What’s Your Most Overlooked Prep Item?

[PrepperLinda65]

Everyone talks about food, water, batteries, but there are a few items I rarely see on lists that have been game-changers in my own prepping. For me, it’s quality feminine hygiene supplies and incontinence products—things you may not personally need, but someone in your group might. I learned the hard way during a regional blackout years back that nobody else had even thought about it, and stores were cleaned out quick.

I also keep a stash of sturdy work gloves and backup reading glasses. Not the most glamorous

 

[GarnetDusk]

Totally agree on the gloves—easily forgotten but irreplaceable. I’d add good-quality needle and thread, too; a simple rip can become a big issue fast. Anyone else pack small sewing kits?

 

[BlueMarigold]

Toothbrushes and dental floss are always at the top of my “easily forgotten” list. You can rig together a lot of things in an emergency, but good oral care is tough to improvise, and dental pain can really make life miserable fast. I stash extra brushes, toothpaste, and plenty of floss (which has come in handy for everything from gear repair to tying up plants, too).

Also, people overlook soap—plain old bars, not just hand sanitizer. You need it for body, dishes, laundry, whatever. Canning extra bars is so much easier than trying to whip up homemade in a pinch.

One more thing: paper and pencils. In a long-term situation, you might need to keep notes,

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

Something I hardly ever see mentioned is lotion or skin salve, especially the really thick unscented kind. When you’re washing hands more, working outside or dealing with stress, your skin just takes a beating. Dry, cracked hands can lead to infections—which is the last thing you want if medical help’s not readily available. I always throw in a couple tubes of the stuff in my kits, along with a jar of homemade salve from calendula and beeswax.

And don’t forget nail clippers! Sounds basic, but if you’ve ever had a bad hangnail or split toenail while wearing work boots for days, you know how fast it can get ugly. I actually keep a pair in the car and all my go-bags now.

Love the mention of extra writing supplies, too. I use a little spiral notepad for tracking meds, supplies used, even