Non-preppers use coffee filters to make coffee, but preppers know that this useful item is a must-have for your survival stockpile.
If you’re looking for a firestarter or makeshift insulator, stock up on coffee filters and learn about this item’s many survival uses. (h/t to AskAPrepper.com)
Absorb spills
If you accidentally spill something and you have to clean it in a hurry, place a coffee filter over the spill and blot it up with a paper towel. A coffee filter is absorbent and it will help soak up the majority of the liquid, which can help prevent clothes or furniture from being ruined.
Alternative for rags and towels
You can use coffee filters to dust furniture or clean windows instead of rags or towels.
Apply calamine lotion
If you hate getting calamine lotion all over your hands, place a generous dollop on a coffee filter and use that to apply the lotion to your skin instead. The filter will help absorb any excess lotion so it doesn’t end up on your skin or clothes.
Bug protection
If you don’t have any bug spray, you can use coffee filters as a makeshift mosquito net. Poke holes in the center of the filter and wear it over your head like a hood. The tiny holes will keep bugs out while still allowing you to breathe comfortably as you work outdoors.
Cloth diaper liner
If you use cloth diapers for your baby, use clean coffee filters as a liner. Coffee filters are great liners because they’re cheap, disposable and biodegradable. Place a filter inside the diaper before putting it on your baby to catch solid waste. When the diaper is dirty, remove the liner and its contents, then wash the diaper.
DIY bandage
If you don’t have a first aid kit, use coffee filters as bandages or dressings for wounds. The absorbent nature of the filter will help to soak up blood and other fluids and the paper material will keep the wound clean and protected from infection.
Dry wet clothing
Place small wet items inside a coffee filter and leave them to dry in the sun or close to a fire to dry out. The coffee filter will help absorb some of the moisture so your clothes dry faster.
Emergency toilet paper
If you run out of toilet paper, use coffee filters as an alternative. Make sure you dispose of the used coffee filters properly.
Firestarters
Coffee filters soaked in wax are great DIY firestarters because they light easily and burn for a long time. To make coffee filter firestarters, soak the filter in wax, let it dry and store it in an airtight container. Keep the container in your bug-out bag or firestarting kit so you can start a fire quickly when SHTF.
Keep insects out of food
Place a coffee filter over the top of food supplies in your stockpile to keep insects out.
Keep produce fresh
Line a fruit bowl or vegetable crisper with coffee filters to help keep produce fresh longer. The filters will absorb excess moisture, which helps prevent mold and rot from setting in.
Keep soil in the pot
Use coffee filters as transient liners for pots full of soil. Line the pot with the filter before adding your soil and plants. When it’s time to transplant them into a larger pot or into the ground, the filter will prevent the soil from falling out as you work.
Make a cold compress
Soak a coffee filter in cold water to make a temporary cold compress and apply it to a bruise or insect bite to help reduce swelling.
Make a funnel
Prevent spills by using a coffee filter to make a funnel. Cut the bottom off of a coffee filter to make a funnel so you can easily pour powders or liquids into small containers.
Make an oil lamp
Use coffee filters to make an oil lamp if you need light. First, take a coffee filter and roll it up. Next, fill a glass jar with some vegetable oil and soak the coffee filter all the way inside. Light up the filter and you will have light for a few hours.
Make a pair of gloves
If you need gloves for chores that will make your hands dirty and you don’t have an extra pair, cut two holes near the top of two separate coffee filters large enough for your hands to fit through. Wear these “gloves” while finishing your task and dispose of them when you’re done.
Make tea
If you love tea but you’ve run out of tea bags, improvise by using a coffee filter instead. Place loose tea leaves inside the filter, then secure it with string or a rubber band before steeping it in hot water to make your tea.
Remove odor
If you spilled ashes on your clothing or in your hair, rub them away with a dry coffee filter. Coffee filters can also be used to remove unwanted odors like shoes. If you have a pair of shoes that are smelling funky, place one inside a shoe to absorb unpleasant smells. For a better result, add baking soda inside the coffee filters and secure it with a bit of string or a rubber band.
Pet food dish
If you need to feed your pet dog but don’t have a pet bowl on hand, use a coffee filter. Just place the food in the center and your pet should be able to eat without making too much of a mess. You can also use a coffee filter as a pet poop scooper. Bring coffee filters while hiking or taking your dog on a walk to the park so you can easily clean up their poop.
Portable food wrapper
If you’re going camping and you ran out of sandwich bags, use coffee filters to wrap your food in. The paper is strong enough to prevent leaks and tears, but lightweight enough that it won’t add too much bulk or weight to your bag.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
To pre-filter water you’ve collected
When SHTF, use a coffee filter to pre-filter the water you collected. Use coffee filters to remove large particles from water before running it through your main water filter.
Protect skillets from rust
Cast-iron skillets are prone to rusting while in storage. Place a coffee filter in the bottom of your skillet before storing it for a long time to protect it from rusting.
Sore throat relief
If you have a sore throat, soak a coffee filter in warm water, then lay it over your throat like a compress. The warmth and moisture from the compress will help to soothe your sore throat.
Sprout garden seeds
If you want to sprout seeds for your garden, soak the seeds overnight. Next, place them on a coffee filter moistened with water then fold up the filter and place it in a resealable baggie.
Store garden seeds
Once the gardening season is over, save some seeds from your best-performing plants so you can replant them next year. Place the seeds on a dry coffee filter and fold it up. Store the filter in an airtight container in a cool, dark place until spring arrives.
Temporary insulator
If you need a temporary insulator, use coffee filters to insulate your home. If you have a drafty window or door, cut a coffee filter to size and tape it over the opening to help keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
Temporary survival straw
Use a clean coffee filter to make a temporary survival straw so you can filter water on the go. Cut the top and bottom off of a coffee filter and roll it into a cone shape. Cut a small slit in the bottom of the filter and insert one end of a drinking straw. Suck the water up through the straw to drink filtered water wherever you are.
Trap cooking grease
Place a coffee filter over the top of a pan while cooking to trap grease splatters. (Related: Natural healing: Survival uses for coconut oil.)
Write notes
If you need to leave an emergency note and you don’t have paper or a notepad, get a coffee filter and write your message on a coffee filter. The thin paper is perfect for writing down notes or lists.
Disposable bowl or plate
If you don’t have water to wash the dishes, use a clean coffee filter as a plate. Make sure you don’t put too much food on them or they will collapse and make a mess as you eat. Stock up on useful survival items like coffee filters before SHTF so you can make firestarters or leave messages.
Watch this video from the Frozen In Time channel on Brighteon.com for more coffee filter survival hacks.
More related stories:
- SHTF essentials: 10 Survival uses for rubbing alcohol.
- 16 Survival uses of a leather belt.
- 7 Clever uses for potassium permanganate, a versatile survival tool.
Sources include:
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
