Cheesecloth is available in a number of grades ranging from open to extra-fine weave. Grades are distinguished by the number of threads per inch in each direction.
The grades range from #10 to #90 with 10 being the loose grade and 90 being a tight weave. The # 10 grade, for example, has 20 vertical and 12 horizontal threads per inch, while, #90 has 44 vertical and 36 horizontal threads per inch. The other grades fall somewhere in between.
The uses are only limited by your imagination, but this article will concentrate on survival/emergency uses.
1.) Water Filtration
When purchasing cheesecloth specifically for water filtration you would want the finest weave available to filter out the micro particles. However, any grade will work with varying results. To be effective you would want to use a filtering device with multiple filtering mediums. The cloth would be placed in a container with a hole (s) in the bottom, and if it is the finest medium you have, it would go in first. Place the finest materials in first and the coarsest in last. The coarse filtering mediums will filter out the larger debris, and as the water permeates through the finer materials, they will filter out the micro particles. 2.) Medical Because of its "gauze" like nature, it is only natural that it can be used as an emergency bandage or to wrap wounds or injuries. The cloth will soak up antibacterial cream so it can be applied loosely to wounds that cannot be wrapped tight such as burns to help reduce bacteria and to keep debris and insects away from the wound. Use the cloth to make a sling for your arm, or to tie off splints to immobilize broken or injured limbs. 3.) Insect Netting You would want the weave to be loose enough so you could see through it when using the cloth to make an insect net for your head and face. Drape the netting over your headgear so the material is not touching your skin to keep mosquitoes and flies from biting you through the cloth. Drape a heavier weave over your sleeping area or in doorways/windows. 4.) …show more content…
As with any camouflage, it must blend into the environment you are operating in, so keep this in mind when packing your survival kit. Carry camo sticks, or small craft sized bottles of various earth-tone paints and use what you find in your environment.
8.) Abrasive Material
Make a small pouch and fill with sand to make a polishing ball to clean blades, smooth the finish on arrows or bows made in the field, or use to scrub eating utensils. There are other uses for abrasive materials, and you will discover more uses as you go along.
The weave has to be fine enough to contain the sand and yet loose enough allow contact with the surface you are scrubbing or sanding. Adding some moisture to the surface you are cleaning may help the process.
Use the cloth by itself to polish or clean items and with a little chocolate, you can even polish the bottom of a soda to make a very reflective surface to create fire by magnification of the sun's rays (very difficult by the way), or use the can as a signaling device. The cloth is ideal for cleaning eyeglasses, and binocular