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, lightweight, and readily available. Heck, you can purchase coffee filters at the dollar store, Amazon, Costco, the corner grocery, and even on EBay.

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

1 X ROCKLINE BASKET CO... Buy New $3.99 (as of 10:53 UTC - Details) 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

Grow or Die: The Good ... David the Good Buy New $4.99 (as of 03:05 UTC - Details) 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

Nails, screws, and all manner of fix-it items are good to have on hand in your survival kit. Secure them in little bundles made of coffee filters. Tie off the bundles with some paracord since that will be useful too. When you are using the hardware, the coffee filter will keep the items from rolling around and getting lost.

6.  Keep your specs spotlessly clean

You don’t need fancy liquid products to clean your glasses and, as a matter of fact, some products can also damage the coatings on specialized lenses. (I know – it happened to me.) The next time you need to clean your Compost Everything: Th... David The Good Best Price: $6.00 Buy New $11.99 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details) glasses, try using a coffee filter with a bit of plain water. Your glasses will come clean and will be lint-free. You can also use coffee filters to safely clean cell phone, E-reader, and computer screens.

7.  Protect your cast iron skillets from rust

Nothing is more discouraging to the cast iron maven than finding a bit of rust on your well-seasoned cast iron skillet. You can help prevent this by putting some coffee filters in the skillet when it’s not in use. The filter will absorb moisture and prevent rusting.

8.  Use it as emergency toilet paper

No TP? No worries. A coffee filter will work just fine – just don’t flush it down a toilet.

9.  Use it as a pet pooper scooper

Ditto for pet pooper scoopers. Coffee filters work like a little glove for taking care of your pet’s business. Great on the hiking trails or even indoors when Fido has a little accident. You can also use a coffee filter to wipe a messy tush or muddy paws.

10.  Keep potting soil where it belongs – in the pot

Before placing soil in a pot, cover the hole in the bottom with a coffee filter. This will prevent the soil from leaking out and yet will allow the excess water to drain properly.

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