We buy washing machines, refrigerators, and air-con units to make our lives more convenient, but these cost a lot of money. If you’re looking for something that helps at home without breaking the bank, you can start with these 18 items.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is useful for many things around the home. It can be used as a cleaning product for windows, mirrors, and other sleek surfaces without leaving streaks behind. It can also act as a natural deodorant and stain remover, and it can even be used as a fabric softener during laundry.
Baking Soda
Baking isn’t the only activity this everyday household product can be used for. Baking soda is excellent at absorbing odors from carpets or refrigerators. It doubles as a gentle scrub for tough stains, and Verywell Health tells us that baking soda is even a common remedy for heartburn.
Rubber Bands
Rubber bands are some of the cheapest and most versatile organizers you can have around your home. You can use them to assemble cables and other loose items, provide extra grip on your jars or bottle lids, or even seal open food packages to maintain freshness.
Duct Tape
Duct tapes are made of intertwined fabric, which makes them some of the strongest adhesives you’ll find. They are a great item to always have, as you can use them to seal packages, patch holes, and do general repairs around the house. The best part is that it works on wood, stone, plaster, metal, and most surfaces at home.
Flashlights
Flashlights are portable devices you can carry around your home and in your car. They really help you perform tasks without too much difficulty at night or in poorly lit areas. You’d find them particularly handy during power outages or as signal lights in emergency situations where you’re stranded or in distress.
Scented Candles
While ordinary candles just help illuminate dark areas during power outages, scented candles have an extra benefit—they add fragrance to the room, too! Times points out that some are even infused with ingredients like eucalyptus, peppermint, and sandalwood that help reduce stress.
Sewing Kit
Sewing kits are useful when you need to quickly patch up torn clothes or when you have to repair buttons on your shirts and pants. They help you save some money on minor inconveniences, and you also don’t have to worry about storage space as sewing kits are typically compact.
Notebooks and Pens
Having a notebook and pen comes in handy when you need to jot down grocery shopping lists, reminders for events, or important notes you’d like to store physically and securely. They can also be used for creative writing or journaling activities.
Basic Toolkit
Toolkits with hammers, screwdriver sets, and pliers, among other things, can be really useful if you need to make DIY home repairs or home improvements. The best part is that they also save you money on hiring professional services to do minor tasks.
Measuring Tape
Another item you’ll find useful for home improvement tasks is a measuring tape. This can be used to get precise dimensions from your materials, ensuring that they fit accurately and sturdily. They’re also useful for tailoring clothes and are pretty small, so don’t take up too much space in your home.
Reusable Shopping Bags
Instead of getting plastic bags that you throw out immediately, you should opt for reusable bags. These fabric bags are stronger and more durable for grocery runs, and they are also more eco-friendly than their plastic counterparts. You also get to save money on shopping bags in the long run!
First Aid Kit
Visiting the hospital after an incident is your best option, but we all know how expensive these visits can be. With a first aid kit, you can take care of minor injuries on your own or manage emergency situations before the professionals arrive. Sadly, the CDC says 44% of Americans don’t see these benefits. You shouldn’t be one of them!
Super Glue
Super glue is a quick and strong adhesive you can use on broken items made of metal, ceramic, leather, rubber, vinyl, and many other materials. They’re economical alternatives for extending the life of your everyday items. And you’ll also find them useful during your arts and crafts sessions if you’re into that.
Zip Ties
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, versatile tool you can use to organize items around your house, zip ties can be just right for you. Although they’re made of plastic, they’re strong and durable one-way locks that help you secure things together, especially electrical cables and wires.
Safety Pins
Safety pins can be your saviors for emergency clothes repairs. They can serve as temporary, makeshift buttons or zippers when you lose one. They also help you secure loose clothing items. The best part about safety pins is that you can carry them virtually anywhere you go.
Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foil is so useful for your cooking sessions. It can be used to wrap and store food in the refrigerator and even comes in handy to prevent messes on the kitchen counter. You’d be surprised, but the Spruce finds that you can use them to sharpen your knives as well.
Magnets
Magnets are nifty tools for hanging notes, lists, or photos on refrigerators; they also help you organize small, potentially dangerous metal items like pins, nails, and blades. What’s more, you can even get magnets specifically made for your books and knives.
Disposable Gloves
Disposable gloves will be useful when you want to clean or handle messy substances. They prevent you from cross-contaminating different surfaces or foods with your hand, and the fact that they’re disposable makes cleaning up afterward so much easier. If you’re eco-conscious, however, plastic gloves aren’t the best for the environment so try using reusable rubber gloves instead.
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