as I was getting ready this morning I was shocked by the amount of product I used. One soap for my face another for my body, a shampoo and conditioner, shaving gel and razor, face cream, body cream, deodorant, toothpaste, floss, hair gel and q tips. A cleaner for my glasses and a nail file and don’t forget about the tweezers to get those stray hairs (damn those stray hairs!). All so I can go to my shop and work by myself! What I am getting at is that I have taken all these products for granted. I have enough TP to paper the house and canned goods to feed a family of 4 for awhile, but what about the extra’s? I never gave them a thought. I guess I have more shopping to do.
In a pandemic, NONE of us are going to be threatening any beauty queens for the crown.
wow, harsh. It was an observation, sorry to have posted.
missbliss, that looks like a good message to cross post to the “Preps you might forget” thread. All important things (well, except the shampoo, conditioner, and hair gel) that we might miss.
I just got back from hitting the dollar store again and this time it was a run for deoderant. something I didn’t think about just used. I think I gotta stop and think of this other stuff too. I haven’t met my good fairy lately so it’s up to me. LOLOL……I might miss this stuff and I know other people would too …….hahahahha
hmmm I kept picturing you all dolled up.. seemed great to me ;-)
Once I covered basic food and water, I also stashed away things like deod, shampoo, lotions, etc. While not a necessity, they sure make life more bearable. And if showering becomes a luxury, plenty of deod will come in handy. Don’t forget cotact solution if you have contacts, as well as extra toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste. And ladies, don’t forget those monthly necessities as well!
We all need to learn to live in Third World conditions maybe… :-)
Well, you know the old adage….when you look good, you feel good? Those things that many take as routine now, may seem like luxuries later on. Even a real bath or shower, for instance?(There are plenty of metrosexuals out there too, so I’m not talking just about women!) So I can see that it isn’t stretching it too much to prep in this area too, to make yourself feel better later on, if it is part of your normal routine now. If it makes you feel good, to present yourself in the best manner possible, even for no one to see but yourself, then more power to you. You will end up being a happier and more content person, regardless of the situation. Not to mention that I have read that it is important in stressful situations to try to keep as many normal routines as possible. JMHO
I can tell you the first thing to start driving you dingy after a hurricane is lack of a shower… I’d urge everyone to purchase a 5 gallon solar camping shower… spray bottles for water are good too for quick general use when the water is off.
I also remember from an earlier thread that teenagers (especially girls) may REALLY want certain things. You know how they’d “just die” (kidding) if they didn’t have that certain lip gloss? No sense in risking infection for a tube of L’Oreal lipstick, but try convincing a teentager that!
well I do have to admit that I’m not dressed without my perfume so I do go buy a new bottle of that, I feel better when I have it on. LOLOL…sorta like brushing the ole teeth can’t go without that either. I reckon it’s the little things that make a big difference. yup
Hey, under certain conditions, being able to get clean can be akin to having a religious experience. ;-)
Keeping skin from getting dry, cracked, and infected when you may not be able to access medical care is not vanity, and, goods you mentioned aren’t going to be any more available nor less expensive after a disaster, I imagine, so stocking up isn’t bad.
First, I think you may have misinterpreted Bird Guano’s post at 14:11. I don’t think it was meant to harsh.
Second, checkout - http://hotcouponworld.com/forums/index.php for tips on saving LOTS money on goods at CVS, Walgreens, or whatever is in your part of the country. I was drawn there by the prep pictures under “Prepping 101″ (posted in the pics thread) and as I looked around I discovered that some of these ladies have more shampoo and lotion then I have food and water. I’m not shopping for any of that stuff, but I can appreciate the dedication to saving money on Preps!
I’ve stocked all the hygeine items I need but after seeing some of those pictures I think it wouldn’t hurt to get a little more.
And a hot shower 5 days after a hurricane is ABSOLUTE HEAVEN!!!!!!!!
I remember that Lily once posted about buying some scented soap as part of her prep since it did so much to lift her spirits. I also remember another post that said that in Kosovo at times people were willing to bypass food for just a little of some of the things like deoderant or body products, that we take so much for granted. That got me to make a trip to TJ Max [again, I think this was suggested in Lily’s post] where I picked up some terrific bargains. Thank you Lily, wherever you are!
On some survivalist site, or was it here maybe, in the list of items for barter/trade, one of the most demanded things which were unavailable during the Yugoslav wars was Cologne.
Well, if we’re lucky enough to see this Christmas, how about treating oneself with some really nice French perfume (not the eau de toilette). You need so little, it will last a long long time, in a dark cool place, about two years, more for the best. I’d rather have that over all the deodorants of the earth!
Says she demurely with a happy smile after having looked at her full box of perfumes in the bathroom - now then, what a lovely idea for a Christmas gift for a basic prepper - Mr. Right, were are you, I know what I want this year!
MAinVA – at 16:18 - your post crossed mine! Ha, when I look at my perfumed bottles, I guess I must have been a prepper since I was a teen… Buy, stock, rotate. Yeah, I know how to do that!
I am stocking up on the little perfumed tea candles to light around the house - just as something special to have when the going gets tough.
You most definitely want to maintain good dental hygiene no matter what - bacterial infections via gums are ‘big’ in disaster situations.
Also, get some of that dry-spray shampoo - good when water supply is compromised.
I always considered myself a low-maintenance gal until I read the start of this thread and was nodding away ….
Wife and I lived on a sail boat for a while. Also lived on a deserted island in the South Pacific for a year or so. It doesn’t take long to learn what’s important and how little it takes to keep body and soul together.
TP is number one of tne list from the modern world, but most things we have become accustomed to can be substituted or done without. We learned simple things that I expect most folks will also learn if they keep their heads and not panic or go into depression.
Example: We learned to be be able to bathe with one quart of water and be CLEAN. Short hair for men and women is a real good idea. Easier to care for and when water is scarce a hair wash is a real luxury and having an itchy head for days/weeks is no fun.
The point I’m trying to make is that as long as we have sufficient food, water, warmth, and can keep a possitive attitude, most people can survive well enough for even extended periods of time without major difficulty.
It’s good to see some folks are looking around and discovering how our normal lifestyles are tied in with the modern world. Humans have basic needs and once these needs are met (especially when there’s no choice) all the frills we’ve become used to fall by the wayside. Make sure you have the basics on hand and then add some goodies to make life at least somewhat more pleasant. My wife and I discovered how creative we could be when we had to be. You will also.
Security is not having everything you think you need. Security is knowing how much you can do without.
missbliss no worries.
Stock up on all your toiletries. You might as well feel clean if you have to SIP.
Every day I think of something common that I take for granted that I can easily run to the store to get 24/7 at the moment.
Band aids, scotch tape, staples, tooth picks, nuts and bolts, nails, flea soap for the dog the list goes on and on. Simple car items like a fan belt or air filters would be a good idea too.
Put aside some good booze and some nice wine and some treats like chocolates, mixed nuts, popcorn or what ever else you think you might crave during shortages or while SIP.
missbliss - I have a list of categories that is now several pages long and part of it includes hygiene. I’ve alternated purchasing foodstuffs (today it was canned goods), then household products, then toiletries, and so on. Keep on prepping!
Desert Dan - Loved your list. Once I’ve finished with the necessities, I’m going to splurge on the things you mentioned as well as my own serious addiction - murder mysteries. Is there a 12-step program for that?
Sorry, that was me above. I don’t know what happened. (Refrain from Twilight Zone playing in the background.)
I, too, have prepped toiletries. But if it comes down to it, I know I can ‘make do’ with just one soap.
When backpacking one minimizes weight wherever possible. So, I’ve gone for fairly extended times with one tiny bottle of green ‘camp soap’. It’s bath soap, shampoo, dish detergent, and laundry detergent. That is now the one soap in my bug-out-bag. You can find it in the camping/outdoor section of many stores.
Yesterday at a local store for critically ill patients, I found some no water shampoo and low water bath products. They were the same stuff sold on the web, but cheaper and no shipping!
History Lover, I have two large boxes of books — most of them historical fiction, adventure, thriller and mystery novels — saved for SIP. I got them dirt cheap early this Spring at the library book sale. They are having another on on my birthday, Oct 14th, and I will be first in line at the door!! Part of my new level of prep this week was getting LED book reading lights and additional batteries. I do not consider either the books or the reading lights as “extras” — they are part of my “preserving mental health” prep.
MAinVA - You are my kind of prepper!
A hair tip for ladies. Back in 1900′s what did women use to “set hair”? It was sugar water. One large glass of water, comb, and add about 3 tablespoons of sugar mix well. If you need more hold add more sugar.Roll hair, dry and comb out.This was told to me by my GreatGrandMother.I didnt believe her…I did try it once and it does work!
Wasn’t supposed to be a harsh comment.
Satire is a lot art form apparently.
Just an observation.
Anybody see 1900 house on BBC ?
A good primer.
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is lotion. Not that this is a luxury item, if you are using alcohol based cleanser it will dry your hands and lead to rough, dry, cracked hands. This is a great way to get other infections. Get a little (generic) vaseline to relieve those problems. It is wonderful for lips, face, bottoms etc. That is what people used before WWII.
Bath and Body Works gives a coupon each month for a free product like shampoo, soap, moisturizer with purchase. If you’re nice, sometimes they will give you more than one coupon. It has let me prep lots of great items for free. I’m not affiliated with them in any way, other than the sales people know me by now!
missbliss At first I wanted to say you ARE high maintenance but then I got to looking at what I use everyday…..Now I will keep my mouth shut and go back to my corner.
Folks, just a quick reminder that smelly stuff like scented soaps and deoderants will draw biting insects … mosquitoes especially.
I’d go for as much unscented preps as possible.
It won’t help to pour a ton of bugspray on yourself if the bugs are still being attracted to your shampoo and soap. <shrug> Down in the south one of the first lessons you learn is during the wet season (mosquito high season) you don’t step outside with the smelly stuff on unless you want to qualify as a blood donator. <grin>
Lotion is a great suggestion, and I’ve already bought a couple of big bottles of Oil of Olay Quench, a current favorite - it even keeps my heels from cracking in the winter.
sugar water on my hair?????? sorry but I draw the line, the ants are too prolific around here, sure don’t need to wake to ants in hair. whoooooo, and my hair is to my waist, I just hate the thought of cutting it off, have had long hair mmost of my life, so think I’ll wait and see how much trouble it turns into before doing anything drastic. I usually wear it up in ponytail with scrunchies and bows. depends on how I feel. and yea I braid it a lot. hope I can keep it. LOLOL…I do have a cabinet full of shampoo and conditioner and lots and lots of lotions. and yes perfumes…hahahhahahaha we women know how to face danger, yup…..:)
guess what I’m tryin to say is , I am not goin to return to caveman and cavewomen days, it hopefully won’t get that bad…….I pray a lot…….LOLOL
Lady Biker, my grandmother who died when I was in Jr High, was in her 80′s and had long grey/silver hair down to her calves when she died. She would wash it, towel dry it, then start braiding it and eventually would get it to where she could drape it over her shoulder and finish braiding it as it lay on her chest. When she reached the end, a little rubber band caught the ends, then with a flick of her wrist, she’d whip that long braid up and over and around her head twice, then tuck the end in, and secure it with those big old tortoise wavy granny hairpins. It was a process that I’ll never forget watching — but OH what a chore. She’d had that long hair all her life.
We have a year or more of most personal care items that we regularly use. In addition, we have several years of basic bar soap on supply (it stores well and is not something I want to rush to learn to make myself).
For those that would like to do a shower in the absence of electricity - you may want to consider buying a garden sprayer (the kind with a tank and hand pump - with a wand sprayer). You boil some water… mix this with some cold to get it “just right” in the tank … and then use the hand pump to get the pressure established… and voila!… you have an instant shower using the wand opened to the maximum spray. Using this allows you the luxury of a shower - but uses very little water. You should buy a new one and never use it for garden chemicals. You do have to occassionally pump to get the pressure back up on the tank - but I have used this myself and found it a very good substitute. If you were sheltering in place, you could just use this in your existing shower - giving privacy and drainage.
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