Every prepper knows that multipurpose items save space and money. Because of this, we stash things like salt, duct tape, vinegar, and paracord like they are going out of style. Here is another inexpensive item that you should add to your list of versatile preps: coffee filters.
Coffee filters are ubiquitous They are inexpensive, light-weight, and readily available. Heck, you can purchase coffee filters at the dollar store, Amazon, Costco, the corner grocery, and even on EBay.
35 Reasons Coffee Filters are Survival Multitaskers | Backdoor Survival
Now I will be first to admit that there are a lot of lists floating around with suggested uses for coffee filters. However, most include all kinds of uses that are nice, but irrelevant to the prepper. After all, if you are experiencing hard times or find yourself in a survival situation, do you really think you will care about preventing your fine china from chipping or making a quick yet adorable flower bouquet from your stash of coffee filters?
Following, you can find 35 very sensible reasons why you should include coffee filters in your survival kit and preparedness pantry.
35 Ways to Use Coffee Filters for Survival
1. Use in place of a rag or paper towel
Use a coffee filter as a makeshift rag. Unlike paper towels, coffee filters are lint free and take up very little space. They are also dirt cheap.
2. Keep insects away from food
When cooking or dining outdoors, cover your plates and bowls of food with coffee filters to keep the insects at bay.
3. Pre-filter collected water
When collecting water, you will likely find some sediment, leaves, twigs, or other undesirable matter in the water. Pre-filter collected water using a coffee filter, then process as you normally would, typically by boiling or by the use of a filtration system. This will remove the larger debris and help extend the life of your expensive filters.
4. Make a disposable plate or bowl
If you are bugging out or on the run, plates and bowls, even disposables, may be scarce. As well, they can be heavy and take up valuable real estate in your backpack. Dry foods can be eaten directly from a coffee filter bowl held in your hands. Heavier foods, even those that are moist, can be supported by a paper or plastic plate or bowl. When done, throw out the filter and your plate or bowl is still clean enough to use for the next meal. This saves cleanup time, and even more importantly, it saves water.
5. Keep small hardware items organized (continue reading)