Practical Prepping Podcast – Episode 522
Title: Common, Everyday Items For Emergency Preparedness Uses
Hosts: Mark & Krista Lawley
Date: August 25, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of the Practical Prepping Podcast focuses on the resourcefulness and versatility of ordinary household items for emergency preparedness. Mark and Krista highlight how simple, everyday tools and supplies—often overlooked—can serve multiple vital roles in emergencies, from first aid to shelter construction, without the need for expensive or specialized gear. Their friendly banter and decades of practical experience shine through as they share actionable tips aimed at real-life scenarios, staying true to their motto: “No bunkers, no zombies, no alien invasions. Just practical prepping.”
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Philosophy of Practical Prepping
- Focus on Real-World Challenges: The hosts reiterate the importance of being ready for everyday disruptions—like weather events, power outages, and supply shortages—by practicing skills and creative use of what’s on hand.
- “The more you know, the less you have to carry.” – Running thread emphasizing knowledge and adaptability vs. accumulating gear.
2. Everyday Items & Their Emergency Uses
WD-40
- Rust Prevention: Essential for garden tools and equipment.
“It puts a light protective film on knives, saws, axes, garden tools... helps prevent that rust.” – Mark [02:57]
- Gunk Remover: Removes sticker residue, pine sap, tar from surfaces and vehicles.
“You spray some WD-40 on that bad boy and it’s gonna slide right off.” – Krista [03:36]
- Fire Starting: Effective as a tinder enhancer.
“You can just spritz a little bit down there and it just helps that flame catch… even if it’s damp.” – Mark [04:02]
- Cautions: Not a long-term lubricant for machinery/guns; highly flammable.
“You don’t want to hear click when you expect to hear bang.” – Krista [05:27]
Shower Curtains & Tarps
- Improvised Shelter: Simple to keep in the car for emergency bivouacs.
- Rain Catcher: Use to collect and funnel water.
“You can just fashion that in such a way that it catches the rain and funnels it down…” – Mark [06:09]
Steel Wool Pads
- Fire Starter: When touched to a 9-volt battery, ignites quickly.
“Just touch it across a 9-volt battery, give it a second, and it will flame up.” – Mark [06:31]
- Rodent Control: Stuff in small holes or vents to keep pests like mice and squirrels out of storage areas.
“It’s very abrasive… And it’s non-toxic.” – Mark [08:03]
Bandanas
- Multi-Use Field Gear:
- Cooling (wet around neck/head)
- Handkerchief, bandage, or sling
- Emergency tourniquet
- Dust mask
- Water pre-filter ("filters the crunchy stuff")
“You can just pour lake water right through it and it'll filter out some of the particles.” – Krista [09:06]
Aluminum Foil
- Cooking: Form pouches, line pans, or create impromptu cookware for campfires.
- Heat Reflector: Direct heat toward shelters.
“You can build some kind of a little wall... and use the aluminum foil there to reflect some of the heat back into your shelter.” – Mark [10:26]
- Compact Carry: Folded small for EDC (“everyday carry”) bags.
Coffee Filters
- Water Pre-Filter: Removes finer sediment than bandanas.
“Now it is slower… but it will filter finer.” – Mark [11:13]
- Straining Cooking Oil: Example—bacon grease filtration for reuse.
- Small-Item Storage: Carry spices, baking soda, or small items; tie closed with a bread twist or rubber band.
Plastic Water Bottles
- Hydration: Always keep spares in vehicles.
- With Water Filters: Attach Sawyer Mini or LifeStraw for safe drinking.
- Dry Goods Storage: Store seeds, nuts, small parts.
“You can store beans and rice in there if you want to.” – Mark [13:39]
Tin Cans/Metal Coffee Cans
- Field Cookware: Boil water or cook over open fire.
- Improvised Tools:
- Rocket stove (using multiple cans)
- Makeshift lantern
- Emergency shovel for small holes/latrines
“You use the tin can to dig a small hole...so that you can make a latrine and then use the paper towels in place of toilet tissue.” – Mark [14:47]
Heavy Duty Contractor Trash Bags
- Poncho: Emergency rain protection.
- Pack Liner: Keep clothes/gear dry inside backpack.
- Ground Sheet: Place under sleeping bag/tent.
- Water Collection: Funneling rain into containers.
“Practicality and emergencies generate inventiveness. Necessity is the mother of invention.” – Krista [16:15]
Super Glue
- First Aid: Emergency wound closure (“does pretty well for closing wounds”).
- Gear Repair: Patch tents, boots, or seal fraying ropes/webbing.
Plastic Wrap (Cling Film)
- Waterproofing: Wrap small gear, waterproof wound dressings, seal containers.
- Improvised Snow Boot:
“Mama would put bread wrappers on our shoes so we could go play in the snow.” – Mark [19:25]
Reusable & Disposable Grocery Bags
- Food Storage & Hanging: Hang food away from campsite to deter animals.
- Improvised Pillow: Stuff with leaves or spare clothes, cover for comfort.
“You can also make an improvised pillow with it. Stuff it with leaves.” – Mark [21:12]
- Creative Luggage:
“My dad and I used them for suitcases. We could pack for a week in a paper bag.” – Mark [19:52]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Bandanas as Water Filters:
“The crunchy stuff. The rocks, the sand, the shells. And at least it’s a good pre-filter…” – Krista [09:33]
-
On Using Trash Bags:
“You can make a bivvy with it...just make a little sleeping bag. It beats being out in the open.” – Mark [16:11]
-
On Resourcefulness:
“Sometimes you just have to look and say, what do I need to do and what do I have?” – Mark [16:57]
-
On Innovation:
“Practicality and emergencies generate inventiveness. Necessity is the mother of invention. And that is absolutely true when it comes to emergency preparedness.” – Krista [16:15]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- WD-40 Uses: [02:33]–[05:30]
- Shower Curtain/Tarp: [05:30]–[06:16]
- Steel Wool Pads: [06:16]–[08:10]
- Bandanas: [08:16]–[09:50]
- Aluminum Foil: [09:51]–[11:00]
- Coffee Filters: [11:00]–[12:32]
- Plastic Water Bottles: [12:39]–[13:43]
- Tin Cans & Coffee Cans: [13:43]–[15:09]
- Contractor Trash Bags: [15:09]–[16:57]
- Super Glue: [17:03]–[18:30]
- Plastic Wrap: [18:30]–[19:34]
- Reusable Grocery Bags: [19:34]–[21:44]
Final Thoughts
Mark and Krista wrap up by encouraging listeners to look for creative, multipurpose uses for common household items, underlining that preparedness is as much about mindset and ingenuity as it is about supplies. For their full expanded list and more resources, listeners are directed to the episode notes at practicalprepping.info/522.
“Stuff happens, stay prepared.” – Krista [22:29]