Sparse Supplies

Jstas

So, we just had a department conference call at work to discuss expectations and what's happening. I'm part of the IT department so it was all us nerds talking about work from home expectations, personal responsibility flexibility with family and kids being home too and so on and so forth.

Someone brought up a question about where to find supplies for cleaning the office spaces. That morphed in to talking about where to find stuff at home since, apparently, there's quite a few people who are in need and have to do without because of panicking people hoarding supplies.

So I figured I'd share this.

Non-traditional places you can go that are more likely to have stuff:

Toiletries and Bathroom Paper Products
- Small corner stores, gas stations, mom & pop sized shops
- Janitorial supply companies (might need to sign up for an account)
- Small home improvement stores like Ace Hardware or True Value or a local privately owned hardware store.

Cleaning supplies, Paper Towels, Hand Sanitizers
- Pet Stores
- Home improvement/hardware stores
- Auto parts stores
- Janitorial Supply Companies

Bottled Water
- Liquor stores
- Hardware Stores/Home Improvement stores
- Auto Parts stores
- Farmers Markets/Produce Stands



Where I live in NJ, stuff like hurricanes are a real and normal occurrence and often times they are bad enough to cause panic and make people run out and hoard stuff. Every time I’ve had to go get stuff and found that supermarkets, pharmacies, dollar stores and even the wholesale club type stores like Sam’s or Costco are out of everything, these have been my go-to’s and I have been able to get everything I need to get by at these alternative places. I usually keep these a secret because I don’t want my supply alternative to be stripped clean on me! These are different times, though. For example, I walked into an Advance Auto Parts store on Monday to get a new headlight bulb for my truck and they had a pallet’s worth of bottled water and stacks of paper towels sitting there almost untouched while everyone else is out of it. It was their normal “spring season” supply too so it was stuff they carry regularly.

So there’s some ideas for you. Spread it around if you think it will help. Add to it if you have some ideas too. Hopefully if you need something, one of these pans out for you.

Also, if you need laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent, check Home Depot or Lowe's. I've been in both since the panic started and my local ones have had stuff available.

Also, a local chain of liquor stores here has fridges with milk, eggs and other common perishables too. I was in one on Monday afternoon and they had full fridges. They also had a full rack of bread and Entemann's baked goods. Cases of soda too.

codycatalist

You can also get sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer at Staples, Office Max etc.

Jstas

Yeah, good point. They also have toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies as well.

Also...coffee.

Jstas

You know what? Now that I think about it, bottled water too. Not just individual stuff but jugs as well. Sodas and juices too. All stuff that small offices would need and probably tack on to a supply order from an office supply store.

Good call, I totally forgot about that!

polrbehr

To add to the list from janitorial supply companies, they also usually have a variety of
gloves (latex, vinyl, nitrile) if you're into the whole personal protection thing. I am.

They also usually carry hand sanitizer, but in my experience, you need to buy them in cases of 4 x 800ml bags that fit in ready-made dispensers. Yeah, most people don't want a commercial dispenser mounted in their kitchen or bathroom, but it's an alternative to not having any.

txcoastal1

My wife ordered the drinking water we drink daily directly from the company...ie Ozarka Spring water

Did it cost more ...yep, a couple dollars more per case

If you questioning if it's really spring water...yes it is as ;long as it says spring water
Ozarka also sells a drinking water which is not from the springs.

If your question is how do I know that it's spring water....

Because I used to sub contract and install 3-4 cameras at the places where they were pumping out of the springs

These were all over Texas, out in the boonies on someones land up to 10mi back on gravel roads

I always had to get a Ozarka rep to me in some town and then I'd follow him to unlock and get me to where these pump stations were located

motorhead43026

I drink water from the tap, I live life on the edge.

Good recommendations on cleaning supply sources.

polrbehr

motorhead43026 wrote: »

I drink water from the tap, I live life on the edge.

Our water is so chloro/fluoro/irradiated here (hype, of course, but it's sometimes undrinkable) that we've only drunk bottled for the past few years. I put an end to the possibility of shortages and price-gouging the other day by getting a Brio CLPOU520UVF2 water dispenser. It costs almost $300 from Amazon, and you have to hook it to your water supply line, but it offers sediment/charcoal filters good for 950 gallons, and they even send you two extra filters. No more empty shelves, no more lugging cases of water into the house. Done.

Jstas

polrbehr wrote: »

To add to the list from janitorial supply companies, they also usually have a variety of
gloves (latex, vinyl, nitrile) if you're into the whole personal protection thing. I am.

They also usually carry hand sanitizer, but in my experience, you need to buy them in cases of 4 x 800ml bags that fit in ready-made dispensers. Yeah, most people don't want a commercial dispenser mounted in their kitchen or bathroom, but it's an alternative to not having any.

Those 800 mL bags are easy to deal with without the dispenser. Just cut a real small part of the corner off. You can squeeze the goo out refill small bottles or just use it that way. Then when done, twist the corner up, fold it over on it's self and put a rubber band on it.

Jstas

txcoastal1 wrote: »

My wife ordered the drinking water we drink daily directly from the company...ie Ozarka Spring water

Did it cost more ...yep, a couple dollars more per case

If you questioning if it's really spring water...yes it is as ;long as it says spring water
Ozarka also sells a drinking water which is not from the springs.

If your question is how do I know that it's spring water....

Because I used to sub contract and install 3-4 cameras at the places where they were pumping out of the springs

These were all over Texas, out in the boonies on someones land up to 10mi back on gravel roads

I always had to get a Ozarka rep to me in some town and then I'd follow him to unlock and get me to where these pump stations were located

motorhead43026 wrote: »

I drink water from the tap, I live life on the edge.

Good recommendations on cleaning supply sources.

I got a well. As long as I can get power to it, I have access to 17 trillion gallons of fresh, clean water.

http://savethesource.org/about-the-aquifer/

polrbehr

Good thinking on using the HS that way. Funny thing is, buying it that way is NOT cheap, and so if you buy a case of 4 or 6, they usually throw one dispenser in for free anyway... so you might as well use it.

verb

Thank you for sharing this @Jstas !

Dabutcher

Thanks for sharing.

“May you live in interesting times”


Love yours. D

txcoastal1

The water at home Galveston county doesn’t taste good, and there’s so much softener in the house I rent in Midlothian that you can taste the chems

Houston water comes from lake Houston ....only carp and catfish live in that lake...you decide

San Antonio are good out of tap, many complain about the sediments but it’s rich in mineral because it comes from the Edwards aquifer. West Texas wells taste good ...mostly

Corpus tastes like sulfur

Jstas

txcoastal1 wrote: »

The water at home Galveston county doesn’t taste good, and there’s so much softener in the house I rent in Midlothian that you can taste the chems

Houston water comes from lake Houston ....only carp and catfish live in that lake...you decide

San Antonio are good out of tap, many complain about the sediments but it’s rich in mineral because it comes from the Edwards aquifer. West Texas wells taste good ...mostly

Corpus tastes like sulfur

Ours has a ton of iron in it so gotta use the softener to knock down the metallic taste a bunch otherwise it's pretty good.

txcoastal1

Taking hard water and adding your own softener usually doesn’t bother me but this cheap centralized softener.....I’m sure the cheapest is weird and nasty

I can’t ever get the soap off by hands/body. Even with stickies and a mat still slippery as dogdoo in the shower...me and my guys are spread out all over Texas with variations of water supplies but none of us have ever experienced this type of water. Clear and doesn’t smell just tastes off and and a pain to rinse off

Jstas

I don't know enough about softeners to be able to tell you what's up there.

Jackie's parents live out in Midland and they have well water but it's excessively hard. Even with an industrial sized softener, the water is still a bit slimy. I know that usually means it's leaning towards an alkali pH. So maybe get it tested and see?

Ours will get a bit slimy if I get lax on the softener salt.

txcoastal1

Jstas wrote: »

I don't know enough about softeners to be able to tell you what's up there.

Jackie's parents live out in Midland and they have well water but it's excessively hard. Even with an industrial sized softener, the water is still a bit slimy. I know that usually means it's leaning towards an alkali pH. So maybe get it tested and see?

Ours will get a bit slimy if I get lax on the softener salt.

Meh, projects done so we will be moving on...it’s just weird

I know why the Town/community set it up to protect the pipe/water supply system. There’s a quarry less than a half mile away and the water naturally is hard, just hate the water🙃

txcoastal1

FYI
Home Depot will close every day at 6pm

Jstas

Yeah, that friggin' sucks.

At least Lowe's isn't closing unless there's a curfew or something.

It really sucks because I still have work to for work and I work from home all the time. So with all these early closings and stuff, I have to leave work to go get something needed or get something done and then get to work late every night to make up the time. The kids being home from school doesn't help either.

txcoastal1

WellJohn, I know you have all these projects going with the new home but why not just clean up

Go to work as usual, and reconvene on the home shlt when this gray cloud passes

Jstas

'Cause I'll be bored.

nooshinjohn

Indiana water sucked too...

mrloren

Yeah all this hording sucks!

In the San Diego area finding paper products, hand sanitizer, clorox wipes is almost impossible. From Costco to Lowes to Office Depot is cleaned out. Tijuana has been cleaned out too. People that can cross the border are coming here for basic supplies.

Cleaning crew at work had to reorder supplies on Monday, most of the time it's next day. Nope Staples said Friday. Our office went through a case of TP in less than a week., normal is two weeks. out of the 3 cases that came in on 3/2 we are down to the last one.

We have a freezer in the garage. I unplugged it a few years ago to save energy. Nope plugged in now. Went to Costco, they had restocked some good frozen but not a lot. Need some frozen pizza. My son is checking some of the commercial supply stores for bulk meat.

At work we are finding with the rush to work from home the IT supply chain is getting wiped out too.

As for water, Costco will have bottled two or three times a week. Got to get there in the morning. Me I don't care for the home. Our water from the tap is not bad, we use the fridge filter only.

Stay safe my friends

muncybob

Just because you have well water does not mean there are not things in it to be concerned about. Probably a good idea to have it tested. Our well water is fine, tastes good too. Had it tested a few times when fracking was going on in the area. But I know of other well owners that have problems not related to fracking.

Jstas

There's no fracking anywhere near me. Well's been tested twice in the last 3 years.

It's good.

polrbehr

Stock up on microfiber cloths now, while they're not scarce. Use them instead of paper towels for cleanups, dusting, whatever you'd normally use paper towels for. They can be washed over and over, and you won't care if the shelves have paper towels or not.
Last time I bought 200 from my supplier, and they were $.35 each for 16 x 16. HomeD and Lowes carry them, probably any hardware store too, though I can't comment on the quality of theirs.

Jstas

Harbor Freight sells them in HUGE packs too.

polrbehr

Jstas wrote: »

Harbor Freight sells them in HUGE packs too.

I've been avoiding going in the new one they just opened near me, but you're making it difficult for me to stay away now, thanks a lot

Jstas

Well, don't bother if you can get them for 35 cents a cloth.

The largest they have now is 12 packs for like 6-7 bucks.

https://www.harborfreight.com/microfiber-cleaning-cloth-12-in-x-12-in-12-pk-63362.html

They used to have 50 backs for like $14 which was less than 30 cents a cloth but they don't seem to be available anymore.

Can still get the red or white shop towels in 50 packs for about $12 a pack, though.

machone

We can two rolls of TP at the local pharmacy