There’s no doubt about it, it is incredibly hard to find some of our basic needs right now. Although food is touch and go, it seems almost impossible to find paper products like toilet paper and items that we need to clean and keep ourselves safe during the pandemic. This can cause a lot of panic with so many because it does bring a sense of lacking control in one’s life, especially when there is something going on that none of us can control. Luckily, there are a few alternatives to the items you might not be able to find in stores. These ten items can help you feel a little less out of control in the situation until we can get things back to normal.

1. Bidet
For some reason, toilet paper was on the top of the list of things depleted during the early days of the pandemic. Instead of food, people packed toilet paper to the brim of their carts leaving stores without the item for people who actually might have run out of toilet paper. Even though a few weeks have passed, it is still incredibly hard to get toilet paper in stores. If this trend continues, you might want to start thinking about a bidet. This special device is used in many other countries and can actually help you feel cleaner after using the restroom. You can buy bidets for a decent price online, but right now there might be a bit of a wait before yours will arrive. You can make your own bidet out of a squirt bottle though. This will help you out in a pinch and costs next to nothing. When the toilet paper stock returns, you may even want to keep your bidet. Not only is it hygienic, but it is environmentally friendly and could even help your plumbing.

2. T-shirt Rags
Paper towels are another major paper product in short commodity. Many people are using paper towels as toilet paper on top of their everyday cleaning needs. If you don’t want to use your good towels or you find yourself running out of clean items quickly, then you can take to your closet for a solution. If you have a lot of old t-shirts in your closet, then you might consider cutting them up to use them as rags. Donations aren’t really being accepted right now and most charity shops have more than their fill of these items anyway so there is no reason to feel guilty about it. If there is a design on the shirt that you like then cut it out, this can be turned into a face mask, pillow, or used for a blanket. The rest of the material will make a great rag for cleaning up the home, or as a makeshift kerchief, if you find yourself out of tissue.

3. DIY Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is another item that flew off of the shelves as soon as people found out that COVID-19 had entered the country. If you’re not one of the people that had the chance to purchase in bulk, you can make your own hand sanitizer at home with items you probably already have on hand. One of the easiest ways to combat the lack of sanitizer in stores is to mix high content alcohol with some aloe vera. This will kill almost anything on your hands without completely drying them out. You should have your DIY hand sanitizer with you when you leave the house too. You can use it to clean hand baskets, cleanse your hands after shopping, and so on. You can even use it to clean up the vehicle after shopping.

4. DIY Lysol
When it comes to cleaning up the home, Lysol is one of the best options to do so. However, Lysol, especially the spray, hasn’t been available since the beginning of the pandemic in most places. If you’re hoping to make your own, there are lots of recipes available to you online. One of the easiest is to mix essential oils with alcohol in a spray bottle. This will take care of most cleaning without leaving the home smelling like a hospital. This is great in a pinch especially if you are living with someone with a compromised immune system. The oils might even help to keep bugs away, which will help kill two birds with one stone as the warmer weather moves in.

5. Cleaning/Baby Wipes
A lot of people love to have cleaning wipes on hand for the little spills and clean up jobs that need to be done each day. Unfortunately, these wipes tend to be unavailable, which leaves many people in a bind. Another major item that is often sold out in stores is baby wipes, which are pretty much a necessity for any home that has a child in diapers. You can make both of these items at home though. To begin with, you can use one of your old wipe or cleaner containers to store paper towels. It will help to cut the paper towels in halves or thirds. Once cut, place them in a container and add soapy water. If you’re just going for baby wipes this is all you need to add to the mix. However, you can also add essential oils, alcohol and so on to your cleaning wipes. Make sure to label accordingly though, so you don’t mix up the cleaning and baby wipes.

6. Anti-Bacterial Soap
It seems like soap is the key to our health right now, which is why so many might feel anxiety setting in when they can’t purchase this necessity at stores. For many, making soap seems like it might not be as effective as buying it in stores. However, you will be surprised by how many recipes you can find that not only help keep you clean but will also offer you so many more options when it comes to scent and moisturizing your hands. You might start by looking for recipes online and trying them out. It might be trial and error at first, but you’re certain to find what you need once you get the hang of things. You might also find making soap can be a lot of fun, which might help you find a new hobby that you can enjoy after the self-isolation is over.

7. Disposable Masks
People have used masks for quite some time. Whether it be to mow the lawn, clean the bathroom, or protect others while you’re sick, disposable masks used to be commonly used and thrown out. Now, you can’t really find the items in stores and even if you can they should be left there for those that have a compromised immune system or for medical professionals that might not be able to get supplies at work. Instead of buying these masks, you should consider making reusable masks instead. These can be made out of most fabrics, including old shirts, and will still help to protect you. Best of all, you won’t have to throw them out, which will cut back on wastes. There are lots of tutorials online to choose from, so utilize a tutorial that meets your needs as well as the supplies you already have on hand.

8. Reusable Diapers
A lot of people started stocking up on baby diapers as soon as they found out about self-isolation periods. Although this might help keep family’s with young children safer, it also left the shelves pretty depleted for those who were not able to stock up. Instead of continuing on with disposable diapers, you might give reusable diapers a chance. Not only are these diapers easy to use, but they are better for the environment too. They will also help save you a lot of money, which is important when it comes to trying times like these. You also won’t have to worry about leaving the home to try to find these items, since your stock can easily be tossed in the washer.

9. Homemade Laundry Detergent
Keeping your clothes clean during this period of time is crucial. That is probably why everyone is buying up laundry detergent like crazy. If you are out of detergent and you need to do laundry, then there are still a few options to consider. When you look online, you’ll find a lot of alternatives to help you make up your own laundry detergent that won’t leave you cleaning up bubbles. Of course, if you don’t have the ingredients on hand, then you can always resort to baking soda. This will clean to the point your clothes will be safe to wear, but they might not smell nice. You might also consider hand washing as you will have more soap alternatives to use. This should help you get through the pandemic period though or until you can finally get the soap that you need.

10. Vinegar
When it comes to keeping things clean, it is important to have vinegar on hand if you can’t find any other supplies. Vinegar can help you get rid of mold, bacteria, and so much more, which is why it is a must when you go shopping. Vinegar can also be used in cooking, so even if you have a lot on hand after you get the supplies you need it won’t go to waste. You might even be able to use some in the garden.

In these trying times, it is important to know that you have options when it comes to paper and cleaning products that are no longer on the shelves. These tips can help you figure out how to work around the lack of products, so you can still clean and provide your family with a safe environment while the pandemic keeps everyone inside.