Simple Tricks to Make Household Stuff Last Longer, Stretch Farther
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
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:
- Choose soap. Anything liquid 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!
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!
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!
Expanded & Updated 1-5-24
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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Awesome! Great idea …
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.
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
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.
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.