KatePurchasing small, everyday items can really add up to a lot of money. If you need to make a dent in your spending budget, try some of these easy household DIYs to save big!
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Things to Make Instead of Buying to Save Money
Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies can take up a large chunk of the monthly budget. With some simple swaps, you can free up funds for other things and minimize your cleaning cabinet.
Carpet Deodorizer
With two kids and pets, our carpets and area rugs take a beating. To keep them looking their best (and not smelling like our 90 pound dog), carpet deodorizer is a must. I used to buy the typical deodorizers from the store but their overpowering fragrance always gave me a headache. Not so fun.
Plain old baking soda deodorizes rugs just as well but without the overwhelming fragrance. Buy in bulk for the best price and major savings. You can even add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to give a light (and non headache inducing) fragrance to your home. I especially love lavender or grapefruit depending on my mood.
Carpet Deodorizer from store: 32 oz box ($0.06 per oz) = $2.09 ea x 2 boxes per month = $4.18 x 12 months = $50.16 per year
Baking Soda: $9.50 for 13 pound bag ($0.04 per oz) x 32 oz = $1.28 x 2 uses per month = $2.56 x 12 months = $30.72 per year
Cost Savings: $19.44 per year
Multi-Purpose Household Cleaner
We are lucky to have a lot of counter space in our kitchen. But with a lot of space to clean meant a lot of money spent on cleaner. Plus I was always running out! So I started making my own DIY Multi-Purpose Cleaner and have never gone back. I keep just 2 items on hand and can whip up a batch whenever I need to.
All Purpose Cleaner from store: 28 oz bottle ($0.11 per oz) = $2.99 ea x 3 bottles per month = $8.97 x 12 months = $107.64 per year
DIY Multi-Purpose Cleaner: (we usually buy a 90 oz jug from our local bulk store to get the best price and it lasts forever!) or this deal is pretty great too.
90 oz bottle Dawn Dish Soap ($0.07 per oz) = $6.98, 32 oz bottle Rubbing alcohol ($0.06 per oz)
1.5 oz of Dawn ($0.11) + 2 oz Rubbing Alchohol ($0.12) + tap water (free) = $0.23 per bottle x 3 bottles per month = $0.69 x 12 months = $8.28
Cost Savings: $99.36 per year
Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Many hardwood floor spray and mopping solutions seem to leave a dulling residue, stickiness, or an odd smell that I didn’t like (can you tell I’m weird about smells?). And it takes a large amount of product per gallon each time you mop.
Add just two drops of that good ol’ Dawn Dish Soap into a gallon of water, wring out very well and go to town. If you choose this method, do your research on what is safe for your specific floor. My finished oak hardwood floors are clean for about a penny’s worth of cleaning product and my cleaning cabinet has been minimized.
Wood Cleaner from store: 32 oz bottle ($0.11 per oz) = $3.48 x 6 bottles per year = $20.88 per year
Dawn Dish Soap: 2 drops = approx $0.01 x 3 uses per month = $0.03 x 12 months = $.36 per year
Cost savings: $20.52 per year
Dishwasher Hard Water Treatment
If you struggle with hard water and have accused your dishwasher of just plain sucking at it’s job, try this simple trick. In addition to your regular detergent, dump about 1/3 cup distilled vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher for each load. Your dishes will be clean and sparkly at a fraction of the cost of the popular dishwasher hard water treatment.
Dishwasher Booster: $3.63 for 12 oz bottle with about 12 uses per bottle at 2 tbsp product per load = $0.30 per load. $3.63 x 2.5 bottles per month = $9.08 per month x 12 = $108.90 per year
1 Gal Distilled White Vinegar ($0.02 per oz) = $2.69, 1/3 cup or 2.67 oz = $0.053 per load. 1 gal equals about 48 loads. $2.69 x 1 bottle per month x 12 = $32.28 per year
Cost Savings: $76.62 per year
Shower Cleaner
This crazy easy recipe is all over Pinterest for a reason! It totally works! Mix 1 part distilled vinegar to 1 part Dawn Dish Soap into a reusable spray bottle. Spray generously on shower walls, floors, and glass doors. Let sit for about 15 minutes before wiping off any gross gunk. We don’t need details right? You know what I’m talking about.
Sidenote: The vinegar smell is pretty strong so open a window or turn on the fan.
Foaming Bathroom Cleaner from store: 28 oz bottle ($.014 per oz) = $3.99 x 6 = $23.94 per year
DIY Shower Cleaner: 14 oz Dawn ($0.07 per oz) = $.98, 14 oz Distilled Vinegar ($.02 per oz) = $0.28. $0.98 + $.028 = $1.26 per bottle x 6 = $7.56 per year
Cost Savings: $16.38 per year
Stainless Steel Cleaner
Why is stainless steel so pretty yet such a magnet for grime? And why does it require it’s own special product? It is so finicky and many products leave it greasy or filmy looking. My simple DIY Multi-Purpose Cleaner works great to get stainless steel appliances grime free and shiny.
Stainless Steel Cleaner from store: 12 oz can ($0.33 per oz) = $3.96 x 6 per year = $23.76
DIY Multi-Purpose Cleaner: 90 oz bottle Dawn Dish Soap ($0.07 per oz) = $3.74, 32 oz bottle Rubbing alcohol ($0.06 per oz).
1.5 oz of Dawn ($0.11) + 2 oz Rubbing Alchohol ($0.12) + tap water (free) = $0.23 x 6 bottles per year = $1.38
Cost Savings: $22.38 per year
Laundry
Fabric Softener
So, this isn’t a DIY or even recipe. I simply add vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser in my washer. It’s cheap, natural, won’t leave a buildup on your clothes or towels, and helps remove stinky odors. And I promise, your clothes will not smell like vinegar at all!
Fabric softener from store: $10.93 per 1 gallon bottle x 4 = $43.72 per year
Vinegar: $2.69 per 1 gallon bottle x 4 = $10.76 per year
Cost Savings: $32.96 per year
Dryer Sheets
Although they are inexpensive, I really hate using things once and throwing them away. There are a number of ways to replace dryer sheets and all of them work pretty well. My favorite is cutting an old t-shirt into reusable “sheets” and making a solution of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water with essential oils to make it smell nice. Soak the sheet in the solution and squeeze out all excess before tossing into the dryer. Works especially well for removing tough, lingering odors.
Dryer Sheets: 160 sheets (.04 each) = $5.97 x 3 = $17.97 per year
Homemade Dryer Sheets: 1 gal Distilled Vinegar ($0.02 per oz) = $2.69 x 3 = $8.07 per year
Cost Savings: $9.90 per year
Stain Remover
My love of DIY Stain Remover started when I’d run out and desperately needed to pre-treat a much loved baby outfit from a wicked case of blueberry stains.
Preparing in small batches, mix 1 part Dawn to 2 parts hydrogen peroxide and spray liberally. Soak 15 – 20 minutes before washing. Store in a dark spray bottle in a dark cabinet as hydrogen peroxide loses strength once mixed and exposed to light.
Stain Remover from store: 22 oz bottle ($0.19 per oz) = $4.18 x 1 per month x 12 = $53.76 per year
DIY Stain Remover: 90 oz bottle Dawn Dish Soap ($0.07 per oz) = $3.74. 32 oz bottle Hydrogen Peroxide (.16 per oz) = $1.99. 7 oz Dawn = .49 + 14 oz Hydrogen Peroxide = $2.73 x 12 = $32.76 per year
Cost Savings: $21.00 per year
Personal Care
Sugar Body Scrubs
Making your own sugar scrub is one of the easiest beauty DIY’s you can try. And it is so cheap! Making high quality scrub for so cheap might have you making way more than 3 per year. I mean, how can you resist treating yourself when it’s so cost effective? How To Make Your Own Rose Petal Body Scrub
Sugar and Rose Body Scrub from store: 6 oz jar ($0.78 per oz) = $4.68 x 3 = $14.04 per year
DIY Rose Body Scrub: 6 oz jar ($.023 per oz) = $1.35 for all ingredients x 3 = $4.05 per year
Cost Savings: $9.99 per year
Dry Shampoo
Dry Shampoo is a wonder, isn’t it? Go from greasy to fresh in an instant but using it often can cost a pretty penny. A stylist told me to use baby powder as a cost effective alternative to dry shampoo. I didn’t really want to smell like a baby’s butt so I created my own customizable powder that soaks up oil and leaves hair looking fresh.
Dry Shampoo spray from store: 6.73 oz can (.89 per oz) = $5.98 x 12 = $71.76 per year
DIY Dry Shampoo: 7 oz jar ($0.09 per oz) = $0.63 x 12 = $7.56 per year
Cost Savings: $64.20 per year
What are some things you make instead of buy? Drop us a comment!