Things get dirty and things break. It's been that way ever since the dawn of time, and that's not likely to change when SHTF. For that reason, it's important that you prepare as much as possible for those circumstances when things aren't functioning the way they should. Check out the list below to see what things you should be stocking up on.

Zip Ties (also called tie wraps or cable ties): Use the zip ties to hold cables or cords together, bundle kindling or firewood, secure car parts that have come loose, and more. One unconventional use is to wrap a zip tie around the hose bib preventing passers-by from stealing our water.

Dental Floss: Remove dental floss from the bathroom and it becomes super-string. You can use it to sew on buttons, substitute for a broken shoelace, make a temporary clothesline, or hang your stuff from a tree while out in the woods. Of course, you can and should use floss to clean your teeth and gums, too.

WD-40 or other spray lubricant: Have a stuck zipper? Get out the WD-40. Rusty garden tools? Get out the WD-40. Greasy marks on the floor? Yes, get out the WD-40. If your shoes are too tight, spray them with a bit of WD-40 and they will stretch ever so slightly to fit the shape of your foot.

Elmer’s Glue: It is amazing how useful this classic kiddie glue can be. Use it to glue wood moldings back on to the wall, fix the loose heel or flapping sole of you shoes or to repair tears in the upholstery. Glue together ripped seams or hems in your clothing. Put a coating of Elmer’s on a splinter, let it dry then peel it off.

Duct Tape: No surprise here. It is strong, flexible and waterproof. Hold stuff together, fix rips, mend broken glass, and even use it as a splint. You can repair vacuum cleaner hoses and catch flies.

Compressed Air: Use it to clean the dust off of lamp shades and to get grime out of the nooks and crannies of collectables or even fancy woodwork. By the way, compressed air is not air at all; it is actually a compressed gas.

Rubbing Alcohol: As a disinfectant, rubbing alcohol cannot be beat. It has a number of medical uses including sanitizing cuts and abrasions before applying bandages and as a rubdown to cool down feverish skin. Rubbing alcohol can remove ink and lipstick stains from fabrics and remove buildup from combs, brushes and gunky bathroom mirrors.

Baking Soda: Non-toxic baking soda can be used to clean, scour, polish, deodorize and remove odors. It can be used to remove food stains from your cookware and coffee stains from just about everything. Use it in the laundry to boost the power or your detergent and bleach so that you can save money by using less. Use a paste of baking soda and water to remove corrosion from battery terminals.

White Vinegar: White vinegar is another inexpensive and versatile item to have in your tool box. Mix a quarter cup with water and you have a great spray cleaner. Nothing beats this combo on hardwood floors. Vinegar kills germs and mold and it removes grease and stains and the buildup of mineral deposits on faucets and showerheads as well as in coffeemakers.

Microfiber Cleaning Towels: I call these magic rags. They are cheap, durable and lint free. They mop up spills like crazy and the tiny microfiber fingers work with plain old water to clean spots, grime and smudges. Throw them in the wash – no bleach or fabric softener – and they are good as new again.

Cotton Hand Towels: As much as I love my magic rags, I adore cotton hand towels. In the old days, I believe they were called tea towels. I use this in the kitchen as well as the bathroom.

You should be stocking up on plenty of towels and rags, for sure, because they have so many uses and can be reused almost indefinitely. So many people throw away wash clothes once they get a little dingy, even though they are still perfectly good. Rather than tossing them, add them to your SHTF supplies. The other great things on this list are WD-40, which can lubricate everything from car parts to gun mechanisms and vinegar, which has hundreds of uses.

To see more things you should stock up on, check out Back Door Survival.