Aside from sales and discounts, one of the best ways to save money on household items is to make them last as long as possible. Not only will it save you money, but you’ll save time in the form of taking fewer trips to the store, and you’ll save resources by cutting back on waste!
And given the current pandemic, making fewer trips to the store is something we should all be doing anyway. So all in all, it’s a perfect time for a refresher course on how to make our stuff last as long as we can. And that’s exactly what I’ll be sharing with you today! :-)
So without further ado, here are 18 useful tips and tricks that will help you make your household items last longer!
16 Easy Ways To Make Household Items Last Longer
1. Candles
Make your candles last longer by placing them in the freezer before using them. It’s an easy way to harden the wax so that the candle burns down more slowly.
2. Sponges
Cut your kitchen sponges in half to get twice as much use out of them. This is especially useful for magic erasers—sometimes I’ll even cut them into fourths if I REALLY want to make the most of them!
3. Condiments
Keep jelly and sauces fresher in your fridge by turning the containers upside-down. This creates a partial vacuum inside the container, which will help prevent mold growth.
4. Cheese
Wear gloves or use a clean cloth when cutting cheese. The oils on your fingers can contribute to mold growth, so keeping those oils off the cheese will help keep it fresh!
5. Flours
Store flours in sealed bags in your freezer. They’ll stay fresh for months longer this way compared to storing them at room temperature.
6. Dryer Sheets
Cut your dryer sheets in half! The box will last twice as long, and most people won’t be able to tell the difference!
7. Toothpaste
Get every last drop out of your tube of toothpaste by cutting it open and scooping out the remnants. This trick is also useful for using up the last of your hair gel, makeup, sunscreen, or pretty much anything in a plastic bottle you can cut open!
8. Hand Soap
To make an expensive hand soap last longer, pour enough of the soap into a clean foaming hand soap bottle to fill it one-quarter of the way up. Fill the rest of the bottle with clean water, then replace the pump top. Your new foaming soap will last a LONG time!
9. Dish Soap
Put dish soap in an olive oil bottle to ensure a slower flow. You’ll use a few drops at a time, which cleans just as well and will help your soap last longer.
10. Bar Soap
Store bar soap on a clean sponge when you aren’t using it. The sponge will absorb excess moisture from the soap, helping it to dry out between uses to minimize waste and extend its lifespan.
11. Mascara
Extend the life of your mascara by adding a small amount of saline solution directly to the tube. Your mascara will look just as good, and you’ll save yourself some time and money! Read more about how it works here.
12. Resources
To save valuable resources around the house, test out the “eco-friendly” settings on your dishwasher, washing machine, printer, and other household appliances. Most eco-friendly settings work just as well as the standard settings, and they’ll save you money over time by saving water, electricity, printer ink, etc.
Learn more easy ways to be protect the environment here.
13. Artwork
Preserve your child’s artwork by coating it with a light layer of hairspray. The hairspray barrier helps to both preserve the color and prevent accidental smudges.
Learn more clever ways to use hairspray here.
14. Garden Hose
Giving your garden hose a little bit of TLC can go a long way toward making it last longer! First and foremost, make sure to store it out of direct sunlight when you’re not using it.
And second, clean it off as needed. It doesn’t need to look brand new, but the cleaner it looks, the more motivated you’ll feel to keep it clean and in good repair.
15. Vacuum
A well-maintained vacuum can serve you faithfully for years! Make sure to empty the canister after every use, and clean or replace the filters according to the guidelines in your vacuum’s user manual.
Learn more about how to keep your vacuum in good repair here.
16. Rugs & Carpets
The key to keeping your rugs and carpets looking like new as long as possible? Keep them clean! Vacuum them regularly to remove loose dirt, and have them professionally cleaned at least once a year to remove ground in dirt and grime.
17. Nail Polish
Nail polish lasts much longer when stored in the fridge as opposed to room temperature. Keep in mind that it will be thicker and harder to apply while it’s cold, so just plan on taking the bottle out of the fridge about 30 minutes before painting your nails.
Find out what other unusual items last longer in your fridge here.
18. Skincare Products
High-end skincare products often come at a premium, so it’s important to apply them in a way that minimizes waste! One way to do this is by dabbing them on using only the very tips of your fingers.
When you apply skincare products by rubbing them in with your palms, a lot of the product gets absorbed into your hands. But by using just your fingertips, you ensure that most of the product remains where you want it—on your face! You’ll end up using your product more judiciously and it will save you money in the long run.
Do you have a favorite tip or trick for making things last?
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