Don’t: hoard toilet paper and medical masks. Do: make sure you have plenty of food, water, and indoor activities.

IT’S A SCARY time to go shopping. There are shortages of all sorts of odds and ends, and knowing what you actually need to get you through the Covid-19 pandemic can feel super stressful. The WIRED Gear team has spent the past few days talking to experts (as well as among ourselves), and have come up with this master guide to everything you might need right now (and a few things you should avoid buying for the sake of the greater good).

Need more information? Be sure to check out our full coverage of all things Covid-19, and to pay attention to any new information coming from the Centers for Disease Control and other reliable sources.

If you buy something using the links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Here’s how this works. You can also support our reporting and reviewing by purchasing a 1-year print + digital WIRED subscription for $5 (Discounted).General Tips

Before we dive into supplies, here are a few recommendations from the CDC on how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Stay home (especially if you’re sick) unless you absolutely need to leave.

If you are out and about, keep your distance from others (about six feet). Avoid groups of 10 or more.

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough (into your elbow or use a tissue).

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. A lot. You can use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if you’re on the go.

Clean and disinfect areas in your home you frequently touch.

Food and Supplies You (Might) Need

Frankly, the most necessary supplies are things you should already have on hand: Food, water, and a warm place to sleep. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have basic emergency supplies on hand.

Stuff You Definitely Don’t Need

Please do not buy more than a few weeks’ worth of supplies at a time. Panic-buying massive amounts of toilet paper and cleaning supplies won’t make this problem better, and it might hurt those in need. Grocery stores are already struggling to keep up with demand for some items as everyone panics and buys too much. Try not to strain the system further or some people in your community won’t have access to items they need.

No Face Masks (Unless You’re Sick): Wearing a face mask does offer some protection from Covid-19, but you’re better off washing your hands instead of buying them in bulk. There’s a shortage of these masks right now and buying them means you’re taking them away from medical professionals and actual sick people who need face masks most. Please don’t buy a mask unless a medical professional recommends it to you.

Wearing a face mask does offer some protection from Covid-19, but you’re better off washing your hands instead of buying them in bulk. There’s a shortage of these masks right now and buying them means you’re taking them away from medical professionals and actual sick people who need face masks most. Please don’t buy a mask unless a medical professional recommends it to you. No Dehydrated Food: It’s full of salt and there are massive shortages. Don’t make a bad thing worse. Stick to the food recommendations above. Our own Matt Jancer wrote a rant on why you should avoid dehydrated food right now.

It’s full of salt and there are massive shortages. Don’t make a bad thing worse. Stick to the food recommendations above. Our own Matt Jancer wrote a rant on why you should avoid dehydrated food right now. No (Extra) Toilet Paper: Don’t buy more unless you need it! Now’s also a great time to consider making the switch to a glorious heated bidet, which can help conserve toilet paper during shortages and makes your bum feel much cleaner anyway. We also like these bidets.

Don’t buy more unless you need it! Now’s also a great time to consider making the switch to a glorious heated bidet, which can help conserve toilet paper during shortages and makes your bum feel much cleaner anyway. We also like these bidets. No Hoarding an Insane Amount of Anything: You don’t need to stockpile survival supplies or prepare for nuclear winter. Just try to limit your close exposure to others, wash your hands, and avoid touching your face. Keeping normal supply streams running where they need to go is a good way to help everyone else.

Gear to Feel a Little Calmer at Home

Navigating something like Covid-19 can cause stress and anxiety among even the most level-headed people. It’s important to take good care of yourself—in no small part because stress takes a toll on your immune system. Do whatever you can to relax if you have time, whether that’s hanging out on the couch with your kids or taking your pup for a walk. Here are some products that help us chill out.

If Your Kids Are Stuck in the House

If you have small children, odds are you’ve spent the past week or so panic-buying Legos and tiny trampolines on Amazon. We have a few suggestions for you here, but we’ve also assembled a bigger list of gear to make this time with your kiddos more fun. Be sure to read our full guide on How to Entertain Your Young Children During a Quarantine for more ideas!

Pillage Your Closet: Nearly every parent that WIRED’s Senior Writer Adrienne So spoke to used goods around the house for crafts. Washi tape, cardboard boxes, and recycle bins were all mentioned, but she liked the versatility of wrapping paper (plus the fact that many of us always have extra on hand). You probably have some scissors and glue around. Go to town!

Nearly every parent that WIRED’s Senior Writer Adrienne So spoke to used goods around the house for crafts. Washi tape, cardboard boxes, and recycle bins were all mentioned, but she liked the versatility of wrapping paper (plus the fact that many of us always have extra on hand). You probably have some scissors and glue around. Go to town! Puro Sound Labs’ BT2200 Kids Headphones for $80: There are only so many times you can listen to Baby Shark during the workday. We like these headphones to protect their tiny ears and keep them quiet while you take an urgent conference call.

There are only so many times you can listen to Baby Shark during the workday. We like these headphones to protect their tiny ears and keep them quiet while you take an urgent conference call. Legos: We’re partial to building (and destroying) worlds with the bricks we have on hand, but now might also be a good time to dig into a fancy new set like this Millennium Falcon.

We’re partial to building (and destroying) worlds with the bricks we have on hand, but now might also be a good time to dig into a fancy new set like this Millennium Falcon. Other STEM Toys We Love: Legos are great, but here’s a full list of other great learning toys we’ve tried and love.

Legos are great, but here’s a full list of other great learning toys we’ve tried and love. Subscription Boxes for Kids: From Kiwi Crates to science boxes, these are some fun subscription services that could entertain your kids for at least a few days a month as this virus comes and goes.

From Kiwi Crates to science boxes, these are some fun subscription services that could entertain your kids for at least a few days a month as this virus comes and goes. Podcasts for Kids: These audio programs are made specifically for the little ones.

If You’re Working From Home

If office and school closures have you suddenly working from home, there’s some gear that can make the job easier. As a mostly remote team, WIRED’s Gear writers have nailed down a routine for getting work done without becoming too distracted—or distraught. For more ideas, check out our Remote Workers Gift Guide. This story on working from home without losing your mind may be helpful as well. Here are a few of our favorite tools:

These Services Are Discounted or Free Right Now

Whether you’re ordering in while working or trying to remotely connect with your colleagues, a few companies are offering discounts or other perks during the pandemic.

Google is offering G Suite customers advanced video conferencing capabilities via Hangouts. This includes larger meetings, live streaming, and the ability to record meetings.

is offering G Suite customers advanced video conferencing capabilities via Hangouts. This includes larger meetings, live streaming, and the ability to record meetings. Microsoft is offering six months of its Teams service for free. Teams is collaborative work software that includes cloud storage, video sharing, conferencing, and more.

is offering six months of its Teams service for free. Teams is collaborative work software that includes cloud storage, video sharing, conferencing, and more. Zoom has lifted video call time limits for users in some affected areas as well as schools.

has lifted video call time limits for users in some affected areas as well as schools. Raddish , one of our favorite subscriptions for kids, is offering 10,000 free Swedish Eats cooking kits. This activity might help cure the no-school doldrums.

, one of our favorite subscriptions for kids, is offering 10,000 free Swedish Eats cooking kits. This activity might help cure the no-school doldrums. Comcast is offering two months of its Internet Essentials package to new qualifying customers for free. Equipment is included. You’ll need to apply for the program if you’re interested. Qualifying customers include those eligible for public assistance that live in certain areas and meet a few other requirements.

is offering two months of its Internet Essentials package to new qualifying customers for free. Equipment is included. You’ll need to apply for the program if you’re interested. Qualifying customers include those eligible for public assistance that live in certain areas and meet a few other requirements. Postmates rolled out the option for non-contact deliveries. You can request that your Postmate leave your food at the door. Uber Eats allows you to request the same thing in the notes section when ordering.

rolled out the option for non-contact deliveries. You can request that your Postmate leave your food at the door. Uber Eats allows you to request the same thing in the notes section when ordering. Travel: If you have airfare or other travel plans that have been affected by Covid-19, you may be able to alter or cancel those plans at a free or reduced rate. Check with your flight provider, travel agent, or hotel. This is also true for Airbnb.

If You Need Something to Do

On the upside, now’s the perfect time to hunker down and read, play, or watch all the things that you’ve been meaning to! Here are a few of the WIRED Staff’s favorite things right now:

Watch, Listen, or Stream Anew!

If you’re stuck at home, now might be a good time to consider upgrading your home theater, audio setup, or smart home tech. After all, there’s never more time to futz around with TV mounts or your old record collection than now. Be sure to check out our lists of the Best Smart Speakers, prettiest TVs, and easiest to use streaming devices if you need more inspiration.

Roku Streaming Stick Plus for $50: The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is the easiest to use of all the major streaming devices and it looks great. Why watch Netflix on a laptop, iPad, or cell phone?

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is the easiest to use of all the major streaming devices and it looks great. Why watch Netflix on a laptop, iPad, or cell phone? Audiotechnica AT-LP120 USB for $249: Now’s the time to break out your record collection—and to buy some new vinyl to support struggling musicians. This is our favorite entry-level turntable.

Now’s the time to break out your record collection—and to buy some new vinyl to support struggling musicians. This is our favorite entry-level turntable. 55-Inch TCL 6 Series for $549: If you’re gonna be catching up on shows and movies, now might be a good time for an upgrade. With outstanding picture quality and built-in Roku OS, this is our favorite TV right now. In fact, Reviews Editor Jeffrey Van Camp just bought this exact model.