10 Easy DIY Home Hacks That Will Improve Your Life

Let’s face it: in an economy like ours, we are all trying to find ways to scrimp and save money. There are many small things you can do around the house to save a few bucks, and improve the cleanliness of your home, and your general quality of life. With some careful thought and planning, and a little bit of elbow grease, you can stretch your dollars a lot farther and make your home a better place at the same time.

Use Vinegar and Baking Soda to Clean Drains

Natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda are far less expensive than commercially available cleaning products, and for most jobs around the house, these two innocuous ingredients will do you right. Baking soda is an incredibly powerful deodorizer and cleanser. It can be used to scour away grease, rust, and limescale. Adding vinegar into the mix makes for a foaming, powerful cleanser that you can use on nearly any surface.

Install a Water Filtration System for Clean Drinking Water

You don’t need to hire a professional plumber to install a water filtration system–many systems can be installed by DIY-ers. According to the experts at All Filters, installing inline and refrigerator filters is something just about any homeowner can tackle, and even taking on an undersink reverse osmosis system installation isn’t too difficult for a confident home handyman or woman. Don’t get in over your head, and know when to call in the pros–water damage won’t help anything–but for simple installs, challenge yourself and give it a try.

Create a DIY Phone Stand From Binder Clips

The number of small metal and plastic peripherals, attachments, and accessories for our various electronic devices these days is getting ridiculous. Rather than forking over hard-earned cash for an extruded piece of plastic, be inventive and use things like binder clips to make a home-made cell phone stand.

Use Command Hooks to Organize Cables

Electronics are great, but cords are ugly and annoying. Don’t run the risk of tripping over your video game controller cords, sending an expensive console crashing to the ground. Exposed cables and plugs detract from the aesthetics of the room as well. Use command hooks to keep cables together, routed along a single line, so that they look sleek, and don’t trip anybody up.

Make a Homemade Air Freshener With Essential Oils

Want to improve the scent of your kitchen or bedroom? Try using natural ingredients, like orange peels, spices, and essential oils. A warming pad can be used to heat essential oils or scented candles, suffusing your living spaces with subtle smells of jasmine, orange, lilac, or whatever you prefer.

Repurpose Old Jars for Storage

Human beings create waste at an alarming rate, and we are all painfully aware of the detriments of the single-use plastic item as our oceans fill with microplastics, and they are found even within our blood. Small efforts, such as reusing jars for storage purposes after a food product is finished can help to slightly minimize waste, and save you money.

Use a Squeegee to Remove Pet Hair From Carpets

Strange as it may sound, using a squeegee–just like the tool you use at the gas station to wipe excessive liquid off of your windshield–on carpet is one of the best ways to remove and excess hair your dog or cat has left behind. It’s counterintuitive, but it works.

Create a Chalkboard Wall for Notes and Reminders

A simple slate board in your kitchen or front room can be a very fun addition. Not only is it a great place to write notes to yourself or your spouse, but it’s an art area for children, and a social gathering spot. If you leave an open canvas and the tools to make art on it out for all to use, people will happily make use of it.

Use a Tension Rod Under the Sink for Spray Bottles

Under sink areas are often very cluttered. One way to manage the mess is to install a telescoping tension rod under the sink. These can be found very cheap, and you can use them to hang spray bottles or hand towels.

Make a Fabric Softener Using Vinegar and Essential Oils

Vinegar is so versatile, it’s making two appearances on this list. Combining a bit of vinegar with some of your favorite essential oils can make a great fabric softener. Why spend more money for something that contains synthetic fragrances? This DIY version is cheaper, will last longer, and you can customize the scent to your liking.

Extra Tip: A Lifesaver for Busy Families

If you find yourself constantly juggling multiple family members' schedules, knowing how to replicate keys can be a real game changer. By creating spare keys for everyone in the household, you eliminate the hassle of coordinating who has the keys and when. This simple yet effective hack not only saves time and stress but also ensures that everyone has easy access to the home whenever they need it.

Conclusion

With a bit of creativity, and a willingness to take some extra time, you can find all sorts of ways to clean, improve, and spruce up the homestead with household ingredients and everyday objects. In times of economic hardship especially, the ability to find ways to save become even more important. You don’t have to be rich to make your home a wonderful place to be.