Home Maintenance Hacks That Won't Empty Your Wallet

Most homeowners are used to the idea that they need to spend anywhere from 1 to 3% of the value of their property on maintenance every year. It’s just the price paid for owning a house.


But what if there were hacks – shortcuts that reduce the costs massively?

Well, it turns out that there might be. We’re not saying that these clever techniques will work in every scenario. But if you can deploy them effectively, you could potentially save a lot of money.


Here’s what to do:


Add A Fan To Your Bathroom

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Calling mold remediation specialists to deal with a patch of fungus growing in your bathroom is effective. But if you are like most homeowners, you’d much prefer it if you could stop the mold from growing in the first place.


That’s where adding a fan to your bathroom could help. Circulating the air more is one of the most powerful ways to stop mold from developing.


If you want an even better solution, consider adding a dehumidifier. These desiccate the air, preventing lingering moisture from your last showing and providing resources to annoying critters that want to sprout up.


Use An Old Toothbrush In Hard-To-Reach Places


Another hack that you’ve probably seen before is using toothbrushes for hard-to-reach places instead of buying specialist tools. These are ideal for scrubbing sink edges, tile grout, and all the usual crevices you find in the bathroom.


The best toothbrushes are those with stiff, soft bristles. These can soak up quite a bit of punishment and effectively remove dark spots from around your home.


It’s a massive money saver because it prevents you from having to buy any new stuff. You simply keep toothbrushes once they stop being useful for your teeth, extending their lifespan way beyond what the manufacturer intended.


Lemon For Garbage Disposal Devices

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Do you have one of those garbage disposal devices below your sink? If you do, you’re not alone. These helpful pieces of equipment grind up all the bits of food that fall down your kitchen sink, eliminating the need to remove them by hand.


Unfortunately, garbage disposal mechanisms can become dirty over time. As you can imagine, they are hard to clean, unless you open the cupboard under the sink and remove them from their housing (which is usually a time-consuming process).


The solution is to use lemon peel. Let’s say that you’re making tahini and have a spare squeezed lemon half sitting on the countertop. Putting this down the sink garbage disposal is a highly effective way to eliminate any bad smells and give the whole thing a good clean. The acid and cleaning phytonutrients it contains can get into all the device’s crevices and leave it smelling beautiful and fresh for longer.


Extend Your Mattresses’s Life With Essential Oils


What about your mattress? Is there a way you can maintain that at a low cost? Of course, there is!


The trick to extending your mattress’s life is to use essential oils and baking soda. Adding a sprinkle of the latter and a few drops of the former creates a cleaning solution that draws contaminants out of the fabric, allowing you to sleep easily.


The way it works is two-fold. First, you do the sprinkling. Then, a few hours later after the ingredients have had time to work, you vacuum them up. Some of the particles that damage your bed over time should come out with them, allowing it to last longer.


The final result is odorless bedding. Your mattress stays fresher for longer.


Clean Grease Off Cabinets With Dish Soap


Another technique is to clean grease off cabinets with dish soap. No, it’s not the specialist cleaning solutions you sometimes find in the store. But it is highly effective and something you should consider if you’re serious about saving money.


Dish soap works on cabinets because it is formulated to cut through grease (which is usually what accumulates on your kitchen furnishings). You don’t have to buy specialist cleaners, and it is probably there in your home waiting to be used already.


Seal Windows


Another approach that’s becoming more popular is the idea of sealing windows. Not only does it help the window washing company, but it also makes it less likely that cold air will come inside during the winter.


You can seal windows by spraying them with mist and then applying a thin film of plastic to them. You can also fill gaps around the window with caulk or putty, depending on the specific circumstances.


Remove Wall Scuffs With Tennis Balls


Another hack is to remove wall scuffs with tennis balls. This incredible technique is an easy way to give your home a makeover without actually buying any new materials.


Tennis balls work to remove scuffs because of their unique construction materials. The fibrous outer layer disrupts the stain, allowing it to lift off more easily than with conventional approaches. This approach is effective and substantially cheaper than other approaches, such as repainting your home’s exterior.


Make Aluminum Scissor Sharpeners


You could also experiment with creating aluminum scissor sharpeners. These reduce the need to go to home stores and spend extra money on fancy sharpeners.


You can make an aluminum scissor sharpener by folding a piece of foil several times and then cutting it with scissors. Usually, this process will sharpen the blade, making it more effective the next time you want to cut paper.


Unclog Drains With Vinegar

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Lastly, you could try unclogging your drains with vinegar and baking soda. Pouring baking soda down the drain followed by half a cup of vinegar and covering it for a few minutes allows it to work its way into whatever is causing the blockage. Then, you can rinse it away with boiling water, hopefully eliminating the problem.


Just remember that the water needs to be exceptionally hot for this technique to work. Otherwise, buying a plunger is often your best option.


This approach can help with the maintenance of your home because you probably have the ingredients in your kitchen already. You don’t need to go out and buy a drain cleaner.