10 Everyday Items You Can Repurpose for Emergency Preparedness

A lot of people think getting prepared means buying fancy survival gear. While gear is necessary and there is some investment when it comes to preparedness, just like with most things in life, there’s also a lot of stuff that you have in your home that can be repurposed for various other reasons.

Here are 10 common items you may already have at home and how they can be lifesavers in an emergency.

1. Plastic Bottles

• Repurpose: Store extra water in the freezer, create handwashing stations, or cut into scoops/funnels.
• Bonus: Fill with water, freeze, and use as ice packs during power outages.

2. Trash Bags

• Repurpose: Emergency ponchos, makeshift shelters, wrap over backpack, or waterproof storage.
• Bonus: Double-bag them for an emergency toilet setup, even better if you use a 5-gallon bucket.

3. Coffee Filters

• Repurpose: Pre-filter dirty water before purification, use as makeshift paper towels, or even tinder for fire starting.

4. Duct Tape

• Repurpose: Temporarily fix broken gear, patch leaks, temporary bandage, make splints, seal windows/doors, or improvise rope.
• Bonus: Duct tape and a garbage bag = quick emergency shelter.

5. Aluminum Foil

• Repurpose: Cook food over a fire, create makeshift pans, signal for help, EMP protection, or wrap items for waterproofing.
• Bonus: Use it with cardboard to make a sun oven.

6. Bandanas or Old T-Shirts

• Repurpose: Bandages, tourniquets, dust masks, or water pre-filters.
• Bonus: Bandanas also work as makeshift slings or head coverings.

7. Glass Jars

• Repurpose: Store food, store random items, keep candles safe, or use as lanterns with a flashlight inside, grow sprouts.
• Bonus: Of course, great for preserving food through canning.

8. Dryer Lint

• Repurpose: Excellent fire starter when stuffed in a toilet paper roll or cardboard egg carton.
• Bonus: Mix with melted wax to make waterproof fire starters.

9. Baking Soda

• Repurpose: Clean dishes, deodorize, brush teeth, relieve insect bites, or put out small grease fires.

10. Ziploc Bags

• Repurpose: Organize small items in a bug-out bag, fill with water and place in freezer for extra water, fill with ice to use as ice pack, in an emergency you can grow sprouts in them.
• Bonus: Can double as makeshift gloves in a pinch.

Quick Checklist: Everyday Items to Repurpose

• Plastic bottles
• Trash bags
• Coffee filters
• Duct tape
• Aluminum foil
• Bandanas/old T-shirts
• Glass jars
• Dryer lint
• Baking soda
• Ziploc bags

How would you repurpose these items?

Final Thoughts

Preparedness doesn’t have to mean spending thousands on gear. Look around your house — you may already own items that could save your life in a pinch. The best preps are the ones that are practical, affordable, and within reach right now.

Action: Walk through your home today and gather at least 5 of these items into a box or bin labeled “Emergency Use.” You’ll be amazed at how prepared you already are.