When leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints send volunteers to help after a disaster, cleaning kits in buckets are typically sent. We can learn from this wisdom and keep our own cleaning supplies on hand for everyday or emergency use. Our second prep challenge in April is to buy emergency cleaning supplies. You probably have some of these cleaning supplies in your home already.
Make an Emergency Cleaning Kit
After a disaster, you or your home could be covered in water, dust or debris and you will need to do some clean up. Make an emergency cleaning kit out of a bucket or cleaning caddy, or keep supplies on a shelf.
- 5-Gallon Bucket
- Rubber Gloves (2 Pairs)
- Trash Bags (25)
- Cleaning Rags (2)
- Dust Masks (not N95)
- Bar of soap
- Liquid Dish Soap
- General-Purpose Cleaner
- Liquid Bleach 64 oz.
- Powdered Cleanser 14 oz.
- Large sponge
- Safety goggles
- Long-handled scrub brush
- Scrub brushes, iron-shaped (2)
- Spray bottle (1 quart)
Buy or Make an Emergency Toilet and Shower
Emergency Toilet
Prepare to use an emergency toilet for times when the water supply is shut off. After a disaster, a toilet may not work. Food Storage Moms shares options on how to make your own emergency toilet. After reading this article, I now store kitty litter and trash bags under one of our bathroom sinks. www.foodstoragemoms.com/toilets/ . Or buy an emergency toilet.
Emergency Shower
Decide on how you will wash after a disaster.
- Buy a solar shower bag.
- Make one from a new garden sprayer.
- Make a shower from a plastic jug.
- Read Personal Hygiene and Handwashing After a Disaster or Emergency from the CDC which reminds us that, “Sometimes water that is not safe to drink can be used for bathing but be careful not to swallow any water or get it in your eyes.” And “avoid contact with flood waters if you have an open wound.” Something to think about.
I hope you decide that cleanliness is important for the safety of your family and begin to buy emergency cleaning supplies.
Best wishes and stay healthy,
Valerie Albrechtsen
The Food Storage Organizer
Purchase my food storage and emergency preparedness items in my Etsy shop.
