. We keep the Mylar Space blankets on hand; but, I prefer the Grabber Outdoors Hooded Emergency Blanket which also has grommets to use like a trap.
    102. We keep some Popsicle sticks on hand; but, had lot of limber and tools to make whatever we need.
    103. Toothpicks are another staple and are used quite often for cooking.
    104. All of those kitchen gadget are also here in quantity.
    105. We have two sewing machines and tons of buttons, etc. We have two crates leftover from when we had dogs that are just taking up space.
    106. We also have rolls of heavy Visqueen as well as numerous tarps.
    107. Our pets (horse and goat) live outside in the barns and our other livestock (chickens) are also well taken care of.
    While I think we’re in pretty good shape since we’ve been on this journey for quite a while, it’s good to see a list and evaluate your situation every now and then. Good thought provoking list.

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    1. Hi Ohio Prepper, I am recycling a few old posts by freshening them up with a few new ideas. You and your wife are so prepared, I LOVE it! Linda

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13. This is a great list. I to have several things that was listed, but also see a lot of things that were not. There were 3 or 4 things on there I got free from amazon with my points. So that was great. These post will help me so much better than the survival forum I was on. Thank you LInda for your guide in doing what really needs to be done.
    Looks like Ohio prepper is in good shape. I can only wish. But I will get there. I already have the food storage in order. Years supply has come in handy more times than I can count.

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14. I love reading older posts.
    I love frugality in preparing. One thing that I am doing now for laundry is using laundry soap sheets. It isn’t as frugal as making your own laundry soap but for storage space, you cannot beat it. I use only sheets made in the USA or Canada. Since I live alone, I wash smaller loads than families, so I cut the sheets in half. Even more frugal!! But I find that half a sheet for a small load does just fine.

    I am also storing Dr Bronner’s castile soap for its mult-purpose use. I can use it for laundry, body wash, cleaning, and the list goes on!! One thing I will suggest for those storing and/or using castile soap, go on the Dr Bronner’s website, down at the bottom, click on Lisa Bronner’s Blog. Then on Cheat Sheets; on the right side, Dilutions Cheat Sheet for Dr Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap. No sense over using it!!

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    1. Hi Leanne, oh my gosh, I didn’t know they had a cheat cheat on Dr. Bronner’s (Lisa’s Blog), thank you!! I’m going to check out those laundry sheets, I love learning new things. Linda

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       1. Linda –
          I have tried several laundry soap sheets. Some are made in China so be sure to look for the ones made in the USA or Canada. Also, I didn’t find the ones made in China to work as well as those made here in the USA.

          On the Bronner blog, there are cheat sheets for:
          Dilutions Cheat Sheet for Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap
          Sal Suds Dilution Cheat Sheet
          Sal Suds or Castile Soap – Which to Use?
          Bar Soap Dilutions Cheat Sheet
          Coconut Oil Cheat Sheet for Kitchen & Body Care

          Bronner’s has several different products so get the cheat sheet you need for the product you are using. I only use the Liquid Castile Soap but might try Sal Suds specifically for cleaning.

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          1. Hi Leanne, I only use Castile Soap as well, I will print that cheat sheet off once I get a printer hooked up and order some of those. I love Dr. Broner’s products. I want to try the laundry soap sheets, I will look for some made in Canada or the USA. Love this, Linda

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15. There are many areas in and around Houston that remain without power, one of those necessities most depend on. It is vital to people dependent on well water with electric pumps, even municipal water supplies are also often dependent on electric pumps to distribute water. That said, it’s important to think through every item in the home that uses electricity. It is vital to store water for flushing toilets (or have an alternative toilet) water for cleaning up after heavy work and to clean hygienically, cleaning the body, or for children and the elderly who are not continent. Baby wipes cannot do everything. So soft wash cloths are necessary, along with baby shampoo, baby lotion, and lots of tees for baby, (no A/C means baby will get over warm too. Not good for a baby or elder person, their thermo regulatory systems have trouble adjusting to conditions. Baby can go with just a diaper on truly scorching days. A baby thermometer and adult thermometer (with backups please. Old fashioned glass thermometers that can be cleaned and sanitized are still available, in some stores you might have to ask the pharmacy staff for them. Anti bacterial cleaners and sprays (to sanitize kitchen and BR surfaces, Comet (not Ajax), Barkeepers Friend, scouring powder or lots of baking soda(outdated is fine for cleaning), even cheap toothpaste cream are all great for scouring metal surfaces, and other impervious surfaces. I use cheap toothbrushes and denture brushes to clean in restricted places. Fels Naptha soap bars are great for scrubbing very dirty or greasy hands. Large tubs of Aboline Cream or Aquaphor cream are available in drug stores to fill in for expensive beauty supplies, Aloe Vera gel for burns and sunburns (not on blisters or open burns, there clean washing and bandaging is best, silver nitrate cream has been used on serious burns for years, if you can find it, (may need an RX for it, from a prepper friendly doctor%. Baking soda paste is good for small burns, bug & spider bites, and bee stings. Vicks is an excellent choice for bruises and sprains, it’s a rubifacient, or circulatory stimulator, that helps remove the dead cells after the injury, the aromatics will help with pain, Vicks also makes a good liniment for aching muscles and mild arthritis pain it’s also great on pimples, but has far more uses. Diaper cream soothes hemmorhoids and soothes rectal skin breakdowns. It’s cheaper than trade name remedies, especially since there are generic brands in larger containers. In the kitchen list out every electric appliance large and small and what you need to replace their functions. I have a mandolin (problems with my hands have affected my knife skills badly. I have chopper jars that can replace some food processor needs, tupperware shaker bottles for some blender uses. No one has mentioned an old fashioned bottle/can opener, or jar and bottle openers.(Dishwashing gloves help but sometimes you need bigger guns. A stovetop pressure cooker can sub for an Instant Pot. For glass baby bottles you will need an old fashioned stovetop bottle sterilizer. There is no substitute for a microwave, except cooking the old fashioned way. A stove top toaster isn’t easy to find. A large number of fire extinguishers are vital, to try and knock down or put out a fire. Make certain you buy ABC extinguishers that can be used for all kinds of fires. One by the stove and one by each fireplace plus extra for backup and fires in other areas (garage, or any place fuel is stored, and one in each bedroom. Also when windows are substantially above ground, a portable fire escape ladder in each room. Exceptional fire safety equipment and knowledge of their use is imperative. There may be delays for fire department vehicles due to impassible roads or other calls. They also may be hampered by lack of water. Small town and volunteer fire departments are trained and equipped to use other sources than hydrants if necessary. There are areas without hydrants, even in some cities or wealthy suburbs that do not have any or few hydrants, or only low pressure hydrants. City fire departments can often be hampered by lack of water at crucial times, with fewer alternative sources. So it’s important to know how to put out small fires and know when it’s beyond your efforts and bail out. Two more essential things to have on hand are fire retardant blankets for protection and fire suppressant blankets to smother fires. A blanket near your stove, might save your kitchen if the fire it too large for a pan cover, or baking soda. If you don’t know how to properly use a fire extinguisher, take your model to any fire station and ask for a fire fighter to give you some hands on experience, show you how to hold it, pull the pin and where to aim the extinguisher for best results. They don’t just fight fires, they are trained to teach fire safety. If you live in a volunteer town, contact the chief (it’s listed in the town service book your receive every year. They can arrange for someone to teach you. Or you can inquire about having a town seminar open to the general public, for training and information purposes. If you have a fully equipped first aid kit, you need to be trained to use it effectively. So look into courses for that and CPR training. Emergency situations are serious stressors. Fire and flooding are 2 scenarios you need to be prepared for happening with no warning. Floods can happen everywhere, whether you’re in a flood zone or not. BTW if you have an electric sump pump, you need to look at non electrical options. Generators are very useful by it’s hard to keep enough fuel on hand.
    (or homemade versions) as well as non electric heavy cleaning equipment, mops, brooms (indoor and outdoor, plus extras) sponges, and buckets. Dish pans and old fashioned dish racks for drying them (saves time over drying them soaking wet). I like those dishwashing sponges with the handles to fill with detergent,Multiple pairs of dishwashing gloves in sizes to fit everyone, they are reuseable and last much longer than nitrile gloves. Invest in heavy duty non electric cleaning tools, brooms, mops, scrub brushes, sturdy dust pans, buckets, cleaning gloves (I use dishwashing gloves). Have replacement heads for everything. Keep the nitrile gloves for first aid,( I do rub something like Vaseline on my hands before donning a pair of nitrile gloves under my heavy work gloves. Don’t forget nail brushes! They help prevent blisters, oversized callouses, and heavily ground in dirt. Vaseline applied heavily to the feet under clean athletic socks before putting on work boots, also to prevent blisters and overgrown callouses. Be certain that everything has reusable cleaning heads, and have plenty of replacements, (they do wear out). A lot of cloth towels for kitchen and bathroom. Rags! As many rags as you can save. They have a multitude of uses and can be cleaned and reused hundreds of times, saving the need for paper towels.a couple of bags of maxi pads (stick on are great. They can be used as heavily absorbent dressings and large wounds. To cleanup heavy liquid spills or sweep messes into a dustpan to dispose of (rags can also be used), as replacement sponges for swiffer mops, and many other uses. Vaseline, tubs of it, it’s cheaper than almost any other lotion or cream look up all its uses on the . Vicks Vap O Rub (the original ointment), look up it’s multiple uses, and print them out for references. Cheaper than silver polish are generic magic erasers. Not for fine quality sterling or plate, but ok for everyday, especially to shine up stainless steel flat ware, that’s dulled down. They are very useful for general cleaning. To be ciontinued .

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    1. Hi MaryAnn, you have included everything I have written in my posts over the years, thank you, my sweet friend! I can only write so many items per posts or people fall asleep. Plus, sometimes it has to been read 14-18 times before they remember or think….Oh yeah, I need that. You’re the best. Linda

       P.S. I do need a fire blanket, thank you for the reminder, Leanne mentioned it one day.

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16. Another thing to add to the list would be the white bar towels you can buy at Sam’s Club or Costco, about $20 for 25 towels. They are great for so many uses and in a pinch could be used as cloth diapers. Even with the limited storage space in our camper, I carry half a dozen of these with us.

    I agree with the person who said that their camping equipment contains most of what you would need. The big addition to that is food and water. During the recent Amazon prime days, I got a couple of good freeze dried or dehydrated food deals either at Amazon or Walmart (who has started adding in deals to compete.)

    I am going to try the laundry sheets and see how they work. I also discovered “bleach tablets” on Amazon and added in a bottle to try for laundry and cleaning. I also carry a small plastic container of soap papers in my purse for times that bathrooms are out of soap. Just some ideas that are light weight and you don’t have to worry about spills and messes.

    Shampoo and conditioner in bars. Smaller and easier to store and no spills. I buy mine but you can find recipes online to make them.

    The new no rinse bath sponges. I couldn’t shower or get in the bath tub for 10 days after a surgery and used them and they worked fantastic. The dry shampoo was OK but not fantastic.

    For my 72 hour kits (plus in car glove compartments) I like the flashlights that are both solar and crank. I also have ones that are solar and rechargeable through USB connection. I know a lot of people don’t like TEMU but sometimes you can get some good deals through them and flashlights are one of them.

    A small solar panel to recharge cell phones and other items.

    A life straw or other personal water filter for each person. A good quality filtering pitcher. Plus multiple types of water storage.

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    1. Hi Topaz, I forgot about the bleach tablets, good one! I hadn’t heard of soap papers, I would love some of those. Great idea, my sweet friend! Linda

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17. An important issue for those dependent on O2 concentrators, have backup cylinders and how to use them. There is a specific method for opening them, setting the rates, and how to change the regulator from one bottle to another. Asthmatics need to discuss options with their doctors on alternate methods to replace their electric inhalation treatments. If someone is on a respirator, talk to their doctor. They may need a temporary hospital admission or long term facility admission where there is backup power for that respiration. If someone has an IV infusion pump, then they should have a home care nurse. Talk to the nurse about alternative infusion methods. Those backup batteries are only good for about 2 hours. We did these by hand back in the day, so the can be done without the pump but they will have to show you how. There are also certain medications done through pumps that would be safer done in a clinical setting. So temporary admissions might be necessary, for their safety. Home dialysis units also run on electricity, so arrangements for dialysis at a facility with emergency power, as an alternative is vital. Any electric supportive equipment must have an alternative in place before any known emergency happens. (Hurricanes, ice storms, blizzards, highest risk for tornadoes (tornado emergency), anything that may result in extended power outages and loss of water or boiling requirements. In tornado areas you need a plan to shelter these vulnerable patients. If you want them to die peacefully at home or have long term home care, you must be prepared for emergencies that endanger their health or life. If you can get your hands on a portable cardiac stimulator get one, and extra battery packs for it. Also learn how to use one. It might just save a family member’s life. Other things to consider are diabetic insulin pumps, a place to store organic insulins, and thyroid medication. Adequate supplies RX medicines are vital too. If your invalid is on IM meds, you must learn how to give those shots, insulin injections, sub cutaneous meds and so on. Your home nurses should be willing to train you and ensure you have a supply on hand to give, or a temporary hospitalization may be needed for medications and continuity of care. I’m all for care at home over institutionalizing people, but what level of care and medicine they require, needs to be considered. It is best to have alternative plans in place, to ensure they receive the care, in a safe environment. Think of what the direst state you might might be in during and after an emergency happens. If you live in a wildfire area you need to be prepared to act at the first knowledge you might possibly have to evacuate. You can’t know what a wild fire will do, or fast it will move! Preparations and plans must be in place for these patients well in advance of need! And if you are burned out, provisions must be made for their safe care. Long term care facilities, some nursing homes, and many hospitals have respite care programs, temporary admissions, designed to allow a family a short break, or safely enjoy a vacation knowing their family member is well cared for. A social worker and/or your doctor can help you to plan for emergency care for your loved ones. They cannot receive adequate care in a standard emergency shelter, they don’t have the facilities necessary. Think about all these possible problems ahead of time and plan for them.
    On a lighter note. A notebook containing recipes that can be made from pantry supplies and staple ingredients from a couple of ice chest, compiled ahead of time, makes good sense. I have mine in plastic washable sleeves in a 3 ring binder. You won’t have time or energy to search for recipes from 50-60 cookbooks by candle or lamp light. The strain on the eyes is incredible. I know I grew up having to study that way often enough. I type out the recipes in large, bold, type in all caps to make reading them easier. Unfortunately printers don’t enlarge fractions very well, so after I print them,I hand write the fractions in large print beside the ingredients. Taking the time to set up a meal plan to prevent using some too frequently relieves boredom. This is a time where homemade or store bought seasonings and mixes, and table seasonings save the day, as any basic recipe can be varied any number of ways into totally different meal, just using different seasonings. Rice and other staple grains, can be used instead of pasta and/or whole grain pastas, or vice versa to change dishes significantly. If you’re going to eat long term from shelf stable supplies, variety will be important. One more medical issue, whole grains and beans help fight constipation, but if extra fiber becomes necessary, adding flax seed or chia seeds to any dish will act as an extra aid. They are both relatively tasteless, so are plain psyllium husks. All three are much cheaper than commercial anti constipation powders. The most important thing is to drink a lot of fluids with it. 2 more important items, are a stovetop coffee percolator and tea kettle. Coffee and tea contain caffeine, a natural bowel stimulant, the tea kettle can make broth mixes and cocoa/hot chocolate. Coffee (the highest caffeine level is also effective against migraines if drunk just as you sense one coming on. Migraines are caused by dilated blood vessels in the brain. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, to help offset the dilation. It might not be the complete answer, but coupled with an analgesic like Ibuprofen can make many functional if lying down and sleeping one off is not possible. These are helpful to know should your migraine medication run out, or you have them infrequently so you have no medication prescribed. I’ve written these things not just for Preppers who probably know them already, but for those looking for information to prep for smaller emergencies than doomsday, grid collapse, etc, etc. There are plenty of nonprepper folks who read prepper sites looking for information they can use for less permanent scenarios. I wanted to share important information for these people to consider and use for their needs. Many people are dealing with home care for elderlies, relatives with handicaps, and those using hospice at home care for the terminally ill, or those with special care needs for daily life. Even realizing a standard wheelchair may be needed for those using electric wheelchairs or rechargeable scooters. Only of the first things that runs out early during emergencies is gasoline. Once the power is out, stations cannot pump gas, even if they have it. So alternatives to gas powered generators must be considered. Salespeople promote them heavily as te answer to power outages, but they only work if you have the gas to fuel them. Solar power is only useful if it’s sunny, prolonged cloudy spells do reduce its capability. One final thing no ones mentioned are air masks to protect your lungs while cleaning up debris. You have no idea what you might be breathing in. I’m sure most have seen post tornado photos with insulation made of God only knows of what materials strewn everywhere. But any severe wind event can cause insulation and other contaminants to be air borne. Think black mold too. Even indoors, those leftover Covid masks are protection, especially those with respiratory diseases and conditions. Even heavy dust can cause an aspiration pneumonia. Serious stuff if you cannot get medical treatment or antibiotics. I’ve just been thinking of what’s in the article and the comments and trying to include things I don’t remember seeing that could become very important.after the fact is no time to find out how many things you need and don’t have or skills you need but also do not have. I know it’s tangled, I kept adding things as I remember them. Hope these comments help someone.❤️❤️

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    1. Hi MaryAnn, great tips, I’m working on seeing what I will need for my 02 concentrator. I never ever smoked and my lungs and heart are so damaged I have to use oxygen 24/7. We have a Goal Zero Headquarters up the street a few miles I’m going to go talk to them. They were one of my sponsors when I first started my blog. I have some units but not enough. Thanks again for sharing, my sweet friend. Linda

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18. After our storms – tornados – in Tucson, AZ, this past week, I checked in with my neighbor behind me to tell him one whole side of his big tree broke and it caught up in the top healthier branches. We were without power for just 3 hours, but he is very concerned because he is on oxygen 24/7. I doubt that he has any kind of generator or alternate power source. He has lived here for 23 years and has never seen the kind of storms we had last week with tremendous wind, dust, lightning and thunder, and lots of rain which we need desperately. I saw your answer to MaryAnn above about your need for power for your O2 concentrator.

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    1. Hi Carol, I have had Goal Zero units to help my neighbors with cPAP’s, but now I’m going to need one with one with more wattage. We’re moving and it’s complete chaos in our house. I have two daughters coming this weekend for our granddaughters wedding if the flights work because of the worldwide power outage from an “Upgrade” (coding was wrong). Airlines, hospitals, 911, businesses are basically shut down and I’m sure gas stations in some areas are as well. They say it may take days to restore everything. A friend told me on Friday, my gut is telling me to withdraw cash, Linda go do it. I did. Linda

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19. Bath Soap: No need to buy new bars of soap! I found this article a couple of years ago, and have been doing this ever since. When I pop the new bars out of my silicone muffin pans, I vacuum seal them before adding them to my ‘stash’.
    1. Gather up all your completely-dry soap slivers.
    2. Once you have a good number of soap slivers, dump them onto a cutting board, mincing them into very small pieces. Transfer to a Pyrex container and add just enough water to coat the bottom of the container.
    3. Cover the container with plastic wrap, and microwave it in 15-second intervals. In between the intervals, stir the mixture with the butter knife until the water is very hot and the soap has formed a paste.
    4. Pour and scoop the soap paste into a muffin tin, soap/cookie molds, or cupcake wrappers. Once the molds cool, you have yourself some free new soap bars!

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    1. Hi Kathie, oh my gosh, I remember my great grandmother saving the slivers of soap and they molded together kind of, but your “recipe” I have got to try, thank you for sharing, this is a great idea, I’m going to do this! Thank you, Linda

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