53 Everyday Items To Store for Emergencies

When it comes to preparedness, in addition to food and water – which are necessary to continue living life – there are certain items that we should be storing.

Just like with any of your preps, only store what you’re able to based on available space and budget.

I know we all want to be prepared the absolute best that we can be, but we also have to be realistic.

In saying all that, what other types of items should we be storing?

Look around at your daily life, what are you using?

You’ll most likely want to continue to use those items even during an emergency or disaster. Many of these items we take for granted because they’re usually so easily accessible.

Some of these items we may not use everyday, some might be seasonal or rarely used, but when we need and/or want them, it’s nice to have around. Especially during an emergency when going to the store may not be an option.

Just because it’s a crisis doesn’t mean we have to suffer. Prep the proper gear now, gain the proper knowledge and skills and we can continue to live our lives as normal as possible, even during a crisis.

Here are 53 everyday items to store for emergencies and disasters:

1. Toothpaste
2. Toothbrushes
3. Soap
4. No-rinse body wash
5. Shampoo
6. Hand sanitizer (you can also make your own)
7. Towels (a few extra is fine)
8. Lotion
9. Aloe vera gel (might also consider getting an aloe vera plant, too)
10. Floss
11. Eyeglass cleaners
12. Sponges
13. Bleach
14. Dish soap
15. Other cleaners: floor, toilet, bathtub/shower, windows, etc.
16. Q-Tips
17. Cotton rounds/balls
18. Shoes laces
19. Coffee filters
20. Razors
21. Tissues
22. Baby wipes
23. Antibacterial wipes
24. Apple cider vinegar
25. Over the counter medications
26. Batteries
27. Deodorant
28. Feminine hygiene products (tampons, pads, panty liners, etc.)
29. Paper towels (reusable paper towels are also a good idea)
30. Contact solution
31. Laundry detergent (you can also make your own)
32. Baking soda
33. Chapstick
34. Lighters/matches
35. Pens/pencils/notepads
36. Cash on hand ($20-100 or more)
37. Ziploc bags (reusable ones are a great idea)
38. Glue
39. Gorilla/duct tape
40. Bandana(s)
41. Paracord
42. Vitamins
43. Propane, charcoal or anything you might use for your BBQ
44. Entertainment
45. Medical gloves (nitrile gloves)
46. Bandaids and gauze
47. Isopropyl alcohol
48. Witch hazel
49. Socks and underwear
50. Blankets
51. Seeds
52. Manual can opener
53. Sewing kit

These are just ideas. You don’t have to store a ton of these items, even just a few extra might suffice.

If you’d like to learn alternatives to toilet paper, click here.

Store what you want and/or think you’ll need. Like I said above, look around your everyday lives and routines and make notes of the items that you use regularly or often enough that you’d like to have a good backup supply of.

Also, if you have children who are still in diapers or pull-ups, be sure to have plenty of disposable and cloth diapers and pull-ups.

There might also be specialized items such as any specific medical needs like extra batteries for your medical devices. Maybe you’re handy with tools, be sure to have plenty of manual tools, nails, screw drivers, etc. Or you may want to stock up on supplies to make things. Like I have a healthy supply of beeswax and wicks to make my own candles.

Get creative, make some notes and stock up a little at a time.