The Multiple Uses Of The Lowly Garbage Bag
The Multiple Uses Of The Lowly Garbage Bag
Many people who are new to survival preparedness find themselves wondering how they can possibly prepare with the economy like it is. There are ways to use common household items for other than designated purposes. One of these items is the lowly garbage bag. You might be surprised as to the versatility of these plastic wonders.
NBC Suit Five large trash bags will produce a protective suit for most adults a bandana/scarf/ cloth and a pair of gloves will complete the protection needed during a Nuclear/Biological/Chemical assault where the goal is to keep particulates off your skin.
Dust and floating debris such as ash will be radiated if a nuclear attack occurs. Biological weapons also contaminate dust and some are heavy particles like talcum powder and hang in the air instead of falling or lifting with air currents. Chemical weapons are usually moist and work most effectively if they make contact with skin.
By placing one trash bag over chest one on each arm and leg and one over head covering face and head with scarf and wearing gloves a person stands a fighting chance in any of these situations. If you have duct tape you can improve your protection by taping the ends of the bags. When you are ready to enter your home/tent these items are removed carefully and discarded. Placing them all into a smaller kitchen trash bag will reduce the potential for cross contamination.
Water Stills Large black trash bags are great to use for solar collection of water. 2 large trash bags are needed. Dig a hole deep enough to hold some type of container then place a bucket bowl or other container in the center of the depression.
Loosely stretch one large garbage bag across the depression so that the center drops slightly towards the container in the bottom. Once the center has been determined cut a small hole that will be centered over the depression. Replace the bag over the container making sure the corners are fixed with posts sticks or stakes whatever you can to keep the bag in place.
Next the second bag is placed over the top and stretched taut. This provides the heating required to suck the moisture out of the air and into the bag which drips into your container.
Water Storage While there is some concern about leaching of harmful chemicals if water is stored in garbage bags the question remains: Would you choose to die of thirst or use a garbage bag to hold potable water?
Double line black trash bags place into pillow case fill until water is about 10 inches from the top of the pillow case take the top and fold side to side keeping the folds upright tie with a string fold over and tie again then tape. Place a larger
string/rope around the fold and hang. By hanging you take the pressure off the bags which keeps the water from leaking.
Rain Gear To make a poncho use 2 large trash bags and cut out a hole for your head in the center of the bottom of the one bag. Then cut out arm holes on each side of the bag; slip the bag over your head donning it like you would a shirt. Take the second bag and slit one side up to the corner then place over head and wear like a scarf.
Mattress Protection Underpads for ill elderly injured or small children will be important during survival situations where water will be a limited commodity. Placing a small piece of cloth on top of a trash bag under a person will provide a waterproof fluid containing area to change dressing and clean wounds saving on bedding.
Storage Black trash bags and unscented kitchen ones can be used to hold other items such as dry foods animal feed etc. Using grocery sacks to hold an assortment of dry foods or enough feed for your pets for a day are placed into trash bags. These are tied and suspended above the floor. This keeps them off the floor allowing for more space and out of reach of mice and other vermin.
By purchasing an extra box of large and small trash bags each month a large supply of multi use items can be put into preps. You will find in all my BOBs boxes containers trash bags of assorted sizes and scents. The multiple uses of the lowly garbage bag make them too valuable to not include in your preps. While “Approved” containers are good if all you have is 5 a month to spend on preps what good are they?
About the writer: C.L. Hendricks is a “jillofalltrades” and an expert in some. She writes on a variety of subjects for several websites including InvitingSmiles and Survival Homestead to name a few.
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