A prepper’s guide to increasing the longevity of your preps
05/08/2020 / By Zoey Sky
Preppers are frugal, and one way to keep your preps affordable is by taking good care of your gear. You can extend the life of your gear by making small changes, such as handwashing your clothes or prepping food a certain way. (h/t to ThePrepperJournal.com)
Keep your tools in good working order for a long time by following the tips below.
Extending the life of your clothes
Using a washing machine to wash and dry your clothes can make them pill and wear out more quickly. To make your clothes last longer, handwash your clothes whenever possible. Making this switch is an eco-friendly way of doing your laundry.
Avoid using the dryer to minimize the wear and tear on shirt fibers. Instead, hang your clothes to dry when it’s sunny outside.
Before you throw old clothes away, alter it to give it a new look. For example, cutting off the sleeves of an old shirt or taking in the sides of an old top can produce a new piece of clothing for your wardrobe. Alternatively, you can make minor alterations if you own a sewing machine.
If you get stains on your clothes, treat them immediately. Most of the time, the sooner a stain is treated, the better chance you have of getting it out.
Never apply soap directly to a fresh stain because this can make the stain set in. Dab it with plain water if you’re not at home.
Extend the shelf life of food
You may need to spend a little to buy the right materials for food storage, but doing so is a worthy investment if you want to save more money on food in the long run.
Rinse fruits like berries in a vinegar and water solution before refrigerating them to eliminate bacteria that cause spoilage. Fruits decompose faster than vegetables, so store them in different drawers in the fridge.
Buy quality reusable food storage containers for different products and store leafy greens in cartons lined with paper towels to draw out moisture and keep them crisper longer.
Store milk in sealed glass jars to extend shelf life, and get washable cheese cloths to keep cheddar from molding after several days.
Keep your car in good running condition
Maintaining your car means performing regular and preventive maintenance on its engine and body.
Keep your vehicle rust-free for years by investing in rust protection for your undercoating and washing the underside of your car regularly. Wash your car every other week.
Note that your car needs to be washed more frequently if it accumulates dust and grime faster due to bad weather.
Maintain your appliances regularly
Do you own an older refrigerator? Take a dollar bill and close your refrigerator door on it. If the dollar pulls right out, change the gasket. (Related: Start collecting these items that practical preppers always keep around the house.)
This costs only $30 to $70 and all you need is a screwdriver and an Allen wrench. Doing this helps you’ll save on electricity and keeps your food fresher for longer.
Change the air filters for your HVAC system monthly. According to experts, you can do this less often in the winter, but it depends on several factors, such as if you have pets who shed.
Keeping up with monthly maintenance can save you a lot of money in terms of expensive future repairs. Maintain your appliances and your car and store food properly to save money and make your preps last a long time.
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Tagged Under: appliances, car repair, clothes, Collapse, Gear, home repair, maintenance, off grid, preparedness, prepper, prepping, prepping tips, protecting investments, self sufficiency, self-sustainability, shelf life, SHTF, survival, survival gear, survival skills, survival supplies, survivalist
