37 Survival Items You Can Make at Home (Instead of Buying Expensive Gear)

Imagine this: The power has been out for three days. The local grocery store shelves are stripped bare. Your phone has no signal, and that “tactical” gear you meant to order online is stuck in a warehouse three states away.

In this scenario, there are two types of people.

There is the person who panics because they realize their survival is tied to a credit card and a shipping label. And then there is the person who calmly walks to their pantry, grabs a few household staples, and begins building the tools they need to keep their family safe, warm, and fed.

Survival isn’t about how much money you spend; it’s about how much you know.

You don’t need a $2,000 budget to be prepared. In fact, many of the most effective survival tools can be made right in your kitchen or garage using items you’d normally throw away.

In this guide, we’re going to walk through 37 survival essentials you can DIY today. These aren’t “craft projects”—they are practical, field-tested items that can save your life when the unexpected happens.

I. WATER & HYDRATION: YOUR #1 PRIORITY

You can survive weeks without food, but only days without water. If the taps stop running, these DIY solutions are your lifeline.

1. DIY Gravity Water Filter

If you have murky pond or rain water, you need to remove the sediment before treating it.

How to make it: Cut the bottom off a large plastic bottle and hang it upside down. Layer it from bottom to top: a coffee filter (at the neck), 2 inches of activated charcoal (crushed homemade charcoal works), 3 inches of fine sand, and 3 inches of gravel.
The Result: Water drips through the layers, coming out clear.
Crucial Note: This removes sediment, but not bacteria. Always boil the water after filtering.

2. Emergency Bleach Purification Drops

If you can’t boil water, unscented household bleach is a powerful disinfectant.

The Method: Use a clean dropper bottle. Add 8 drops of regular, unscented bleach per gallon of clear water (use 16 drops if the water is cloudy).
The Wait: Stir and let it sit for 30 minutes. If it doesn’t have a faint chlorine smell, repeat the dose and wait another 15 minutes.

3. The Solar Still

A way to pull moisture from the earth itself.

How to make it: Dig a hole in a sunny spot. Place a cup in the center. Cover the hole with a plastic sheet, sealing the edges with dirt. Place a small stone in the center of the plastic so it dips directly over the cup.
The Result: Condensation forms on the plastic and drips into your cup. It’s slow, but it’s pure.

4. Reused Heavy-Duty Water Bladders

Don’t throw away those 2-liter soda bottles or heavy-duty juice jugs.

The Method: Wash thoroughly with a weak bleach solution. Fill to the top, leave an inch of headspace, and store in a dark, cool place. These are much more durable than thin milk jugs, which tend to leak over time.

II. FIRE & LIGHT: WARMTH IN THE DARK

Fire provides heat, light, and the ability to cook. These DIY starters ensure you can get a flame going even in a downpour.

5. Wax-Dipped Cotton Rounds

How to make it: Melt old candle stubs in a double boiler. Dip cosmetic cotton pads halfway into the wax.
Why it works: The untreated half catches a spark easily, while the waxed half acts as a wick, burning for up to 5 minutes—long enough to light even damp kindling.

6. Vaseline “Fire Balls”

How to make it: Rub a generous amount of petroleum jelly into cotton balls. Store them in a pill bottle or a piece of plastic straw sealed at both ends with a lighter.
Why it works: They are virtually waterproof and burn with a hot, steady flame.

7. The 100-Hour “Tin Can” Candle

How to make it: Fill a clean tuna or cat food tin with melted wax (crayons work too!). Use a tightly braided cotton string as a wick, held upright by a paperclip.
The Result: A stable, long-burning light source that is much harder to tip over than a pillar candle.

8. Olive Oil Lamp

How to make it: Fill a small glass jar with olive oil. Poke a hole in the metal lid. Thread a cotton string through the hole so it soaks in the oil but sticks out the top.
Why it works: Olive oil is a clean-burning fuel that doesn’t produce the soot or smell of kerosene.

9. Waterproof “Nail Polish” Matches

How to make it: Dip the heads of ordinary strike-anywhere matches into clear nail polish.
Why it works: The polish creates a waterproof seal. When you’re ready to use them, the friction of striking the match scrapes the polish off and ignites the head.

III. FOOD & COOKING: FUEL FOR THE BODY

When the stove doesn’t work, you need efficient ways to cook and calorie-dense food that lasts.

10. The “Hobo” Tin Can Rocket Stove

How to make it: Use a large #10 tin can (like a bulk coffee or bean can). Cut a hole in the side near the bottom and insert a smaller soup can to create an “L” shaped chimney. Fill the gap between the cans with dirt or sand for insulation.
Why it works: It focuses heat upward, allowing you to boil water using only a handful of dry twigs.

11. Soda Can Alcohol Stove

How to make it: Cut the bottoms off two soda cans. Nest them together. Poke small jet holes around the top rim.
The Fuel: Fill with denatured alcohol or high-percentage rubbing alcohol. It’s a silent, smokeless stove perfect for indoor use (with ventilation).

12. Homemade Char Cloth

How to make it: Place small squares of 100% cotton (old T-shirts) inside a metal mint tin with a tiny hole poked in the lid. Place the tin on a fire until it stops smoking.
The Result: The cotton turns into black, fragile “char” that will catch the tiniest spark from a flint and steel and turn it into a glowing ember.

13. DIY Solar Dehydrator

How to make it: Use a wooden box or even a cardboard box lined with foil. Place a cooling rack inside and cover the top with clear plastic or glass.
The Result: The sun’s heat dries out fruits and vegetables, preserving them for months without electricity.

14. “Logan Bread” Survival Bars

The Recipe: Mix oats, honey, molasses, powdered milk, and dried fruit. Bake at a low temperature until rock hard.
Why it works: These are calorie-dense, nearly indestructible, and have been used by mountain climbers for decades as a long-term survival ration.

15. Oven-Dried Jerky

The Method: Slice lean meat thin, marinate in salt and spices, and “bake” at your oven’s lowest setting (usually 150°F) with the door propped open slightly for 6–8 hours.
The Result: High-protein food that stays shelf-stable for weeks.

IV. SHELTER & WARMTH: DEFEATING THE ELEMENTS

Hypothermia is a silent killer. These DIY items keep your body heat where it belongs.

16. Reinforced Mylar Tarp

How to make it: Cheap “space blankets” tear easily. Reinforce the edges of one with duct tape and add “grommets” by taping a small pebble into the corner and tying cordage around it.
Why it works: It becomes a durable, heat-reflective shelter that can be tied between trees.

17. The “Terra Cotta” Space Heater

How to make it: Invert a small clay flower pot over a slightly larger one, securing them with a long bolt. Place a few tealight candles underneath.
Why it works: The clay traps the candle’s heat and radiates it slowly, warming a small room or a vehicle much more effectively than an open flame.

18. No-Sew Fleece Neck Gaiter

How to make it: Cut a 10-inch wide tube from the sleeve of an old fleece jacket or a thick wool sweater.
Why it works: Protecting your neck prevents massive heat loss from your carotid arteries, keeping your whole body warmer.

19. Bubble Wrap Sleeping Pad

The Method: Tape several layers of large-bubble wrap together.
Why it works: Survival is about insulation from the ground. Bubble wrap traps air perfectly, providing a surprisingly effective barrier against the cold earth.

V. FIRST AID & HYGIENE: PREVENTING INFECTION

In a survival situation, a small cut can become a lethal infection if not treated.

20. The “Altoids” First Aid Kit

How to make it: Pack a small metal tin with: 5 band-aids, 2 alcohol prep pads, a small tube of superglue (for deep cuts), 4 ibuprofen tablets, and a needle.
Why it works: It’s small enough to stay in your pocket at all times.

21. Homemade Saline Wash

The Recipe: Boil 1 cup of water with ½ teaspoon of salt. Let it cool.
Use: Use it to flush dirt out of wounds or eyes. It’s much safer than using plain tap or pond water.

22. Plantain & Coconut Oil Salve

How to make it: Infuse dried plantain leaves (a common “weed”) in coconut oil over low heat. Strain and add a bit of beeswax to thicken.
Why it works: Plantain is a natural “drawing” herb that helps soothe stings, bites, and minor rashes.

23. DIY Hand Sanitizer

The Recipe: Mix 2 parts 91% Isopropyl alcohol with 1 part aloe vera gel.
Why it works: Hygiene is the first line of defense against disease when running water is unavailable.

24. Baking Soda Tooth Powder

The Recipe: Mix 2 parts baking soda with 1 part fine salt.
Why it works: It’s an effective abrasive that neutralizes mouth acid. Dental infections are a major survival risk; this keeps your teeth clean indefinitely.

VI. TOOLS & REPAIR: FIXING YOUR WORLD

If your gear breaks, you need to be able to fix it on the fly.

25. Duct Tape “Mini-Rolls”

How to make it: Wrap several feet of duct tape around an old credit card or a pencil.
Why it works: You get the utility of duct tape without the bulk of a full roll. Use it for gear repair, first aid, or even marking trails.

26. The “Floss” Sewing Kit

How to make it: Wrap 20 feet of high-strength dental floss around a heavy-duty sewing needle. Store inside a small pill bottle.
Why it works: Dental floss is much stronger than standard thread and can be used to repair heavy canvas, backpacks, or even boots.

27. Braided Plastic Cordage

How to make it: Cut plastic grocery bags into strips and use a “reverse twist” braid to create rope.
Why it works: It’s surprisingly strong and turns literal trash into a functional tool for tying down shelters.

28. DIY Walking Stick / Spear

How to make it: Find a sturdy piece of hardwood (ash or hickory). Taper one end.
Why it works: A walking stick saves your knees on long treks and can be used for defense or as a probe for checking water depth.

29. Inner Tube “Ranger Bands”

How to make it: Cut an old bicycle inner tube into cross-sections (rings).
Why it works: These are the ultimate heavy-duty rubber bands. Use them to secure gear, provide extra grip on tool handles, or as high-heat fire tinder.

VII. SIGNALING & NAVIGATION: GETTING HOME

If you are lost or need rescue, you must be able to communicate.

30. The CD Signal Mirror

The Method: An old CD or DVD is highly reflective.
How to use: Peer through the center hole to “aim” the reflection of the sun at a distant plane or person. It can be seen for miles.

31. PVC Pipe Whistle

How to make it: A short length of ½ inch PVC pipe with a notched “fipple” cut into it.
Why it works: Your voice will give out long before a whistle does. Three sharp blasts is the international signal for distress.

32. The “Floating Needle” Compass

How to make it: Rub a sewing needle against a magnet (or through your hair) in one direction. Float it on a small leaf in a still bowl of water.
The Result: The needle will align itself with the Earth’s magnetic North.

33. Ziploc Map Case

The Method: Place your maps and emergency documents in a freezer-grade Ziploc bag. Reinforce the edges with duct tape.
Why it works: Information is useless if it’s a soggy, unreadable mess.

VIII. SANITATION & COMFORT: THE “UNMENTIONABLES”

In long-term emergencies, sanitation is what prevents outbreaks of cholera and dysentery.

34. The 5-Gallon Emergency Toilet

How to make it: Line a 5-gallon bucket with a heavy-duty trash bag. Snap a pool noodle (slit down the side) over the rim for a seat.
The Method: Cover waste with sawdust, peat moss, or wood ash after every use to manage odor and moisture.

35. Homemade Bug Repellent

The Recipe: Mix 1 part Witch Hazel with 1 part water and 20 drops of Lemon Eucalyptus or Peppermint essential oil.
Why it works: Biting insects aren’t just an annoyance; they carry diseases. This natural mix keeps them at bay.

36. The “Hollow Book” Document Cache

How to make it: Glue the pages of an old hardcover book together, then cut out the center with a utility knife.
Why it works: It’s a perfect place to hide emergency cash or copies of your ID where a looter would never think to look.

37. DIY Charcoal (For Filtration & Fuel)

How to make it: Burn hardwood in a metal container with a lid (similar to char cloth, but with larger chunks of wood).
Why it works: Homemade charcoal can be used for cooking, or crushed and used in your DIY water filter.

START BUILDING TODAY

You now have a list of 37 items that can turn a disaster into a manageable situation. But here is the most important survival tip of all:

Don’t wait for the emergency to start building.

Choose three items from this list right now. Go to your kitchen or garage and make them today.

Make the fire starters.
Build the first aid kit.
Mix the tooth powder.

The confidence you gain from creating your own gear is the most valuable survival item you will ever own. You are no longer a consumer waiting for help; you are a producer capable of providing for yourself.

Preparedness isn’t about fear. It’s about the freedom that comes from knowing you can handle whatever comes your way.

Go build something. Your future self will thank you.