My Food Storage Deals: Storing the 'Extras"

Storing the 'Extras"

>> Saturday, August 8, 2009





People ask me what 'extras' (nonfood items) I find useful (or necessary) to store in my storage. I am not sure I have a complete YEAR supply of these items, but these are a few of the necessities I think are important to keep well stocked in your food storage:

*Toilet Paper (what would we do without this???)
*Laundry detergent (I store the liquid soap and a couple big tubs of the el-cheapo powder stuff you can buy 20lbs. for a few bucks--this would be my TRUE emergency soap)
*Hand soap (liquid, bar, sanitizer)
*Paper Towels
*Toothpaste and toothbrushes
*Shampoo & Conditioner
*Deoderant
*Women's sanitary products (is that what you would call those?)
*Bandaids and other basic emergency/first aid supplies
*Basic cleaning supplies (to sanitize your house in case of an emergency/pandemic, etc.) Bleach being one of the most important.
*Extra medication and vitamins (basic pain relievers, fever reducers, antacids, etc. are all good 'basic' medicines that would be good to have in case of an emergency--not to mention medication you need for more serious illnesses)
*Candles
*Batteries & Flashlights
*Warm Blankets (in the case the power went out in the winter for a long period of time)
*Gasoline (if you have a generator--you can legally store 30 gallons on your property)
*Propane (in ALL shapes and sizes--small canisters, extra BBQ propane)
*Butane (for my small butane stove)

I am sure I forgot several items, but these are some basics that I don't think I could do without in an emergency. If you can think of others...post them in the comments :)

Posted by Shandra at 10:02 PM
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14 comments:

grandma to 16 August 9, 2009 at 10:01 AM  

Loved your blog. Want to have it continually - great ideas!

Stacy August 9, 2009 at 11:18 AM  

I wanted to let you know that I love your site! It's wonderful! I wanted to mention that if you live in an area like we do that has...ummm...cockroaches...store your paper goods in the large totes. Cockroaches like to eat your toilet paper ,etc. (nothing worse than grabbing a large package of toilet paper and finding them crawling around inside with eggs there too!)Yuck!

onlymehere August 9, 2009 at 7:57 PM  

I now you can use toilet paper for this but I also stock up on Kleenex. When I go to the doctor for my yearly medication refill to he gives me a prescription for burn cream. I keep and store slings that we've gotten when the kids had broken arms, splints for hands and feet, etc. I also have some flour sack towels that can be used for slings in a big emergency. Just ideas that you might like.

Juli August 12, 2009 at 3:21 PM  

Do you not worry about mice? I have 2 cats, but sometimes mice still do get in....

Adhis August 14, 2009 at 8:48 AM  

Where is your propane stored? We bought an extra tank of propane and then realized we have no place considered "safe" to store it. Fortunately, the store let us return it. After reading stuff online, I became a little paranoid about even storing our small liters. Also, where do you store your gasoline?

Other things I store are:
~ Charcoal briquettes (good for dutch ovens and cardboard box ovens)(no combustion risk like other fuels)
~ Lint (from my laundry room for kindling)
~ Matches and candles
~ Because I wear glasses and contacts, I have an extra pair of each in my 72-hour kit and also a 6-month supply of contacts and solution in my emergency storage.
~ Dish soap and sponges
~ Paper plates (easy way to stretch out your water supply if you need to)
~ Cosmetics (not a huge supply, just an extra tube or two of basic foundation, some eyemakeup/liner, etc. I have heard several women before in emergencies and long-term homeless situations that had wished to feel and look "like a woman again.")
~ Pet food for the dog
~ Garbage bags

Bonstergirl August 18, 2009 at 7:55 PM  

Awesome blog. You have lots of good information here.

Also, in response to the commenter who mentioned splints, slings, and things, you can cut up clean, old sheets into big squares. Then you can fold them into triangular bandages. They can be used for slings, or as part of a make-shift pressure bandage, or just a bandage to hold on a dressing.

Natalie Que August 20, 2009 at 2:27 AM  

Hey Shanda! Just watched a couple of videos, what you're doing is so great! This is really exciting, many people are benefiting from your hard work of figuring this out. You have a great way of communicating this in a way that makes it seem easy, kudos!

If you are interested, send me an email. I work for Shelf Reliance and I'm sure they'd be crazy not to send you some samples! I'd just need your address. I see from your news clip you're in Herriman. That's where I lived before I moved and loved it!

Natalie Que August 20, 2009 at 2:54 AM  

Did I spell your name right before? I hate this approval thing {though it is necessary!} but I can't see my comment to see if I spelled it right or if this was even the post I left the comment on! Bahh! Well, sorry if I didn't Shandra!

Shandra August 21, 2009 at 10:34 PM  

Thanks..I do love Shelf Reliance and we have been working with one of their owners to figure out ways to help our readers enjoy the wonderful products they have to offer. You are welcome to email me at Shandra@dealstomeals.com (I couldn't find your email on your blog) and I would love to chat about more ideas/details with Shelf Reliance. Thanks!

Anonymous August 27, 2009 at 9:31 AM  

As an alternative to taking up precious storing space for feminine hygiene supplies, people may want to consider a menstrual cup which costs $35-40 for a good quality one and can be reused. It's far more efficient from a cost/storage/environmental approach. http://bit.ly/14ZuOV

Adhis August 27, 2009 at 10:14 AM  

I've heard of the Diva Cup. I'm glad there's an alternative for other women, but as for me: Oh, hell, no!

Anonymous November 7, 2009 at 2:12 AM  

Flour sack towels can be used for sooo many things. In particular, Flour sacks! LOL If you find yourself donating goods to the less fortunate, a few quick stitches makes you a sack they don't need to return to you. You have given them a bag of beans, grain, etc, and a useful piece of fabric.
Also, I store spare toothbrushes and disposable razors.
Instead of masses of candles, which burn down all too quickly, I store oil lanterns. Wall-Mart and Hobby Lobby have them, and the oil.

Rachael November 16, 2009 at 2:25 PM  

Just so everyone knows. . .you may want to check your home owners insurance policy. Many will not cover a house fire if they find ANY type of gasoline, propane, etc. Even if it didn't cause the fire. I was shocked to hear this! Just something to look into. :)

trooppetrie January 9, 2010 at 5:17 PM  

i just found your blog and love it. just out of curiousty do you make your own laundry soap. It cost me 18 cents a galon. for fabric softner I take one thing of our favorite fabric softner and pour into a bucket, then i refill the container twice with water. add small sponges. every time i run my dryer i throw a sponge in and i promise it works as well

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