1. Shoe and boot laces – yes, you could use leather laces but why not stock some?
2. Fence posts – entirely too handy not just for fencing but for gardening
3. Barbed wire and chicken wire fencing
4. Cloth diapers – handy for so many things other than the obvious
5. Manual egg/batter beaters – whisks work, but the old-fashioned egg beater is hard to beat
6. Hoyle’s rule book for card games – lots and lots of entertainment in one simple book
7. Dice and dice games rulebooks – as above
8. Goggles – safety ones
9. A way to figure calendars into the future
10. Solar powered fencing – even if you don’t have livestock now, you may have it later. And it can be used as a “first line of defense” or used for parts for other uses
11. Canes – there will come a time when they are needed. Adjustable ones are better
12. Plant pots for starting seedlings. You’ll want various sizes
13. Metal rulers – because they last much longer. Different sizes
14. Rain gauge – for keeping track of rainfall
15. Barometer and something that tells you how to use it to get an idea of the weather
16. Candle molds and a double boiler for melting wax
17. Diaper pins – handy not only for the obvious but for securing lots of things
18. Kits to fix garden hoses – because you can stock 10 hoses but what happens when they break?
19. Cheesecloth – useful not just for cheese for all sorts of canning needs
20. Pea shellers, corn huskers, apple peelers and corers, etc. – all those “yankee tools” that our grandparents had but we no longer use.
21. Mimeograph machine and supplies – IF you can find one.
22. Chalk and blackboards. Blackboard paint isn’t a bad idea either
23. Goo remover aka Goo Gone
24. Eyeglass repair kits – they make handy little ones
25. Canoe – if you live near water or an inflatable raft if you’re not that close. If you get a canoe/raft, consider getting the big Duluth packs that outfitters use – they are waterproof (sorta) and good for packing
26. Oars/paddles – even if you don’t have one of the above, they can be handy for improvised rafts
27. Tire chains – if you live where it snows…
28. Swim goggles – not so much for recreational swimming, but for any time you might need to go into the water for whatever reason
29. Life preservers – if you need them, you need them
30. Reflectors and reflective tape
31. Pregnancy kits – I never see this on prepping lists, but it seems so basic… you want to know if you are so you can make sure to eat right, etc.
32. Neck and ankle braces
33. Canning funnel and jar lifter – often listed, but cannot have enough of these, in metal
34. Pack saddle for horses/mules
35. Liquid Smoke flavoring – my spouse swears by this stuff for nice flavoring
36. Powdered lemon and lime juice – an excellent way to store Vitamin C
37. Songbooks and simple instruments – for entertainment
38. Powdered buttermilk – useful for cooking
39. ClearJel canning starch – for canning pie fillings
40. Pet veterinary supplies – basic wound care is a must
41. Bottle corks of various sizes – for when you lose that bottle lid
42. Room thermometers
43. Bags/cloth to use to bag flowers for seed pollination
44. Clothesline and wooden clothespins
45. Clothes baskets that are actual baskets – they last longer and can be repaired
46. An inflatable kiddie pool – thousands of uses (okay, maybe I exaggerate, but useful nevertheless)
47. Lighter flints for refillable lighters
48. Fountain pens, inkwells and powdered ink – those Bic pens you stockpiled will run out eventually 49. UV window film – to help keep houses cool
50. Mailboxes – metal for all sorts of caches and other storage uses51. Small paintbrushes – handy for many many things besides just painting
52. Pet carriers – one for each pet
53. Canvas shopping bags – handy for so many things
54. Posthole digger, manual – but try to get all your fencing done before … these things SUCK to use
55. Stovetop waffle makers
56. Wind vane
57. Spare glass bottles of various sizes
58. Mop wringer
59. Manual juicers – glass or metal will hold up better than the cheap plastic ones
60. Measuring cups – metal with engraved markings. Painted on markings will disappear with time
61. Measuring spoons – metal with engraved markings. The commonly used plastic ones with painted on markings will break and fade
62. Jar openers – the type that lets you get leverage on the lid
63. Stovetop popcorn popper – ‘cuz if the SHTF and the grid goes down, so does the microwave popcorn you have in the pantry
64. Leather punch and knife
65. Disposable ear plugs
66. Mechanical pencils and spare pencil lead – see above about pens. Pencil lead takes up a lot less space than traditional pencils
67. Folding cloth camping chairs – entirely too useful and easy to store
68. Microscope and slides
69. Old time photographic equipment – could be a new business!
70. Manual typewriter
71. Paper cutter
72. Manual hair clippers – human and animal
73. Steam juicers – stovetop variety
74. Slingshot and ammo
75. Hard hats
76. Sewing measuring tapes
77. Velcro
78. Sewing patterns – better to have them now … especially easy to sew shirts/pants/coats/outerwear
79. Window insulation foam – for keeping warm
80. Disguised safes – the “fake book” kinds
81. Nicorette gum and quit smoking supplies
82. Tomato powder – another good way to store Vitamin C
83. Citric acid, pectin, alum and Pickle Crisp for canning
84. Straight or safety razor for male shaving
85. Rennet tablets for cheese-making
86. Veterinary wrap – useful for not just animals, but people too
87. Autoclave or something that functions like one
88. Dental mirror
89. Walkers and toilet risers for the elderly and don’t forget bedpans
90. Carry yokes – the old fashioned water carrying yokes
91. CLR cleaner – or other lime/deposit/etc remover
92. Locks – combination, keyed, and other types as needed
93. Moth balls, cedar balls, and smelling salts
94. China markers/grease pencils – these are great for marking containers with what is in them
95. Safety vests
96. Fly paper – stores decently and is really handy. Researching a way to make this stuff is also probably a good idea
97. Foam camping pads for under sleeping bags
98. Winter scarves, gloves, mittens – its easy to forget these when it’s not winter
99. Wind up clocks – how else are you going to keep time if the grid goes down?
100. Tow strap for vehicles
101. Black and brown paint – useful for camoflage, hiding things, and making makeshift showers plus a myriad of other uses.
101 things that you probably already own but will not want to overlook in a SHTF situation. Some of these things you may own, but may not be “longlasting” varieties – perhaps you want to invest in ones that will last when you next purchase them?
1. Hot pads – Replace any worn out or not very thick ones. Mitts are probably best
2. Matches
3. Playing cards4. Scissors – heavy duty ones that can be re-sharpened would be best
5. Sewing needles, thread, thimbles, and pins – never ever have too many of these
6. Pet leashes – get good quality leather leashes and collars – easier to repair
7. Pet bowls – metal ones will last longer
8. Shoe laces
9. Garden hoses – good quality ones are best
10. Garden trowels and hand shovels – again – high quality metal ones are best
11. Hand axe
12. Ratchet set
13. Allen wrench
14. Spools of twine
15. Cargo straps
16. Duct tape – obviously you can’t have too much of this!
17. Hammer – is yours in good shape?
18. Screwdrivers – did you buy a cheap set or good quality drop forged steel ones?
19. Flyswatters
20. Bottle openers – thick metal is best
21. Manual can openers – don’t go cheap with this
22. Dish clothes – heavy cloth that will last is best
23. Corkscrew
24. Brooms – are yours good quality straw or cheap plastic? Are they in good shape?
25. Straws – they make glass reusable straws, these would not be bad to have on hand
26. Ice chests
27. Kitchen timers
28. Rubber bands
29. Safety pins
30. Magnifying glasses
31. Mortar and pestle
32. Staples and stapler
33. Life preservers
34. Garden hose nozzles – brass will last longest
35. Fingernail brushes – sanitation will be important
36. Key chains
37. Hair rubber bands and barrettes
38. Erasers
39. Garden sprayer
40. Outdoor thermometers
41. Folding chairs
42. Hangers – wire will last a lot longer than plastic. Wood is also good
43. Ice scrapers
44. Wall hooks45. Windshield wiper blades
46. Aluminum foil
47. Safety pins – heavy duty
48. Eyedroppers of various sizes
49. Bobby pins 50. Rulers – metal will last longest
51. Three-in-one oil
52. Cargo straps
53. Nails, screws, bolts – making these by hand is a royal pain in the posterior.
54. Wheelbarrow – get a good quality metal or heavy duty plastic one
55. Twist ties – those bread/package ties will be useful – store them, don’t throw them away
56. Plastic bags – bread, ziplock, etc.
57. Maps – road atlases, road maps, etc.
58. Cotton balls – make excellent tinder as well as a thousand and one uses around the house
59. Note pads
60. Indelible markers (i.e. Sharpies)
61. Mechanical pencils
62. Dental floss
63. Pitchers – metal preferred
64. Goo remover (Goo-be-gone)
65. Scouring pads
66. Flower pots – various sizes
67. Vegetable peeler
68. Newspaper, old – keeping at least a couple of weeks old ones won’t ever hurt
69. Insect repellant
70. Sunscreen and aloe gel for when the sunscreen doesn’t work
71. Spare buttons
72. Nail clippers – both human and pet
73. Candle holders – metal or glass ones will last longer than plastic
74. Baby supplies – bottles, blankets, clothes, etc. If you’re like me, you still have baby stuff tucked away in your storerooms – even if you don’t have a baby after SHTF, you can always trade the stuff…..
75. Bicycles – are yours all set for hard use?
76. Metal garbage cans
77. Binoculars
78. Cloth napkins
79. Paper clips – not only useful for their normal function, but handy for other uses
80. Cold and hot packs – those lovely rubber bags
81. Lip balm
82. Utility knives – the kind that take the disposable blades or razor blades
83. Extension cords – indoor and outdoor
84. Air mattresses or cots – chances are good you’re going to have guests – where are they going to sleep?
85. Bay leaves – not just a spice, but useful to repel insects86. Cellophane tape dispenser and tape – get a heavy duty one
87. Paper bags and manila envelopes – handy for storing things
88. Rubber boots
89. Knitting needles – learn to knit! It’s a great survival skill
90. Toothpicks
91. Kitchen utensils – you want metal ones or wooden, not plastic.
92. Barometer
93. Duffle bags – waterproof and with shoulder straps are best
94. Spare pill bottles – keep old prescription bottles
95. Tabasco sauce – along with other such condiments
96. All those takeout condiment packets – make great barter items as well as being generally handy 97. Bag clips
98. Solar calculators
99. Board games
100. Dust pans – metal will last longer
101. Carmex (or other medicated lip balm)
There you have it. A couple of list that may get you kick started, if you haven't started already. Print this out and make a check list. Always feels good to see things get check off.
More to come soon. Next - a list of what justifies an emergency to be prepped for.
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