This list covers the 10 household products everyone should have on hand. They are cheap. They are versatile. They are useful. They are the must-have’s:
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
Many people have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in their medicine cabinet in case they need to disinfect a cut or scratch. But hydrogen peroxide can also be used to sanitize surfaces, clean grout from your tiles or shower, and it can also act as a stain remover. If your bottle of hydrogen peroxide is sitting in the back of your cabinet gathering dust, try using it for a different purpose. Hydrogen peroxide is cheap to start with but it becomes even cheaper if you actually use the bottle without it expiring. 🙂
2. Shampoo
Do you have piles of those small hotel shampoo bottles stored away in a cabinet or drawer somewhere? Or do you end up throwing out your shampoo bottle when there’s nothing more than a couple ounces of shampoo left? Instead of getting rid of that shampoo, you can use it for a couple other purposes. Shampoo or conditioner is a great alternative to shaving cream, for instance. If your cuticles are in desperate need of softening, adding a little shampoo to a bowl of warm water will soften them right up. A tiny drop of shampoo also works wonders if you’re trying to remove an adhesive bandage as well.
3. Distilled Vinegar
Did you know that distilled vinegar can be used for more than just cooking? If you own pets, vinegar can be used to give your dog a gorgeous shiny coat. Create a solution that is 1 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 quart water and spray or rub your pet’s coat with the mixture. It’ll save you a lot of money on fancy shampoos that promises to make your pets fur look nice and shiny. Additionally, vinegar is also good for getting rid of cat litter odor (just swish some around in the empty litter box). Vinegar also helps rid the smell of skunk if you or your pet has been sprayed.
Suggested reading: 5 Ways to Make Money if You Love Pets
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda also has many crazy uses. If you make a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water, you’ll have a great skin cream that’s cheaper than any store exfoliating cream. Additionally, baking soda can also be used to unclog drains as well as your pores. This will save you from having to call the plumber or spend money on expensive drain cleaner.
5. Plastic Bags
Do you have an overflowing collection of plastic bags? Sometimes it seems like every pharmacy, deli, convenience store, or grocery store hands them out. But plastic bags are one of the easiest everyday products to find a second use for. For instance, if you have a small trashcan in your bathroom or bedroom, don’t waste money by buying trash bags. Instead, use the plastic bags as impromptu trash bags. Plastic bags are also great to use as packing materials if you need to fill up space in a package.
6. Popsicle Sticks
If you eat a lot of popsicles, don’t throw away the sticks. While popsicle sticks are usually either thrown away or reused for craft projects, they can live on. If you’re planning on painting your house, popsicle sticks act as great paint stirrers. If you have a garden, popsicle sticks are also an easy way to mark your plants or keep them from slumping over in the wind.
7. Yogurt Cups
You might not think that yogurt cups can be reused in very many ways, but that’s definitely not true. For instance, you can use the empty cup as a place to start growing seeds. After you poke a couple of holes in the bottom, add in potting soil and the seeds. Once the seeds start to sprout, transplant them into a larger pot or the ground. Another great use for yogurt cups is using them to catch paint drips. If you’re painting, yogurt cups can also be used to hold small amounts of paint. Most yogurt cups are insanely sturdy.
Suggested reading: Is inexpensive food making you fat?
8. Aluminum Foil
Did you know that if you rub aluminum foil along rust spots, you can eliminate the rust? Aluminum foil can also help sharpen dulled scissors. All you need to do is fold a sheet of aluminum foil over a couple of times and cut through it with the scissors. However, aluminum foil is gentle enough that it can be used to polish chrome!
9. Newspaper or Magazines
If you still subscribe to the newspaper or certain magazines, old issues can come in very handing. Not only do they make good packing material, they can also be used as fire starters. If you’re painting certain areas of your house, you can also use the paper or magazine pages to cover areas you don’t want to ruin. Just don’t get distracted and start reading them instead of working.
10. Olive Oil
Olive oil is sometimes used by people as an alternative to shaving cream. Some people also make their own furniture polish by combining two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice or distilled vinegar.
Final Thoughts
How few products can you get by using? I only have about 10 in my entire house! It’s all about buying universal products to keep costs down!
