frugal living concept with money notepad calculator on tabletop

Simple Tricks to Make Household Stuff Last Longer, Stretch Farther

/Updated /63 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt

Being wasteful is easy, especially when everything seems to be so plentiful and simple to replenish. Just order more. Or run to the store, right? Sure, we love to buy things on sale but that’s not the only way—nor the best way—to cut costs. Discovering simple ways to make things last longer and stretch farther is a surefire way to save time and money

frugal living concept with money notepad calculator on tabletop

Blue Dawn

Our favorite degreaser and all-around amazing product, Blue Dawn, typically comes super concentrated. Read the label. It says it right there … “concentrated.” Here’s a great tip: Don’t use Blue Dawn straight out of its container. Dilute it.

I’ve used the same sturdy recycled glass decanter for more than 10 years now. It has no lid, cap, or cork which makes it super easy to dispense. I keep the jug of Blue Dawn on a shelf in my laundry room. It’s out of sight, and not that easy to grab mindlessly. When the decanter needs a refill, I eyeball 5 parts water to 1 part Blue Dawn.

Sponges

Cut your sponges in half to immediately double the number of sponges and cut the price per sponge in half. Using 1/2 of a sponge is as easy and efficient as using a whole one. It packs as much grime-fighting ability as a whole sponge. So, you can get twice the utility out of one sponge by cutting it into two pieces, which immediately cost your sponge cost by 50%.

Foaming handsoap

Mix your nice hand soap with water and dispense from a foam handwash bottle. The bottle’s mechanism will create the foam, and your nice liquid hand soap will last three to four times longer.

Here’s what you do:

  1. Choose soap. Anything liquid will do… body wash, hand soap, whatever you have on hand.
  2. Pour 4 parts water and 1 part soap into the container. (About 4/5 full of water and the other 5th soap).
  3. Apply the pump top, and gently roll the container around to combine without vigorously shaking it.

There you go—foaming soap!

Pro Tip

Attempting to recycle the container of a foaming hand soap bottle that doesn’t easily unscrew to allow for refilling with liquid soap, more than likely is not going to work. That’s because it, like the sprayer on a bottle of window cleaner, is meant to be disposable. It’s one and done. Investing in a few refillable foaming soap pump containers will give you amazing returns for a very long time.

Shower gel

Apply shower gel to a washcloth or loofah, instead of directly to your skin, and it will last many times longer! Just a small squirt will produce endless lather. That’s all it takes. But if you pump it directly, you’ll use way more than necessary.

Bar soap

If you prefer traditional bar soap, make it last by letting it fully dry between uses. For even better results, keep it away from the steamy shower area. Use a soap dish with holes for air circulation. Here’s a tip: lather it up with a washcloth or loofah instead of your hands, and you’ll use much less.

Don’t toss away those leftover bits when the bar has been spent. Turn them into soap balls instead. Gather the pieces, grate them into the same sizes using a cheese grater, and shape them into a ball. Who knows, you might even create something similar to grandma’s fancy guest-room soaps.

Shampoo

Dilute shampoo with water and a small amount will still work just as well—and last up to twice as long. Do even better by extending the length of time between shampoos. For most, washing hair every two to three days is sufficient—and a good idea. Oily hair gets a bad rap. The sebum your scalp produces is vital to healthy, shiny hair.

Despite what shampoo commercials lead us to believe, washing your hair too often can be a key contributor to a bad hair day. Hair that is completely free of this natural oil can feel coarse, dull, and difficult to style. Also, pay attention to the amount you use—a quarter-size dollop is sufficient for medium-length hair.

Laundry detergent

Modern detergents are highly concentrated. If you’re pouring a whole cap for each load of laundry, you’re using too much—maybe even twice as much as necessary. Marking the fill lines on the cap with a permanent marker so you can see them better. Those lines are so faint, it’s easy to pour out too much detergent without realizing it, and that not only a big waste, it’s going to give you bigger problems in the long run.

If you use the “dump” method of adding laundry detergent to the washing machine, I can nearly guarantee you’re using too much! Get out the owner manual to see what is recommended. Measure carefully. Every. Time.

Unless you have super hard water, chances are good you can use even less and still get great results, especially if you have a front-loader, which by its very nature uses very little water. EXAMPLE: I use one tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent plus borax per load in my front-loading washer.

Toilet tissue

It’s human nature to be super wasteful when it appears that we have things like toilet paper, paper towels, and other paper goods in abundance. But discover you have what’s left on the roll to last until you can get to the store and watch how clever you and the family can be to make it last.

The way to be that careful all the time it to create an appearance of scarcity. On purpose. Don’t fill the bathroom cabinet with 5 rolls of extra toilet paper. Make it one. Then store the rest in a place that’s not exactly convenient. Perhaps in the basement, on a high shelf, or under a bed.

Even the kids will get a sense that they need to go easy when it appears you’re about to run out. Repeat this trick with other things that seem to disappear overnight. Surprisingly perhaps, even the person creating this sense of scarcity will naturally be more careful. Out of sight, out of mind. It works like a charm.

Toothpaste

Keep the scissors handy. When you can’t squeeze out any more toothpaste from the tube, don’t waste several more days’ worth of paste. Cut the tube open and use your toothbrush to scoop out what you need.

Pro Tip

Once you cut a tube of toothpaste or lotion to retrieve the last bit before throwing it in the trash, store the cut tube in a zip-type plastic bag between uses to prevent it from drying out.

Candles

Candles are great to set the mood in a room, but they can get pricey. Before you light them up, give them a quick chill in the freezer. This makes the wax harder, so they’ll burn for a longer stretch.

And here’s another nugget of wisdom from our friend, Bob Vila: “Once your candle has been glowing for a while, sprinkle a little salt into the melted wax. This nifty move will slow down the burn for your next cozy moment. Enjoy the candlelit vibes!”

Razors

Even with inexpensive disposable razors, you can make them last longer by following some good shaving habits. Rinse off all shaving cream, lotion, or products from the blades after use. Gently pat the razor dry and store it in a cool, dry spot (your shower isn’t the right place). This will maintain the blades’ strength and prevent rust, giving them a longer life.

Shoes

Shoes were one of the first things to be worn out, then repaired—often over and over—during the Great Depression. So, instead of saying goodbye to your favorite pair of shoes, try fixing them. Tape up any holes from the inside, then seal holes or open seams with an adhesive like Shoe Goo. You can also easily clean up a dirty pair of tennis shoes with toothpaste.

Clean dirt and remove salt stains from shoes and boots as soon as you notice them, to avoid any permanent damage.

Paint

Store paint cans upside down. Really! That forms a completely airtight seal, extending the useful lifespan of house paint. Make sure the lids are tightly closed for this longevity trick to work.

Garden hose

The sun’s UV rays slowly destroy garden hoses made of plastic. If you can’t keep your garden hose out of the sun, wipe it down with Armor All or a similar protectant in the spring and again midsummer. Set the hose on plastic or cardboard, spray the whole thing down and then wipe it with a rag.

Sneakers

To make your old sneakers look new again, grab an old toothbrush and some non-gel white toothpaste. This works best for white-soled sneakers. And you want to avoid colored toothpaste as it might stain instead of clean.

Brush the toothpaste onto the dirty areas using the toothbrush, let it sit for ten minutes it so, and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. If needed, do the process again.

Sharpies

It’s quite easy to bring dead Sharpie pens back to life. To get started, remove the back from the maker. This will differ for each brand of permanent marker. For Sharpies remove the back nib.

Next, deposit a few drops of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol onto the felt material inside. Shake the marker a bit to ensure the rubbing alcohol is absorbed. It’s the solvent that the ink is mixed with that dries out first, making the pigment unable to flow. Once the felt absorbs the rubbing alcohol for a couple of minutes, the marker will be practically good as new!

Lipstick

When you reach the bottom of a tube, use a lip brush or a cotton swab to get at the remaining lipstick. You won’t believe how much product remains even when you think you’ve reached the end.

Pro Tip

Scoop your lipstick leftovers into an empty lip gloss pot for easy on-the-go use.

Spray dispensers

Set the spray nozzle to the lowest mist setting. Less coming out means you’ll use less which means—that product will last longer!

Clothing

As a general rule, turn clothing inside out before laundering. It’s a simple way to prevent pilling. And zip those zippers! The teeth on a zipper can act as a tiny chainsaw through the agitation and tumbling activity of a washing machine, boring holes in t-shirts and gnawing the heck out of fabric.

You might not notice it the first or second laundering, but over time, open zippers will shorten the life of everything you launder with them.

Food

Food spoilage is often the result of improper storage. Learn more about how to store the foods that you eat regularly to keep things fresh longer.

Salad greens

Placing a paper towel in with your salad greens or lettuce will keep them fresh all week long. The paper towel will absorb the moisture, which is the culprit for wilting lettuce.

Cheese

Spread a thin layer of butter to the cut ends of a block of cheese to keep it from drying out and to stave off the green mold.

Milk

Buy organic milk. It lasts a lot longer, and it’s better for you anyway. Make it last even longer: Drop a pinch of table salt into that new container of milk. Salt will retard the development of bacteria, extending its useful, fresh life.

Refrigerator

If you are at all interested in making your refrigerator last longer (repair bills are horrible, the early death of an appliance even worse), vacuum the condenser coil in your refrigerator every three months (once a month if you have pets). Check the owner manual to discover where that coil is and how to reach it.

Garbage disposal

Clean it. Often! It will last longer and you’ll be much happier when that lovely appliance works well and doesn’t stink!

The metal part of the garbage disposal in a kitchen sink produces ions that can help kill germs, but they love to grow on the crevices in and around the slimy rubber splash guard. Your disposal can become a real breeding ground for bacteria, contaminating your hands, and everything you touch, like your dishes and utensils. All that rotting gunk and grime can cause quite a stink, too!

Here is everything you need to know and the steps you need to take once every month. Yes, it is a minor chore, but oh the payoff!

 

Everyday Cheapskate participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

More from Everyday Cheapskate

female hand wiping painted wall with microfiber cloth

How to Wash Painted Walls Without Streaks or Wrecked Paint

Free Summer Activities for Kids Who Are So Bored little girl running through the sprinklers

Free Summer Activities for Kids Who Are “So Bored”

backyard bbq party for memorial day menu planning

5 Memorial Day Menus You Can Pull Off Without Stress

open refrigerator in kitchen reduce food waste in summer

The Fridge Habit That Cuts Summer Food Waste

homemade beeswax furniture polish woman wiping cutting board

How to Make Beeswax Furniture Polish From Scratch

woman walking with basket down store aisle grocery items with the biggest price increases

5 Grocery Items Seeing the Biggest Price Increases Now

japanese chicken wings recipe

Easy Japanese Chicken Wings for Parties and Potlucks

northern colorado home backyard upgrades on a budget two comfortable chairs and patio umbrella for shade

The Backyard Change That Kept Us Home More Often

when to open and close windows to keep house cool

The “Open It or Close It” Rule That Lowers Your Power Bill



Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines



Caught yourself reading all the way 'til the end? Why not share with a friend.

63 replies
  1. Elisabeth says:

    I can’t visualize how a recycled glass decanter (no top) works at my kitchen sink. Doesn’t it easily spill and get messy when the family uses it?

    Reply
  2. Pat A Weiser says:

    My hobby is painting, so I own a paint squeezer. For anything in a tube, use the paint squeezer to get everything to the top and then hold it there with those heavy office clips. just keep rolling it as the contents are used, then cut the top to get the last dregs. BTW, this implement is not expensive.

    Reply
  3. Vicki P. says:

    For cleaning running and walking shoes, I use Resolve or other spray rug cleaner for spots. Also a toothbrush. And the toothbrush is good for getting mud or other things off your clothes and Swede shoes or boots.

    Reply
  4. Kat says:

    For slowing down TP use, when my kids were young and would pull the roll hard, making it spin and taking a lot, I simply squashed the roll before putting it on the dispenser, and it no longer rolled as freely. That slowed them way down!

    Reply
  5. jd wolfe says:

    i have tops that are 30 years old that i wear often that still look great. how? they never go in the dryer! wash inside out, cold water only. moderate cycle. hang on clothes rack to dry. i put very few of my clothes in the dryer. never my lingerie. i wash 99% of my garments – down clothing, silk foundation layers and silk scarves, high performance gloves, wool and wool/silk scarves, etc. they all get gentle treatment in the washer, often in a lingerie bag, and hang to dry on clothes rack. kids clothes can go in the dryer, but not anything i value. if you want your jeans to last forever, just hang them to dry. my two pair are probably 20 years old. i spend very little on clothing, often buying from thrift stores, and almost never spend on drycleaning.

    Reply
  6. Joan says:

    I use beautiful blue Dawn in my foaming hand soap dispenser. It is a pretty light blue that matches my bathroom decor. It cleans hands well and if I notice a stain on any clothing, I use it as a spot pretreat then throw it in the hamper. It also cleans my eye glasses safely in this diluted state.

    Reply
  7. Charlie O. says:

    Here’s a BIGGY: Don’t use the self-cleaning feature on your oven. It can ruin the control board and/the temperature sensor. Clean it the old-fashioned way.

    Reply
    • Pat A Weiser says:

      It’s not Charlie’s opinion. I had a repair person tell me the same thing. After I self-cleaned it a couple of times, I noticed the crazing in the finish where the controls are. I won’t do it anymore.

      Reply
  8. Jean Marshall says:

    I save up the bits of left over bar soap and put them into a little knitted or crocheted bag with drawstrings and use that in the shower.

    Reply
  9. j d wolfe says:

    to keep cheese mold free FOREVER, it seems, use a zipper type bag or a plastic container with a tight fitting lid and wrap the cheese with a piece of cloth (i use a clean kitchen towel) damp with cider vinegar. re-wet the towel as needed. i buy large chunks of cheddar cheese and they keep mold free and in original condition for weeks. never get hard or moldy treated with vinegar rag.

    Reply
  10. Robin says:

    Dear Mary,
    I love all of your wonderful ideas and very often send them to my friends and relatives!
    My sister told me to do this with my hand creams and toothpaste and I thought you might like to know her trick. She cuts an inch or two of the sealed end of the tube off and uses that part to slide over and cover the open tube. You can truly completely use up whatever is in it! I wish I could attach a photo!
    Thank you for all of your great ideas and especially for your encouragement in these difficult times!
    Robin

    Reply
  11. Debbie Matthew says:

    I live in a drought-stricken area (SW Colorado) and so to conserve water, I keep a big beautiful flower vase by my kitchen sink. In my home it takes a bit to get hot water to my faucet so I catch the water until it reaches a warm temperature, I hate to see all this beautiful and expensive and dwindling supply of water running down the drain! I then transfer that water to a collection bucket which I use to water plants(flowers, ornamental, garden) or flush the toilet(which I only flush every second or third time that I wee). I have an older water saver toilet tank with the older flushing mechanism so I am able to fill the tank after it flushes and while it’s refilling. I haven’t dealt with the newer flushing mechanisms so I am not knowledgeable as if this is possible. My water usage for a month is usually less that 1000 gallons, clothes washing machine included!) Anyway, there is always a use for this extra water and whether there’s a way to be more budget/cost efficient or just being aware of conserving water is a great challenge to try.

    Reply
  12. Nancy says:

    I gave up Fabric softener a few years ago. I use good wool dryer balls and I think my clothes are softer and less wrinkled. They also do not have all the extra chemicals infused which acts as a dirt magnet.

    Reply
  13. Linda D Radosevich says:

    I am so lucky to have been born to parents who lived through the Depression! Everything was “use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.” My mom was a tin foil, plastic wrap, rubber band saver! Dad fixed everything from our cars, lawn mowers, appliances…you name it. And built furniture! Mom sewed some of my clothes.

    Reply
    • Debbie Matther says:

      I so agree with you and what your parents practiced! I am so saddened to see what people throw away or hire someone to fix something that is so easily fixable themselves rather of doing a little research. I am an elderly female and all my neighbors come to me when they need help in projects. I don’t do shabby and I also know my limits but I love a challenge and do my research as in YouTube. I wish we would go back to re fixing and stop all this re fusing(as in trash refuse).

      Reply
  14. Belle Mieloch says:

    Mary when we replaced our counter top and put I new faucet in. We also had a built in dispenser for the Dawn dish washing soap put in. One pump gives a small amount of soap. Less than the size of a dime no wasted soap. Holds 16 oz. Ours are Moen but I am sure other brands have them too.

    Reply
  15. Imogene says:

    You start the article out by talking about sales. My mother’s adage was “It May be on sale but it’s not on sale for you.”
    I even remind my adult childrens when they seem eager to buy buy buy.

    Reply
  16. Patricia Goff says:

    Most of the things I buy are through Hip2Save or Kroger Krazy blogs. I use survey dollars to buy stuff on Amazon but I still buy it on sale and never pay full price for it if possible. I stock up when things are on sale (not a stockpiler) and always use coupons, rebates, and rebates apps. I put the money back in my checking account whenever possible. I never buy it unless it is something we need and is on sale. LOL

    Reply
  17. Bill F. says:

    My toothpaste tube is in a holder that holds it in a vertical position. When the tube is mostly empty, I keep it upside down in the holder with the cap on the bottom and let gravity do the work of getting all of the toothpaste down to the end of the tube. Very little waste and empties easily.

    Reply
  18. Sheila Rose says:

    If you use a rolling on deodorant, when it gets low turn it upside down for a lot more use. If the top isn’t flat, put it in a short glass.

    Reply
  19. Jenni says:

    I put the Dawn and water in my foam pump and it worked fine for a while. Then it failed.
    I let it completely dry out and tried again. It takes muscle to get any soap out now, and doesn’t “produce” until the pump is 3/4 of the way down. Any suggestions? Anyone?

    Reply
  20. Annie Walker says:

    With toilet paper…just step on the roll to flatten it (flatten the curve works in other situations too) and this makes it really hard for a child to just let the roll spin. It might be annoying, but it works. We also have an “invert bowl” (which is pretty and decorative and matches our bathroom) where we place our “last of the bottle” situations. We use a corner of the bathroom tub to hold the bottle while it sits in the pretty bowl. Once the item is used up…the bowl looks like decor again.

    You are the best Mary!

    Annie

    Reply
  21. Jo says:

    We save all those little shards of hand soap, then slice them up, pop them in the blender with a cup of water, blend thoroughly and put them in a liquid dispense (old shampoo bottle work well) and voila, liquid hand soap!

    Reply
  22. Leslie says:

    Consider adding an inexpensive bidet attachment to your toilet. Mine cost about $30 on Amazon; it’s cold water only, but it’s really, really just fine and then you can easily install it yourself without having to worry about a hot water line. We use virtually no toilet paper at all anymore; we have towels on labeled hooks near the throne. We keep TP for guests. Cheaper in the long run, and way better for our septic system. And when everybody else is hoarding TP, you’re good to go. Oh, oddly enough, it actually uses less water overall than TP because it takes a ton of water to make TP.

    Reply
  23. Pat C says:

    I had read that detergent manufacturers didn’t make it easy to put in the right amount, so that we would use too much and they would sell more detergent. So that i don’t overuse the liquid laundry detergent, I transfer it from the giant 150 oz container to an Ivory dish soap bottle. I counted how long I had to squeeze it to get the correct amount. In my case, it’s 4 seconds for 1/4 cup. So I just start squirting it in the washer while counting, 1, 1000, 2, 1000, 3, 1000 4, 1000. Or you can measure into a PLASTIC measuring cup and then throw the measuring cup into the washing machine. It won’t hurt the machine or measuring cup. Whatever you do, don’t try to use the measuring cap that comes with the 150 oz container. It’s too inaccurate. See reason above.

    Reply
  24. Mike Schwietzer says:

    How to stop coffee filters from sagging and having grounds in your coffee.
    I just found a simple way to stop cheap coffee filters from falling down. All you have to do is remove the filter carrier, place the filter in and put in a little tap water. Slosh the water around so the filter is thoroughly wet, including up to the edges. It should easily stick to the side of the carrier.
    Just add coffee and shake slightly to level it and you are ready for coffee minus the grounds. Obviously this is not for the Keurig folks.
    Mike

    Reply
  25. John K says:

    How do you convert regular liquid soap to the kind that works with foaming dispensers?

    I assume dilute with water, but how much water to how much soap, and how do you mix it so it’s not all bubbly?

    Reply
    • Anne says:

      This is my foam soap recipe – no measuring, just eye it. Distilled water, 60% of the container, liquid soap, 20% and leave 20% air in order to create the foam.

      Reply
      • Anne says:

        Oh, and just shake the dispenser to mix it, the bubbles will settle down. This is such an inexpensive way to make foam handsoap.

  26. Kay Seiler says:

    I strongly disagree that foaming hand soap dispensers can’t be refilled and reused. I’ve been doing that with two for years. The only requirements are 1) Refill 50/50 with soap and water, mix. 2) Do NOT use creamy soaps, only clear. They’re simply too thick.

    Reply
  27. Anne says:

    To save toilet paper, gently squeeze the roll until the cardboard center is creased. This slows down the unrolling of the paper off of the dispenser when you pull it, so it doesn’t just fly off the roll.

    Reply
  28. Jackie says:

    Someone gave this tip to me a long time ago and it really works. If you smash the toilet paper before you add it to your toilet paper dispenser then you will use MUCH less. It will only unroll so many sheets and kids especially will get tired of trying to unroll more than they need. I also use old wash rags for wiping my self. I have a lot of health problems and when I tend to have too loose movements it is easier to use the old wash rag than the TP. I have a special bucket that I put a couple drops of laundry detergent in and let them soak for a couple days until I am ready to wash them. I drain the water into the toilet and was the toilet bowl and just wash the washrags in the washer. My husbands Grandmother who was in her 70’s when I married my husband told me this. only she said t make sure that the rags were not poured down the outhouse hole or you would loose them. (she used a out house for over 60 years until her youngest daughter bought a single wide trailer for her parents and put it on her property). It took Ma almost a year to get used to what she called a inside outhouse.

    Reply
  29. Susan M says:

    When making my liquid laundry detergent, it’s almost impossible to get the borax to dissolve.. I discovered that if I use my salad spinner… gently….. cold water, and rub the smaller lumps in between my fingers it disolves SO much quicker! Of course you always have to give your container a gentle shake before measuring it out but still.. no more lumps!

    Reply
    • Jeannie says:

      Susan…I, too, have found borax difficult to dissolve completely. That is a good tip. But…I have just in the last week given up on this homemade laundry soap recipe because I continually find bleach streaks in my towels where the color is removed. And several days ago, I washed a very nice coat and found a small bleached spot on the arm. I cannot figure out why this happens, but I’m done ruining good towels and clothing! I bought a huge jug of Arm and Hammer, sadly. Anyone have thoughts?

      Reply
      • JDC says:

        Yes, what is probably happening is you wash your whites first or while you’ve got laundry sitting on the floor. If you’ve got a front load washer, some bleach water is held in the seals and maybe on the door glass/plastic. It sometimes drips onto your laundry, or gets mixed in.

        I learned this after ruining several pieces of clothing. I now do whites last (so the door being left open eventually dries everything out) and no other pieces around on the floor to get hit. I also switched to dried bleach packets. Never goes bad either.

    • Marion says:

      I have made this laundry detergent for years. I start my hot water running and add the borax, arm a hammer and Dawn to my gallon container then put in about three cups really hot water. I swirl it around until the powder is dissolved. Then I fill the gallon container with the rest of the water. My kids made fun of me until they need to use my machine and detergent too. Now they make their own too.

      Reply
  30. amanda richards says:

    I have 3 daughters and we all have very long hair. I buy a good quality conditioner for us, but before I put in the shower, I pour off 1/4 of the bottle into another bottle for later and top the first bottle off with water. Since the conditioner is so thick, the water is easily absorbed and it lasts a lot longer.

    Reply
  31. Gina Stevens says:

    When I bought my Speed Queen washer, the sales person warned against using liquid fabric softener straight. He said cut it in half with water. It’s better for the washer and still offers the same benefits. Thanks, Mary.

    Reply
    • Bookworm says:

      Try 1/2 cup white vinegar instead of commercial fabric softener. I compared towels washed without any softener and those washed with vinegar, and I was amazed at how much the vinegar softens. Of course it sanitizes also.

      Reply
      • Barbara J Pire says:

        I totally agree with using vinegar for that last rinse!! I too won’t use anything else! AND…it is cheap! And it softens fabrics!! And like Bookworm said it sanitizes!! I have been using vinegar for years!!!

    • Linda says:

      I understand that using liquid fabric softener cuts down the absorbency of towels etc
      I myself don’t use fabric softener.

      Reply
  32. Ruth says:

    To use less toilet paper Spread Your „Cheeks „ when sitting on the toilet. That way you need less paper to clean yourself.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      OK … this is funny! Not saying that it doesn’t work, just that you gave me a good laugh. We have to remember that … laughter is like good medicine and who doesn’t need a good dose of that 🙂

      Reply
      • Bonnie Alcorn says:

        A meme I saw earlier suggested that if you spray your bottom with “Pam” or a similar product it will conserve on toilet paper because nothing sticks to it!

      • Barb says:

        During the CoVid toilet paper shortage- I invested $30.00 in a Bidet attachment for my sink. It has a tube to reach my toilet located next to the sink. It has a toggle switch that diverts the water either into the sink faucet or into the bidet. You do not need any toilet paper at all!

    • Mary Hunt says:

      Fixed! So sorry about that, everyone. I’m moving at the speed of light out here, trying to keep all the plates spinning. So grateful for your eyes to find errors like this. Never hesitate to let me know!

      Reply
  34. Belle Mieloch says:

    When I was a child.I told to use 3 sheets of TP for liquid and 5 for solid. This worked well and I still do this. Sometimes you need more for a second wipe with solid but you will be amazed at how much TP you save.
    I use French milled soap and when it get down to a small piece I put it in A mason jar when it is half full I add hot water to make liquid soap. This can be done with any bar soap.I love to save money, Belle

    Reply
  35. Rosalie says:

    Used toothbrushes are wonderful for cleaning crevices in shower doors, sliding doors, and jewelry, etc. All small, narrow spaces may benefit.
    Also use children’s (water color) paint brushes to brush dead, outdoor “critters” from our post lamp sockets before changing the light pulbs. Keeps them out of the bottom of the socket.

    Reply
  36. Christina Copeland says:

    When your antiperspirant/deodorant is down to the plastic dispenser, carefully scrape out remainder into small glass bowl, pop into the microwave for a few seconds and pour on top of another deodorant that has been retracted to accommodate the extra. You will most likely have another month of use out of something that would have been thrown out.

    Reply
  37. Yehudit R says:

    When the tube of hand lotion or body cream is empty, cut it in half crosswise. You’ll be aurprised at how much is still in there. To close tube use one half to cover the cut end of the other half.

    Reply
    • Rosalie says:

      When face washcloths become “old” their tag is marked with an “x” (black sharpie) and used for cleaning, polishing cloths. Kitchen tea towels, too.

      Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      GREAT tip, Mark! How about this: You go to Tips.EverydayCheapskate.co and enter this in our Monthly Tips Contest! Every month, 3 winners: $100, $50 and $25 … CASH PRIZES people! Either by Paypal or Amazon eCard.
      Everyone: You’re all invited. It’s FREE, so much fun and well, CASH PRIZES. We’re gearing up now to announce this new Everyday Cheapskate Feature, EC2, to the public. That means your chances of winning are really good now before the masses pour in. They will 🙂

      Reply
      • Genny says:

        In ref to make ‘any’ hand soap into the foam soap by putting it in a foam soap dispenser – Do you dilute your regular liquid hand soap or just pour it into that foam dispenser?

      • Mary Hunt says:

        Here’s what you do:

        Choose soap. Anything will do… body wash, hand soap, whatever you have on hand.

        Pour 4 parts water and 1 part soap into the container. (About 4/5 full of water and the other 5th soap).
        Apply the pump top, and gently roll the container around to combine, without vigorously shaking it.

        There you go—foaming soap!

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *