Just wanted to know if anyone of you have thought of this. How many items do you use everyday that you have to purchase from a store because you don't know how to make your own? When stores first became popular, to supplement people's needs, there were only about 200-300 products made...now there are thousands of products. That is a huge increase and unfortunately it means most people do not know how to make these products themselves anymore. Although some products are just for beauty etc. that could be done without.
If you shower when you wake up chances are you use body wash/soap, shampoo & conditioner.
Then at the sink you use toothpaste, mouthwash, face soap
Also while in the bathroom you probably used toilot paper
Women have other special products they use
So that is at least 6 products and you haven't left the bathroom yet! lol What are you going to do when these products are no longer available?
What will you use to wash your clothes when laundry soap doesn't exist anymore? What cleaners will you use to clean your belongings/living area when there are not any left? What will women use when they have their periods each month? What will you blow your nose on when there is no more kleenex (especially when you have a cold and do you have a replacement for medications)? What will you clean up spills/messes with when you are out of paper towels?
As far as your meals go...do you know how to make bread? Flat breads? Crackers for soup? Bisquits? Do you know how to use rice for flour when you run out? Do you know how to cook from scratch or only from a package? Do you know how to mend clothing? Darn socks?
Just wondering if any of you are preparing for this, if you have plans for the replacements of these items that won't exist in a SHTF world, it is not all just about what guns you need and what to put in your bags...it is about how to survive in your homes when it is not yet time to run to the forest and hope you will make it there. How will you get by without a store supplying your needs? When there is no doctor/medicine to make you feel better ...and perhaps we should all get to a dentist and have any dental work required done before SHTF and there are no dentists! Just something to think about.
Excellent questions!
In the bathroom, rags (old clothes ripped up) for toilet paper (don't flush - washed to re-use).
Make your own deodorant, laundry soap, hand soap which can likely be used to wash your hair in the rainbarrel ( 'recipes' thanks to Anitapreciouspearl @ http://adventures-in-country-living.blogspot.ca/2012/06/going-homestead-hippie-home-made.html ) : a new plunger in a five gallon bucket makes a fine washing machine.
Womens menstral 'cup' product http://www.keeper.com/ or simply washable 'rags' just for this purpose.
Kleenex - use washable hankies. Your head over a steaming pot still works for a head cold. And many herbal remedies are right in our own neighbourhoods.
Paper towels - rags.
Start making meals from scratch NOW - it's really very simple, but it just takes some planning and time.
You should accumulate sewing supplies like needles, thread, and scissors - and learn how to sew/mend by hand NOW.
Great answers! Now, ...is everyone preparing for this? or not really...it will be easier to implement these now as PrepHer said rather than when crisis hits! I have listed some homemade recipes/supplies on here and will continue on as time permits
I've tried my hand at darning holes in socks and jeans, (with limited success). Frankly, with the cost of replacements it is just not worth it. I've researched how products like baking soda are made and where natural sources of salt can be found in Alberta. I'm not quite ready to stop using toilet paper because if the SHTF I may have to. I'm prepared to adopt washable rags and hankies but don't see the value in making that adjustment just yet. Igsbrooks, I really liked your recipe for laundry detergent and will keep a copy on hand in emergency. I prep in case Pandora's box is opened, yet am hopeful that it will not be. Really, I am very hopeful for Canadians as a whole. I think we have a great thing going here. I prep because I think most people agree with me that things are pretty secure; and that in situations like these, the majority of folks are caught flat footed when things suddenly go to hell. I don't want that to happen to us.
Needs must when the devil drives.
I've tried my hand at darning holes in socks and jeans, (with limited success). Frankly, with the cost of replacements it is just not worth it. I've researched how products like baking soda are made and where natural sources of salt can be found in Alberta. I'm not quite ready to stop using toilet paper because if the SHTF I may have to. I'm prepared to adopt washable rags and hankies but don't see the value in making that adjustment just yet. Igsbrooks, I really liked your recipe for laundry detergent and will keep a copy on hand in emergency. I prep in case Pandora's box is opened, yet am hopeful that it will not be. Really, I am very hopeful for Canadians as a whole. I think we have a great thing going here. I prep because I think most people agree with me that things are pretty secure; and that in situations like these, the majority of folks are caught flat footed when things suddenly go to hell. I don't want that to happen to us.
Here a friend of mine from Quebec teaches how to darn socks using a light bulb ( in place of a sock egg) incase there are no more socks on day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2CtC9QeTKr8
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I bought the wife enough female products for what she estimates as 7 years. Tp for 3 years, 40 toothbrushes and 16 tubes of paste, 900 loads of laundry det. Those are luxuries I want to have. If this lasts longer than that I do not expect to see many people around me. I have not gone out on a date or supper with the wife (yes even bdays and anniversaries) in 3 years. We are not rich but allocate accordingly.
Wow...3 years? All your funds going towards prepping? You sure you can't have a date? I have posted toothpaste recipes and cleaning/laundry recipes on here in order to save people money. I have to buy more toothbrushes! Thanks for your post Gravlore!
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looks like soaps and toiletries will top the lists. Homemade soap is great, but we had better learn how to get lye from wood ashes. TP is makeable, but you need something to soften it up. Most recipes I have found call for hand lotion. I wonder if aloa would do the trick?
we're also working on the toiletries stockpile... personal use and bartering potential perhaps?
I've printed off lgbrook's recipes but now have to learn what a Borax is and if he comes from a friendly planet or not ❓
Dang,
You should find "Borax" in the laundry supply aisle of the grocery store or Walmart. Borax has been around since the 1800's for cleaning clothes.
Not sure if Borax comes from a friendly planet, but I bet it is a clean planet. 😆
Mountainman.
I thought for sure it was a Kevin Spacey character... would have been nicer if Kevin would have shown up to do my laundry for me. Oh well...
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Wow...3 years? All your funds going towards prepping? You sure you can't have a date? I have posted toothpaste recipes and cleaning/laundry recipes on here in order to save people money. I have to buy more toothbrushes! Thanks for your post Gravlore!
Not all of our funds go to prepping but we don't really miss going out. Here you are shund upon for not tipping someone who plain out sucks. So we feel that they really do not want our money, besides I can buy 1.5kg of tilapia fish for the cost of 1 meal out, and the wife loves my cooking more than going out. After the first few months we never missed going out. A little fact is the last movie we went out to see was Book of Eli.
Your recipes look great and I am sure to look at them and print them. We go for walks and build things. That to us is a date and a hobby. $50 dollars to go out to a good meal or $50 toward our set of new LMF infantry 2 knives. We made our choice 🙂
I still haven't seen that movie! lol...We are home bodies too!..A big date for me is when we get a french vanilla from Tim's and go out in the country to star watch! My husband is my bud...he will even bake with me if I ask nicely! lol
we're also working on the toiletries stockpile... personal use and bartering potential perhaps?
I've printed off lgbrook's recipes but now have to learn what a Borax is and if he comes from a friendly planet or not ❓
Borax is cheap to buy I think. We used it to kill ants near the house. Baking soda is good too. We have 200 rolls from costco that are individually wrapped for that. We also bought 60 litres of sunlight when it went on sale and we save our baby food jars to put it into as a bartering item. Sanitation is cool haven't you heard?
lol Dang! You are hilarious...great idea about the baby food jars! Smart and funny! lol bet your wife appreciates that sense of humor...lol