White towels, organising racks and ‘food preserving’ flasks: The unusual items selling out in Kmart stores amid the coronavirus pandemic
- Australians are panic buying as more self-isolate to halt the spread of COVID-19
- While most are buying groceries, some are clearing shelves of bizarre items
- Kmart is selling out of plastic storage containers as people spring clean homes
- Towels are also flying off shelves, as mums stockpile them as makeshift nappies
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
As the stock market tumbles, job losses soar and normal life continues to unravel, Australians are stocking up on basic essentials like pasta, flour and toilet paper as more self-isolate to halt the spread of COVID-19.
But customers at Kmart are also clearing shelves of less obvious items, with the discount store already struggling to keep white towels and plastic storage containers in stock.
A confused shopper started a discussion in a household group on Facebook, asking why such seemingly non-essential products are being stockpiled across the nation.
Food preserving flasks are one of the most popular items at Kmart this week as Australian families brace for a period of self-isolation to halt the spread of COVID-19
One woman assumes people are planning to spend their isolation spring cleaning and organising the kitchen.
‘My local store was wiped out of storage containers and organisers for your pantry. I guess everyone is cleaning out their pantries after all their coronavirus shopping,’ she said.
Others said the sudden rush on towels could be linked to the lack of sanitary and baby products left in stores.
White towels are also in demand, as mothers stockpile them to use as makeshift nappies for their little ones
‘I reckon mums are buying [white towels] and using them as nappies, because you can’t get them in shops,’ said one woman.
Some wondered if people were resorting to using white towels instead of toilet paper, which has become the most coveted essential in Australia in recent weeks.
Dozens of women said they are becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of sanitary products on supermarket shelves.
‘All the soap and hand sanitisers went straight away, which is to be expected, but all the pads and tampons too,’ one said.
Storage containers and pantry organising racks are flying off shelves at Kmart
Kmart is also helping Australians to pass the time during self-isolation.
Families are entertaining themselves by re-purposing basic furniture from the budget retailer, transforming simple tables and chairs into stylish accessories by covering them with vinyl wrap and stick-on marble tiles.
Mothers are keeping their children occupied with cheap jars of poster paint and pots of playdough which are on available in Kmart stores nationwide.
‘I recently moved house and had no painting stuff for my toddler. Poster paints are only $2 and play dough is 75c in Kmart at the moment. Small price to entertain him when we’re at home!’ said one.