25 DIY Household Products That Will Save You $500+ a Year

1. All-Purpose Cleanser

Here’s an all-purpose cleaner you can use on just about anything around the house that needs to get clean. It’s as simple as it gets, made out of vinegar and water, and you’ll want to take the extra step of adding in an essential oil for a fresh scent. Easily saves $30 a year from having to buy the pre-made stuff.

2. Elana’s Kitchen Cleaner

This cleanser is especially for the kitchen, and is made from a combination of peroxide and two different essential oils. It will do a great job of breaking up kitchen messes and getting things back to normal. Total annual savings of $25 or more if you use a lot of kitchen cleaner.

3. Grease-Fighting Lavender Dish Soap

Making your own dish soap is a great idea, and can save you around $20 a year depending on how often you go through your current brand. The lavender smells great while you’re doing the dishes, and leaves your hands feeling fresh.

4. All-Natural Disinfectant Spray

Here they’re using three different essential oils to make a spray that acts as a natural disinfectant all around your home. It’s as easy as spraying on and letting it dry, and no more worrying if it’s causing more harm than good when it comes to disinfecting your home.

5. Citrus Vinegar Cleaner

Another great all-purpose cleaner, this time heavy on the citrus. The good news is you don’t have to use any edible parts of the citrus fruit, so you can enjoy an orange or grapefruit, as this only uses the peels. Can clean all sorts of surfaces around your home.

6. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

This is a big find if you’re tired of watching your hard-earned money get washed away with the dishwater in the dishwasher. For a fraction of the cost of dishwater detergent at the store you can make a giant batch that gets similar results.

7. Reusable Cleaning Wipes

These will not only save your wallet from having to buy wipes again and again, but it’s an eco-friendly way to reduce the amount you’re adding to landfills each year. Use these wipes all over and when they’re used up you can wash them and use them again.

8. Homemade Furniture Polish

Ditch the Pledge and make your own, natural furniture polish. Olive oil and lemon juice are all that’s needed to make an amazing polish that does a great job and leaves behind the lemon scent that you probably get nostalgic over. Could save you $15 or more each year, based on how often you polish your furniture.

9. Best Homemade Laundry Detergent

One of the biggest household expenses is in the laundry room, and making your own laundry detergent is key if you want to save a bundle. Here’s a very effective detergent that is easy to make by the truckload and will save you a ton if you do a lot of laundry.

10. Laundry Softener

Getting your clothes clean is just one part of the process, you want them to be soft on your skin, and that’s where laundry softener comes in. You don’t have to be swayed by ads when you make your own softener for far less at home.

11. Dryer Sheets with Fabric Softener

Dryer sheets are one disposable household good that can be frustrating to use and then throw away. These reusable dryer sheets are made from sponges and can be reused over and over, with fabric softener built right into them. Save around $20 or more each year compared to brand name dryer sheets.

12. DIY Swiffer Mop Pads

The initial cost of a Swiffer mop may not be much, because they’re banking on you buying their refill pads. But you can make your own for less and use them again and again just wash and dry them as she instructs. She figures she’s saving hundreds of dollars a year from these DIY pads alone!

13. Natural Baby Powder

Use your own natural baby powder, on baby or on yourself, and forget worrying if you’re using anything harmful. It’s made from clay, flowers, and a natural powder so it smells and feels great on the skin. You can also add in essential oils if you want a stronger scent to it.

14. Foaming Hand Soap

This is more of a lifehack than a DIY hand soap, and she gives you the trick for getting the most out of the hand soap you buy at the store. She also shows you how to make your own dispenser so you don’t have to continually buy the full bottles.

15. Make Your Own Herb Garden

You can save a good amount of money each year by growing your own herbs for use in your cooking. These herbs will be fresh and all natural without any pesticides or herbicides, so you’ll actually get better, healthier herbs without paying the high cost at the store.

16. Homemade Oven Cleaner

If your oven has seen better days and you don’t want to use one of those toxic oven cleaners, you can make your own oven cleaner and get similar results for less money. It doesn’t matter how bad your oven looks before you start, this stuff works. Save money and your lungs!

17. Homemade Carpet Stain Remover

Getting out carpet stains can be a challenge, and the stain removers that are sold in stores can really add up over the year, especially if your home is prone to accidents. The simple ingredients in this recipe really do a good job of getting out tough stains.

18. Disinfecting Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Everyone’s least favorite item in the house to clean just got a little easier with this natural cleaner. It uses two ingredients you probably already have in your home, plus some essential oils so it leaves your toilet bowl smelling good, naturally!

19. Homemade Glass Cleaner

You’ll want to lose your current glass cleaner when you read all of the toxic things that’s in it. Go with a homemade, natural cleaner and you’ll still get streak-free windows and you’ll save money in the process. Not to mention you’ll breathe easier.

20. Homemade Soft Scrub

Soft Scrub works great on bathroom surfaces, and here’s a way for you to make your own, and do it with ingredients that aren’t so toxic. This not only makes cleaning the bathroom a little more pleasant, it also saves you from the cost of a name brand cleaning product all year long.

21. Tile Grout Cleaner

Cleaning tile grout is a huge undertaking, and if you’re tired of using so much elbow grease, and being disappointed when the grout cleaning products you buy don’t work, give this a try. You’ll be surprised at what these 4 ingredients can do for your grout.

22. Carpet Deodorizer

Keep your carpets smelling fresh and new with this carpet deodorizer. It’s as simple as adding your favorite essential oil to baking soda and sprinkling onto the carpeting, letting it sit, and then vacuuming it up. Great for homes with pets in them.

23. Homemade Jewelry Cleaner

You don’t have to pay for a jeweler to clean your jewelry, or resort to expensive cleaners. Make your own jewelry cleaner and keep your favorite pieces looking great all year long. You don’t have to do any scrubbing, and it cleans all sides of your jewelry at once.

24. Homemade Silver Cleaner

Keep the family silver looking its best between uses with this homemade silver cleaner. Two basic ingredients combine in this cleaner, and you probably already have them handy. No need to spend extra for a silver cleaner when you can use this as often as you’d like.

25. Make Your Own Car Cleaners

Let’s not forget our cars and trucks when it comes to spending money to keep things clean. This page has recipes for interior as well as exterior cleaners you can make yourself so you don’t have to spend a lot on pre-made soaps and cleaners for the car.