If you were walking through a parking lot and spotted a $10 bill lying on the ground, you’d pick it up, right? Well, you can save at least that much just as easily by employing some or all these money-saving hacks around your house. 

1. DIY DISHWASHER TABLETS

Want the convenience of dishwasher tablets without the expense? Make your own!

Combine one cup washing soda, one cup baking soda, ½ cup salt, and ½ cup lemon juice and mix well. Separate the mixture into an ice cube tray, making sure to pack each compartment tightly. Allow to dry completely before breaking out of the tray and storing in an airtight container. 

2. QUICK AND EASY CARPET CLEANER

Clean up spills and high traffic areas using cornstarch. Wipe away any large pieces or excess moisture first. Sprinkle the stain liberally with cornstarch and allow it to sit for at least 20 minutes then vacuum the area thoroughly. This works because the cornstarch absorbs any greasy, grimy residue left in the carpet. 

3. ORGANIZE CABLES AND WIRES

If you have a drawer full of tangled cables and wires, you can organize the mess fast by using toilet paper tubes. Simply wind cables neatly, grouping like cables together. Slide an empty toilet paper tube around the group to keep them in place and label each one accordingly. The next time you need a specific cable, you’ll know exactly where it is, and you won’t waste any precious time untangling it.

4. FIX LEAKY FAUCETS AND SHOWER HEADS

There’s no need to head out for plumber’s tape to fix that leaky faucet or shower head. If you have a pair of rubber gloves lying around, snip off a piece long enough to go around the threaded part of your shower head. Once in place, screw the two pieces back together and voila! No more leak!

5. DIY TISSUE HOLDER

Don’t spend extra for those pretty boxes of tissue – make your own instead! 

Simply grab an empty mason jar and spray paint it to match your room. Don’t forget to paint the lid, too. Open a box of generic tissues, take out about ⅓ of them (keep them folded just as they were in the box), and place them in the mason jar. Add the lid and you have your very own decorative tissue holder. 

6. MAKE YOUR OWN FLY STRIPS

Fly strips aren’t terribly expensive, but every penny counts, right? Besides, who knows what kind of chemicals exist in those sticky traps. So, here’s how you make your own.

In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp syrup, and 2 tbsp honey. Mix well then microwave until everything dissolves and the mixture thins. Stir again.

Cut several 1-inch strips from a paper grocery bag. Dip them in the mixture, coating each well. Hang each strip using a paper clip until dry and then hang the strips where pesky flies congregate most. 

7. KEEP SMELLS IN YOUR FRIDGE TO A MINIMUM

If you’ve got some funky smells coming from your fridge, or if you hope to keep smells at bay, make a DIY sachet that rivals any store-bought refrigerator freshener. Here’s what you do.

Grab yourself a dryer sheet – it can be used or not – and lay it flat on the counter. After making yourself a cup of coffee, pour some of the used grounds in the middle of the dryer sheet. Gather the sides of the sheet up and give it a twist before tying off the top. Toss the sachet into the fridge, and within an hour or two, all those funky smells will be history. 

This blog is sponsored by Property Spark.