Buy once, use often: everyday items for emergencies you may already own
Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · 6 min read
Quick checklist
Quick checklist
0 of 7 doneEveryday items for emergencies, room by room
The best emergency items are things you use anyway. They are cheap, you know where they are, and they do not sit unused for years. This list is our practical view, built from the Be Ready checklist and common sense, not a test of any product.
In the kitchen
- Clean 2-litre drinks bottles. Rinse them, fill them from the cold tap, put the date on them and keep them in a cool cupboard. Our water storage containers guide covers bigger containers.
- Tins and packets. Food you already eat that needs no cooking, such as beans, fish, fruit, crackers and peanut butter.
- A manual tin opener. Test it on a tin today.
- A flask. An insulated food flask (Retailer link coming soon) keeps a hot drink or soup warm. If you know a storm is coming, fill it while the power is on.
- A washing-up bowl and kitchen roll. Useful for washing and for tidying up when the water is off.
- Reusable cutlery, plates and a bowl. They save washing water.
In the bedroom and living room
- Blankets, duvets, coats, hats, gloves and thick socks. Layers keep you warm in a power cut. See our guide to keeping warm.
- A hot water bottle. A hot water bottle with cover (Retailer link coming soon) gives warmth for a bed or a chair. Never use boiling water, follow the maker's instructions, replace a worn or old bottle, and keep it away from anyone who may not notice if it is too hot.
- A pillow case. It doubles as a bag for clothes and papers.
- A phone charger. Keep it where your phone sleeps.
In the bathroom and utility area
- Towels. They keep you warm and dry, and they block draughts under a door.
- Bin bags. A box of heavy-duty refuse sacks (Retailer link coming soon) lines a bucket for waste, keeps clothes dry in a bag and covers things outside. Keep them away from babies and small children.
- A bucket. Handy for carrying water and keeping a few things together.
- Rubber gloves. Useful for clearing up after a leak or a storm.
- Wipes and soap. Unscented wipes and soap cover washing when water is limited.
At the desk or in a drawer
- Pen and paper. For notes, messages and your contact sheet. Our guide to the emergency kit list shows where it fits.
- A torch. Even a basic one will do, with batteries that work.
- A rucksack or bag. The bag you already own can become your grab bag.
- Duct tape. A roll of duct tape (Retailer link coming soon) is a quick temporary fix for a broken bag or a torn bin bag. Never tape over air vents, airbricks or window trickle vents, because appliances need that air to burn safely.
What you do not need to buy
A lot of emergency shopping lists include things you can skip, because you already have a version of them.
- A second blanket, if you have a spare duvet.
- Water bottles sold as "emergency water", if you have clean drinks bottles.
- A new rucksack, if you have an old one.
- Lots of tins, if you have not yet eaten what is in the cupboard.
Buy once, use often
A few purchases are worth making because you will use them every week, not just in an emergency.
- A power bank. A 10,000 mAh power bank (Retailer link coming soon) charges your phone on a train and keeps it going in a power cut. Keep it charged.
- A lantern. A battery-powered LED lantern (Retailer link coming soon) lights a room in a power cut and works for the garden, the loft and camping.
- A flask and a hot water bottle. Both are used all winter, and both help when the heating is off.
Our budget emergency kit guide shows the buying order for about £25, and our guide to free preparedness actions lists what costs nothing at all.
What not to use
Some household items look useful but are unsafe in an emergency.
- Candles, which can be knocked over and start fires. Choose torches and lanterns.
- A gas cooker or oven for heating a room. Never do this.
- A barbecue, camping stove or generator indoors. They give off carbon monoxide, which can kill.
Do this today (free)
- Gather blankets, coats, hats and gloves in one place.
- Fill two or three clean bottles from the cold tap and date them.
- Put a torch, a pen and a phone charger by the bed.
- Find the manual tin opener and test it on a tin.
- Put a few bin bags in the kit box.
If you have £10, £25 or £50
These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.
- About £10: a flask or a hot water bottle, whichever you lack.
- About £25: add a torch and a roll of bin bags.
- About £50: add a power bank and a battery lantern.
Questions people ask
Can I use things from around the house instead of buying an emergency kit?
Yes, for a good part of it. Blankets, coats, clean bottles, tins, a phone charger, bin bags and paper and pen all do the job. You will still need a working torch, a manual tin opener and basic first aid. Put everything in one place so you can find it in the dark.
What household items can I use to keep warm in a power cut?
Layers, blankets, duvets, hats, gloves and a hot water bottle go a long way. Close doors to keep warmth in one room and pick the room you will use. Never use a gas cooker, barbecue, camping stove or portable heater for warmth indoors. They give off carbon monoxide, which can kill.
What can I use to store water at home?
Clean, food-grade containers are best, and tap water is the default. Washed 2-litre drinks bottles with screw tops work well for a start. Fill them from the cold tap, label the date and keep them cool and out of sunlight. Our water storage guide covers bigger containers and rotation.
Sources and further reading
Sources
firesidefolk.com/budget/everyday-items-for-emergencies · Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · Fireside Folk