Things that must be stored with your food:

[opsec]

Some items that people forget about when storing food are toilet paper, soap, feminine hygiene products, toiletries (deodorant, etc.).

Toilet paper. Do an experiment and only use one particular roll of toilet paper and guage how long it takes you to go through the whole roll. I have gone to the extreme of counting the individual squares that I use and working out an average rate of use. I used that to calculate my years supply of toilet paper.

Same thing with deodorant. I used a laundry pen and marked the date I started using a particular item and note the date when I get the last use out of it.
 
I surprised myself when I kept track of how much liquid hand soap I go through. I go through about a gallon and a half per year of that stuff.

Toothbrushes/paste, q-tips, etc.

[Bidadisndat]

Good point, Opsec. I've done similar: When opening a bag of rice, sugar, flour, laundry powder, t.p., etc., etc.,  I write the date of opening in a ledger. We've been seriously prepping for 9 months now, and have developed an awareness as well as a record of exactly what we use, and how much. This not only helps us to plan future purchases, but enables us to work out how to take the best advantage of items we find on sale, (which has also translated into some real savings for us).
We have mainly built up our stores on the basis of buying two replacements for each one item that is used from the pantry. The exception is when I find something on special - e.g: canned tomatoes @ 20¢ ea, (when I grabbed a dozen cases). I then adjust my preps budget accordingly.

[Alaskan]

 We do basically the same thing as far as marking every can with date of purchase and put a piece of duct tape on every 5 gallon bucket with content and date of purchase.
 We buy large "family packs" of meat and rewrap them with content and date on them before they go to the freezer.
 Havn't got to the point where I've started a ledger, but sounds like a good winter project.
 My Mrs. built a fire under me yesterday and we cleaned the garage. I will be able to park in there once again.
 The stuff you find, didn't realize we own 4 tents and 3 complete sets of tires for our trucks.
..............................Alaskan.....Dennis

[Lady Lilya]

Some items that people forget about when storing food are toilet paper, soap, feminine hygiene products, toiletries (deodorant, etc.).

I've been trying out the Diva Cup.  It is good for 2 years, so it says.  I am sure it could be used longer in a crisis.  I find it works very well.  There are other brands on the market, but this is the one i heard of first.

[Dame]

A few super absorbant individually wrapped sanitary napkings double nicely for reasonably sterile wound dressings in an emergency if you do not want to be using up sheets etc.  And plain yardgoods flanelette packaged in brown paper for a whatever you need, blanket, receiving blanket, diapers, draw sheet, bandages, water strainer, impromto clean table, etc is a handy and flexible item.

[MountainMeg]

Don't forget the can opener!     Couldn't resist, sorry.  But I did stock up on a few extras in case mine breaks or I need a trade good.

Laundry detergent, bleach, first aid, OTC medicines. 

Clothing!  I have been storing extra clothing for the kids in a few sizes.  I have them sorted in tubs.  My daughter was quite pleased when she informed me (20 mins before school) that all her shirts were too small/tight.  I brought up the tub in the next size and she was ready to go.  For hubby and I, I pick up jeans, jackets, sweaters and heavy duty shirts when I find them.  I also picked up basic patterns when JoAnn's has a 99 cent sale so I can make a shirt, pants, jammies, etc if needed.

[oldsoldier]

Don't forget the can opener!     Couldn't resist, sorry.  But I did stock up on a few extras in case mine breaks or I need a trade good.[/quote
 
 MM believe it or not almost 75% of the people I've talked to or helped set up their emergency supplies and or BOB,  DID NOT remember to add a canopener. Most said since they mosy likely will be at home they would use the one ( electric) they already have. When I asked them what about when the power goes out? ( Deer in the headlights blank look) Most people forget many important items. Here are some I've found people tend to overlook. Anyone feel free to add to the list.

 Manual can opener(s)
 Toothbrush/paste  you can buy them yhat has the toothpaste in the handle ( lasts for about 50 uses)
soap/shampoo/ deoderant
feminine ptoducts
extra/spare socks
something to cook food IN
something to start a fire with ( matches, lighter, flint, steelwood& 9v battery)
utensils to eat with
 It's suprising what people forget. I hadn't thought about a ryr glass repair kit until recently.

[oldsoldier]

sorry got ahead of myself and was trying to type to fast. last line of post should have read eye glass repair kit NOT ryr glass.....

[opsec]

On that note, those eye glass repair kits that you see for $1.99 at grocery stores often do not have the size screws that you need. I found that out experimentally. My solution: I went in for new lenses and while there I asked for a few extra screws which would fit my glasses and which they happily gave free of charge to a paying customer.

If you have to, you can also put knots in a length of nylon fishing line, pull it through the screw hole in the lens frame or ear piece, and then hold a match or lighter up to it and basically glue your glasses back together.

[darkdwarf]

Might want to store a years worth of writing matterials also. Never know when you may need to make a list or even use them as barter items. Speaking of barter, why not get a big pack of bick lighters, matches, or what ever for bartering also? Maybe a number of P-51 can openers? 

[Beeherder]

hand held knife sharpeners (more than one)

[Ozark Lady]

Have you considered... what if things do not return to normal after a year?  What if it doesn't return after 2 years?

What did the earlier generations do about... umm personal hygiene?

I remember my grandmother explaining to me, that they had a laundry yard, that had a privacy hedge around it.  Here they hung up... used bathroom products after laundering them.  You heard that right, they had toilet cloth and sanitary pads of cloth, that had to be properly cared for and cleaned.  They washed them as soon after use as possible, so that the sun could bleach them all back white.  My grandmother was born in 1910, so I guess that was just the way of life to them back then.  She used baking soda on everything... household cleaning, laundry, and personal hygiene, it deodorizes...

So, don't forget to stock up some... fabrics for difficult jobs.  And something to wash them in, and hmm a plunger for washing them... I wouldn't want to wash those on a scrub board... would you?

Maybe even those odd mismatched white socks that you never find the mate for?  Why not?

How about a grain mill?  A cider mill to press juice out of fruits, or even sugar beets or sugar cane?

What if the situation goes on 5 years?  How bout flax to spin your own fabric?  Or cotton seeds?  A spinning wheel?

My head is spinning with all that might be needed.

[opsec]

Good thing you are thinking about this. My idea for the food storage was that it would be a stop gap measure to keep you fed after the collapse and until you can get food production up and running. First will come the storm. People will riot then starvation will begin in ernest. That's the dangerous part. You have food, they don't. Stay low key and try to escape notice. After the die off, get your food production up and running. Personally, I store about two years worth of food. The limiting factor is water.

[Lady Lilya]

Ozark Lady, have you heard of the Diva Cup?  It is a silicone cup that you just rinse out in between uses, and then clean more thoroughly at the end of your monthly cycle before putting it away.  It saves you from using all that laundry water and soap. 

[Ozark Lady]

I have heard of it.   But really know nothing about it, other than it appears to be liked by some ladies.
Personally, I like menopause much better! 

Didn't you mention it will last 2 years, and then what?

Actually, I was thinking more along the line of toilet cloth to replace toilet tissue.  How about tissue, are you stocking up on handkerchiefs?