diff --git a/zsh/.stow-local-ignore b/zsh/.stow-local-ignore
index c9b6ced..4078525 100644
--- a/zsh/.stow-local-ignore
+++ b/zsh/.stow-local-ignore
@@ -1,4 +1,27 @@
-# Keep docs and editor junk out of $HOME when stowing.
-# NOTE: this file REPLACES stow's default ignore list, so common
-# defaults are repeated here on purpose.
+# This file REPLACES stow's built-in default ignore list, so the useful
+# defaults are repeated here on purpose. Transcribed from Stow.pm
+# (stow 2.4.1) plus a few macOS/editor extras. Re-check on stow upgrades.
+
+# --- this package's housekeeping ---
+README.md
 ^local$
+.zsh/completions
+.zsh/local
+
+# --- Git ---
+\.git
+\.gitignore
+\.gitmodules
+
+# --- editor / OS junk (stow defaults + extras) ---
+.+~          # emacs backup files
+\#.*\#       # emacs autosave files
+\.DS_Store   # macOS Finder junk
+\._.+        # macOS AppleDouble files
+\.sw[a-z]    # vim/neovim swap files
+.*\.sw[a-z]
+
+# --- docs stow would otherwise link into $HOME (stow defaults) ---
+^/README.*
+^/LICENSE.*
+^/COPYING