This is Rob Raskin of Las Vegas, and today I’d like to tell you more about why every survivalist, homesteader, and prepper needs to stock up on bleach. This is one of the most important things you’ll need to keep on-hand because it reduces harmful bacteria and other impurities, and you can use it to purify water, which may save you from a life-or-death situation if there is no clean water around when you need it.
A Word of Warning
Bleach can be a prepper’s best friend, but it doesn’t come without risks. You’ll need to make sure you use bleach in a well-ventilated area. Sodium hypochlorite is a powerful substance that is safe for human consumption if it is diluted, but if it’s used without diluting it first it can be poisonous. It’s important to not use scented or colored bleach or swimming pool chlorine to purify water. Also, don’t forget bleach has an expiration date, so you’ll need to rotate your stock out as necessary.
Water Purification
While there are other methods for purifying water that are preferable, when you are in a pinch, bleach will do the job. It can kill some disease-causing organisms, and you can also filter cloudy water through clean cloths to aid with disinfection. In general, you should add an eighth of a teaspoon, which is roughly eight drops, of bleach to each gallon of water, after which you need to stir it well and let it sit for a half-hour before use. Be sure to check a water-bleach ratio chart before you do this!
Bleach Alternatives
Some alternatives for bleach you can also use are water purification tablets, fluoride water filters, ceramic filters, LifeStraw, the Katadyn water filter, or other similar products. It helps to keep purification tablets in your emergency bag, because you never know when you may need these. Of course, it’s important to store as much water as you can with the hope that you never need to resort to using bleach. I know I keep many barrels at my home and my office! This is Rob Raskin, wishing you happy homesteading and effective survivalism!
Learn from one Prepper’s Survival Mistake!
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