r/preppers • u/stoneoftheicemen • 13h ago
What things are for prepping but also just regular life? New Prepper Questions
So it’s occurred to me that I’m never going to stop wanting to use toilet paper. And it doesn’t really expire. Also, people panic buy it. So every time I go to the store I buy a sleeve of nine rolls. I now have an extra large Rubbermaid stuffed full.
What other things that follow this same rule? Stuff that doesn’t really go bad and will get used even if there is no apocalypse?
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u/shortstack-42 13h ago
Swedish dishcloths, dish scrubbies, cotton swabs, cotton balls/rounds, feminine hygiene products, light bulbs, lighter fluid, facial tissue, garbage bags, charcoal, kabob skewers, vacuum cleaner bags/filters, bandaids, coffee filters…
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u/shortstack-42 13h ago
Hair ties, hair brushes, underwear, socks, duct tape, wd40, window cleaner, laundry soap, all purpose cleaner, salt, baking soda, baking powder, honey, maple syrup…
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u/kippirnicus 13h ago
What’s a Swedish dishcloth?
Sure, I could just Google it myself. But I like to do things with the old-fashioned way… (Using my smartphone, to ask a stranger a question, on social media.) 😝
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u/shortstack-42 12h ago
lol, it’s a flat, square, thin sponge. I love them. They don’t retain food particles like regular sponges, and soak up way more than paper towels.
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u/kippirnicus 12h ago
Oh! I think I actually have a few of those…
Are those made of a material that’s almost impossible to rip, and washable and reusable?
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u/shortstack-42 12h ago
Yes! They last for several months before I start to feel they look grosser than I can stand. Then they turn into wicks for self-watering plant pots.
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u/kippirnicus 11h ago
Genius! I have about 10 of those in the windowsills around my house. They are awesome.
I use cotton clothesline for mine. But I love the idea of the Swedish wash cloth strips instead.
Thanks for the idea! 👊
(See, I wouldn’t have gotten that information from a Google search.)😊
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u/DragonfruitWaste3589 13h ago edited 10h ago
Speaking about toilet paper, when there was the run up and price gouging we actually found it more sensible to install a bidet. cheap and effective especially when toilet paper runs low.
But another thing I was always taught is if you can, always have a full tank of gas. Nowadays I refuse to go less than halfway full and will make it a personal journey to get it topped off.
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u/JennaSais 12h ago
We got a bidet attachment too. Just a cheap, cold water one (it's actually not as cold as I thought it would be!) At first we just put one in the Master bathroom, but we liked it so much we got a second one for the half-bath on the main floor, too! Highly recommend.
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u/stoneoftheicemen 13h ago
Love this! I’ll start doing that.
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u/Late_Source8838 12h ago
If you do, you might want to order some bidet bumpers/seat spacers as the less expensive bidets may make the seat unlevel.
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u/Subtotal9_guy 13h ago
Blankets - I like being warm and a few extra come in handy when you're sleeping on the couch.
Cans of soup, shelf stable food, canned fruit. If you're feeling sick you can stay home and just heat up something quick.
BBQ - obvious but it also gives you a second cooking option if the power goes out.
Bandaids - I'm still kicking myself for having none a few weeks ago when some girls beside me were showing each other their blisters. Normally I'd have some and could have helped them out. Now I have made up some ouch pouches.
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u/Japi1882 13h ago
You might find you really like having a bidet.
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u/stoneoftheicemen 13h ago
Never tried one!
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u/Japi1882 13h ago
Personally I like the handheld one. I used to have one that was built in but it makes the toilet really hard to clean. Some people like the nice ones though since the water is heated.
Still need a little TP to dry off.
And yeah, in an emergency it’s good to have TP if your water is off. But you don’t need a lifetime supply. Might save some space for other prep.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 10h ago edited 9h ago
Headlamps. I use these all the time on the farm. Even when arriving late and having to unload groceries- they are always being used
Neck light - used when sewing or knitting, not just for reading
Totes - got a few for storage but we have started using these ro store cat food outside, storing kitty litter outside, in the garage for parts, have one full of corn in the back of the truck right now to keep it out of the snow.
Propane camping stove - was using it for canning. Great in an outdoor kitchen.
Backup batteries for the phone - sent them into a hospital for a hospitalized friend to use, I carry them to quick charge my phone. I take one into classes with me so if I'm recording, I don't kill my battery.. It isn't everyday but they do get used
Small camping lights. Got several on clearance and have one hanging off a kitten cage so I can quickly do a kitten count. My light went out over my sink and I just replaced it with the camping light until I replace the fixture.
Wool blankets. Excellent on a bed in the winter but I also carry one in my car each winter.
Long johns. Not only is Kentucky covered in snow right now which we usually don't get it where it hangs around day after day but my landlord ended up in the hospital and I have had care of his cattle since the first of December.
Camping fan - I have ended up using it in an area where there isn't room for a standard fan. I can hang this on a wall and extend it out as needed.
Tank top propane heater. We put it into the garage to heat up the tools before we go out to work with them. We have also pointed it at the tractor when we are going to be working on it so the metal isn't ice cold.
Bidet - so very useful. Even a handheld portable one will work
Family cloth, dish towels, handkerchiefs, dish towels. Get rid of the disposable stuff and use the money elsewhere.
Cast iron pans, cast iron Dutch oven, cast iron double sided griddle
Reusable fine mesh tea steeper. Can be used for tea and coffee.
Good boots
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u/KateMacDonaldArts 12h ago
Things I buy on sale so that there’s at least one backup:
Allergy medicine
Antacid / anti gas pills
Pesto Bismol
Gravol
Cough syrup
Cold medicine (day/night)
Cough drops
Throat lozenges
Vaporub
Vaseline
Painkillers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen , aleve)
Polysporin
Cortisone cream
Calamine lotion
I know there’s more, but essentially any of the above you or someone in your family uses. There’s nothing worse than waking up with a cold/flu and not having something you can take for it. I keep all of those products in one bin with extra tissues, masks, Covid tests, so that I can grab it with my eyes closed.
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u/Own_Instance_357 12h ago
I have Amazon send me a case (48) of toilet paper, case of paper towels (24) Scott's tri fold towels (24) and even some industrial tp in giant rolls (12) all on the 6 month program
I also have a liquor store deliver 6 cases of 1.75 bottles 2x a year
Do not really regret
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u/fs_e_ 9h ago
Canned Meats
Sardines
Salmon
Tuna
Kipper
Beef
Pork
Chicken
Ground beef
Sausage
Goetta
Spam
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u/photojournalistus 9h ago
I bought a dozen cans of Keystone-brand canned beef. It's a bit pricey, but I think it's probably about the highest protein-density, best quality canned meat product available. It's cheapest at Walmart online; though, they enforce a 12-can limit per order. For those meats you listed above, what tastes best to you? (I haven't yet tasted the Keystone beef myself but many say it tastes pretty good.)
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u/EveBytes 12h ago
Ever since Covid I stock up on toilet paper also. I don't enjoy the panic buying situation. I would rather be stocked up on everything and avoid the whole store scene.
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u/JennaSais 12h ago
I learned how to pressure can for prepping reasons, but discovered that I love doing it, AND we all really like the finished product. I do meal-in-a-jar recipes out of the Ball book, so it's useful for those nights we're just too tired to cook. Plus it's an excellent way to preserve things before they go bad. I don't worry about whether we'll finish a big Costco bag of carrots anymore, because I have some great canning recipes for them both on their own and in those ready-to-eat meals. It also cuts down on how much freezer space we need.
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u/DeafHeretic 10h ago
Pretty much everything.
I just buy stuff when it is on sale at a good price, even if I already have a year's worth of it on my selves (which are currently full). Over time it adds up. Since inflation is inexorable, cost averaging comes into play, so in the long run I save $ doing this - unless I have to deal with spoiled food due to not using it soon enough.
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u/mistercowherd 3h ago
Start with:
Deep pantry. The stuff you eat anyway, that stores well, stock up on. Buy in bulk, or if money is tight just get an extra “unit” when it is on sale. Then you have enough stocked to wait for the sales, so you end up spending less if you regularly use that stuff.
Bulk buys. Anything like soap, toilet paper, whatever - no reason to have anything g less than a 3-month supply, unless you can’t store it. Again, works out cheaper as long as you wait for the deals and don’t panic-buy.
Petrol for the car is harder. Ideal is an electric vehicle with enough solar and batteries at home to go off grid (with the appropriate fuse box/isolator). You can rotate Jerry cans if you think it’s worth it (not for me). Or set up your life so you can commute by bicycle, even an electric bicycle, that’s probably the best.
Mundane administration: insurance; savings; on- and off-site backups, electronic and physical, of important documents. Good social network. Pre-staged meeting places of communications break down. Pre-arranged emergency relocation sites - relatives or whatever works.
Gardening / chickens etc - not for everyone but if you can, you have a way of having fresh food to supplement your storables.
Then for the stuff that isn’t day-to-day, think of camping or caravan/RV camping. Water storage. Portable toilet or at least some of the fluid and a bucket and garbage bags to line it. Hunting and fishing gear. Two-way radios. Inverter, solar panel, batteries to keep your essential electronics running.
The next level is building an off-grid homestead. But that’s well beyond what you’re working on now.
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u/Remote-Candidate7964 12h ago
Paper plates, bowls, disposable cutlery
Sometimes I just don’t have the energy for dishes.
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u/Ilike3dogs 9h ago
I keep a few of them in the tornado shelter. Bottled water, canned soup and stews, an empty bucket, half a pool noodle. A jackery, a small lockbox with critical papers. A thirty day supply of all my medications, an extra walker for myself. This isn’t the whole list, but you get the idea. I prep for the collapse of society, but I also prep for tornadoes. 😳😅
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u/MrsMayberry 8h ago
Please explain the 0.5 pool noodle.
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u/disapprovingfox 8h ago
If i had to guess, the half a pool noodle is to put around the rim of the empty 5 gallon pail to make a more comfortable toilet seat, for an emergency toilet.
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u/MrsMayberry 8h ago
Ah yes, makes sense! I figured that's what the bucket was for, but was unfamiliar with the pool noodle trick. Thanks!
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u/thumos_et_logos Partying like it's the end of the world 12h ago
All of it if you’re doing it right tbh
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u/stream_inspector 12h ago
I grew up camping and my family i have now enjoys camping. Just convenient that much of our camping gear helps with prepping.
I enjoy guns and shooting. Prep.
I live on a lake (prep water source - just keep filters and source of fuel for boiling on hand) and enjoy lake living. (Also source of protein on good days).
I love eating (chest freezer full of meat is a joy and a prep. We buy half cow at a time)
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u/Late_Source8838 12h ago
I remember joking on social media about hoarding tp and soap well before 2020. When people asked why, I explained that I probably only had months without modern medics, so I’m gonna go out without my butt itching if I can. To make myself feel better, I like to assume both will have some barter value, too.
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u/SheistyPenguin 11h ago
Propane-powered stuff. Fun for grilling, making fires, camping. In a crisis, it can keep a household running... and the fuel doesn't go bad. We keep a fresh 20lb tank and several 1lb bottles on-hand at all times.
Also a small one, but old-school hot water bottles. We used them to lure the kids into bed as a warm cuddly... but in a winter blackout, they would be a huge comfort. Just heat some water on a camp stove, pour, and stay warm for 4-6 hours.
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u/MadRhetorik General Prepper 9h ago
Increasingly as time passes solar is becoming more and more viable and useful to the average person. Having a few 200w panels that you could pop up in an emergency is really useful.
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u/ISOMoreAmor 8h ago
How would you utilize panels alone?
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u/MadRhetorik General Prepper 8h ago
Pick them up and either lean them against something or have a premade stand you can pop up. This all under the assumption that you have the rest of a solar battery system setup or tied into your house already. Idk anyone who would buy just a panel by itself. Some people just don’t want the panels on their roof and want to put them out when they want.
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u/ISOMoreAmor 6h ago
I see. I was thinking there was anther method I missed or wasn't aware of for solar panel use.
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u/BaldyCarrotTop Maybe prepared for 3 months. 8h ago
What you just described WRT food is called a deep pantry.
WRT toiletries: TP, Kleenex (TP lasts longer if you are not using it to blow your nose.), paper towels, soap, tooth paste, etc. Basically all your bathroom consumables.
You can apply this to almost anything. Camping gear (if you like camping) is also prep gear.
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u/violetstrainj 7h ago
I think probably everything I have in my stash could be considered everyday use. I even use my duck tape and gorilla glue pretty often.
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u/RonJohnJr Prepping for Tuesday 6h ago
Most "Tuesday Preps" are just having more of what you normally have. The rest is disaster preparedness that They Who Want To Put You In Death Camps would approve of.
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u/RedYamOnthego 6h ago
Almost all dry goods can be prepped for up to a year -- just buy extra when you see them on sale.
Some of my "preps": paper towels, shampoo and conditioner, soaps, detergents for laundry, dish washing and dish washer, henna, cleaning supplies (bleach for six months, maybe, and rotate --rotating your stock is essential! Write dates on with permanent marker).
I have a lot of cats, but I try to prep at least one month of food for them, often two. I don't really have room for more. I prep six months of kitty litter in the winter -- not only do I not have to wrestle big bags in the snow and ice, but it's acting as a draft blocker in my mudroom, lol.
My husband is in charge of office supplies and preps paper, plastic files and printer toner.
He also preps his OTC medicines and moisturizer. I'm afraid he over-preps, because there's a lot of expired stuff in his stash.
We also have a small box of batteries that I check for expiry dates every six months. We also replace as we use them, so we don't really need to toss any, and it all fits in a jewelry box drawer.
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u/Strange_Lady_Jane Peppers 4h ago
So every time I go to the store I buy a sleeve of nine rolls. I now have an extra large Rubbermaid stuffed full.
Now is the time to stop buying every time. Use from the tub. Only buy new toilet paper to fill the tub up to capacity when the TP is on sale. In this way, you will only ever be using toilet paper that's on sale since you keep refilling with only the sale priced rolls. Then repeat this for other non-perishables. Buy a supply, replenish it only during the sale.
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u/jwsconsult Prepping for Tuesday 13h ago
pretty much anything shelf stable and regularly used is worth at least a minimal deep pantry (ie, one package open, one on shelf). As you said, it helps avoid the panic buys, but also helps you avoid having to run to store in middle of week (or whatever out of schedule would be for you. I do most errands on saturday). A few that come immediately to mind
TP
Paper Towels
Laundry Detergent
Dryer Sheets
Color catcher sheets
Dish detergent
Dish Soap
Rinse Aid
Cotton Swabs
Bar Soap
Shampoo
Conditioner
Toothpaste
Clorox wipes
Probably others I'm forgetting. There are also things that while they do expire, so you need to ensure First in - first out rotation, that we deep pantry, as we use them regularly.
Olive Oil
Vegetable oil
Coconut oil
Popcorn
Salt
Peanut butter
Jelly
Bread (freeze extra)
Vitamins