What household items can I use to sharpen a knife?

A few household items can sharpen or touch up a knife in an emergency. The unglazed ceramic ring on the bottom of a mug or plate works as a fine abrasive and can restore a tired edge. Fine wet-dry sandpaper on a flat surface can also sharpen a blade if you keep a consistent angle. A leather belt or clean cardboard with a polishing compound can strop the edge after sharpening. These substitutes work best for light maintenance, not for repairing chips or major dullness. They also require more control than a real stone. Emergency methods can help, but a proper sharpening stone produces a straighter, cleaner, longer-lasting edge.