Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Prices for everything are getting higher and higher, and it’s only going to get worse. If you’re struggling to make ends meet or just looking for ways to be more self-reliant, making your own household items is an option worth exploring.

From soap and candles to dishwashing detergents and air fresheners, there are many everyday items that you can easily make at home. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular household items you can make yourself.

I should warn you that with many of these items, there will be a bigger investment up front as you’ll be buying enough ingredients to make the item multiple times, but in the long run you’ll save money.

Food Items

Baking Mix

Baking mix is something that most people buy pre-made, but did you know that it’s really easy to make at home?

All you need is flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Simply mix together in a bowl and store in an airtight container. You can use this baking mix for pancakes, waffles, muffins, cakes and more! 

Here’s a recipe.

Bread

Baking your own bread is rewarding and can be healthier than store-bought. You usually just need flour, salt, sugar, and some yeast or starter.

Here’s a recipe for easy sourdough sandwich bread.

Cheese

Making cheese at home isn’t just fun but also very rewarding since it tastes so much better than store-bought cheese.

Here’s how to do it. 

Chips 

Instead of buying bags of chips from the store, why not make them yourself? It’s surprisingly easy to do. Here’s how.

Granola Bars 

Homemade granola bars make for a delicious snack that you can take on the go with you. In order to make them yourself, all you will need is oats (rolled or quick oats work best) and your favorite mix-ins (like dried fruit or nuts).

Here’s a fun recipe. 

Iced Tea

Making homemade iced tea requires only two steps—brewing the tea and chillin it. For an even cleaner taste, consider adding honey or sugar instead of artificial sweeteners.

Here’s how.

Jam

Making your own jam is easier than you think. Start by picking out which fruit(s) you want to use – raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, etc.

Then, here’s a simple recipe to follow. 

Nut Milk

Homemade almond or oat milk is a breeze to make and doesn’t contain additives or preservatives. Just soak your nuts or oats overnight, blend with water, and strain.

Here are 4 ways to make nut milk.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is an all-time favorite snack that’s surprisingly easy to make at home. All you need is roasted peanuts, honey (or other sweetener), salt, oil (optional), and a food processor. 

Here’s a simple recipe.

Pickles 

Making pickles at home requires only four ingredients: cucumbers (pickling cucumbers work best), white vinegar, sugar and salt.

Here’s how to do it.

Salad Dressing 

Forget buying expensive salad dressings from the store and start making your own. 

Here’s how.

Seasonings 

Instead of buying premade seasonings from the store, why not try making them yourself? 

Try mixing together dried herbs like oregano, thyme & basil along with garlic powder, onion powder & black pepper for an Italian seasoning blend perfect for pizza or pasta dishes.

Try chili powder along with cumin smoked paprika & cayenne pepper for Mexican dishes, or try ground ginger along with turmeric & cinnamon for Asian dishes—the possibilities are endless!   

Here are some fun ideas.

Spaghetti Sauce 

Homemade spaghetti sauce is surprisingly easy to make. And if you grow your own tomatoes, it’s a wonderful way to use up the excess harvest.

Learn more here.

Syrup 

You don’t have to buy syrup from the store when you can make your own at home. All you need is water, brown sugar or honey (or both), butter, and vanilla extract. 

Here’s an easy recipe.

Yogurt 

Like cheese, yogurt is surprisingly easy to make at home. Here’s how to do it.

Hygiene Items

Antiseptic Ointment 

Antiseptic ointments are used for many different skin issues such as cuts, scrapes, burns, rashes, etc.

Here’s a simple recipe. 

Baby Wipes 

Make sure only natural ingredients touch your baby’s skin with DIY baby wipes.

Here’s how.

Body and Face Scrub

If you’re looking for an easy way to pamper yourself without breaking the bank, why not try making your own body and face scrub?

Here’s how.

Body Wash 

Making your own body wash is easy and requires just a few simple ingredients. All you need is some liquid castile soap, vegetable glycerin, essential oils (for scent), and water. 

Here’s a basic recipe.

Bubble Bath 

Enjoy luxurious bubble baths without spending too much by making your own bubble bath at home.

Here’s a recipe.

Deodorant 

Deodorant is one of the easiest items to make yourself. All you need is a base of baking soda, cornstarch, or arrowroot powder and then combine it with coconut oil. You can also add essential oils like lavender or tea tree for scent, as well as zinc oxide for extra odor protection. 

Here’s an easy recipe. 

Hair Conditioner 

A great way to get rid of harsh chemicals found in store-bought conditioners is by making them yourself. Here are some ideas.

Hair Spray

If you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective way to tame your locks, then making your own hair spray might just be the answer. All you need is water, alcohol, essential oils, glycerin and a few other ingredients. 

Here’s a basic recipe.

Lip Balm 

Lip balm is an essential item for many people, especially during colder months of the year. Creating your own lip balm can be easy and enjoyable. All you need is some beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, and some essential oils for scent. 

Here’s a recipe you can follow. 

Lipstick 

Making your own lipstick is surprisingly easy.

Here’s how to do it.

Lotion 

Whether you have dry skin or just want something moisturizing for after showers, this lotion recipe is just what you need.

Check it out here.

Makeup

You don’t need expensive makeup brands when you can make your own! Here are some easy ideas.

Here are some fun ideas.

Mouthwash

You don’t have to spend a lot on expensive store-bought mouthwashes when you can easily make your own at home. 

Here’s a recipe.

Shampoo 

It is possible to make shampoo from scratch as well, though it takes a bit more effort than making body wash. 

Here are some recipes.

Shaving Cream

Make your own shaving cream using olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and a few other ingredients. It’s gentle on the skin and easy to whip up.

Here’s how to make it.

Soap 

Making your own soap is quick and easy, and it’s a great way to save money on household items. All you need is some melt-and-pour soap base, essential oils for scent, and herbs or other additives for color and texture. 

Here’s a recipe.

Sunscreen 

Sunscreen is another product that should be avoided if bought from stores because many contain harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate which may disrupt hormones in humans when exposed over long periods of time.

Make your own like this instead.

Toothpaste

Making toothpaste at home may seem intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple. The main ingredients are coconut oil and baking soda—both of which are natural whiteners—as well as peppermint essential oil for flavor and calcium powder to give it a paste-like consistency.

Here’s an easy recipe.

Cleaning Items

Candles 

Making candles is an enjoyable activity that can be done in an afternoon. All you need is wax (either paraffin or beeswax), wicks with metal bases, essential oils for scent, and dye (if desired). 

Here’s an easy recipe. 

Carpet Cleaner

For carpets that need an extra bit of cleaning power, try making your own carpet cleaner at home.

Here’s how.

Cleaning Spray 

DIY cleaning spray is incredibly simple to make and takes just minutes.

Here’s an easy recipe for an all-purpose cleaning spray.

Cleaning Wipes

Cut up some fabric, soak them in a homemade disinfectant solution, and store them in a container. Wash and reuse!

Here’s how to make homemade cleaning wipes.

Dish Soap  

Homemade dish soap is surprisingly easy to make. All you need is liquid castile soap (available at most health food stores), water, white vinegar and essential oils for scent. 

Here’s how to do it.

Dishwasher Detergent 

Making your own dishwashing detergent is easy, inexpensive, and eco-friendly. To get started, all you need is baking soda, washing soda (or borax), salt (optional), white vinegar (optional) and essential oils for scent. 

Here’s how to do it.

Disinfectant Spray 

This disinfectant spray is perfect for combating germs on surfaces around your home. 

Here’s how to do it. 

Drain Cleaner 

Keep your drains clog-free with a homemade drain cleaner! Pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes before flushing with hot water. This will help to break up any stubborn clogs in your pipes. 

Learn more here.

Dryer Sheets 

Dryer sheets can be expensive if bought from the store, but they’re easy to make at home.

Here’s how.

Dust Cloths 

Instead of buying disposable dust cloths, make them yourself. All you need is an old T-shirt, some scissors, and fabric glue or stapler.

Here’s a tutorial.

Floor Cleaner 

Floors looking a little less than sparkling clean?

Give this DIY floor cleaner a try.

Furniture Polish 

This is one of the easiest items to make because all you need are a few simple ingredients. Just mix them together in equal parts and apply it with a cloth to clean, shine, and protect your furniture surfaces. 

Here’s how to make your own.

Glass Cleaner 

Commercial glass cleaners can contain harsh chemicals that may irritate eyes and skin. Making your own glass cleaner requires just two ingredients—vinegar and water—which are both natural and non-toxic alternatives.

Here’s how to make it. 

Laundry Soap 

Store-bought laundry detergent can be expensive, so why not make your own? This homemade laundry soap is made with basic, all natural ingredients.

Here’s how to make it. 

Laundry Stain Remover

Say goodbye to those pesky laundry stains with this homemade stain remover.

Here’s the recipe.

Oven Cleaner

No need to buy expensive oven cleaners at the store anymore. All you’ll need is some baking soda, white vinegar, dish soap and water.

Take a look here.

Shoe Polish 

Making shoe polish at home is an easy task that doesn’t require many ingredients or much time.

Here’s how to do it.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner 

If you’re tired of spending money on store-bought toilet bowl cleaner, try making it yourself.

Here’s how to help that toilet bowl shine without spending tons of money.

Upholstery Cleaner

Clean couches and chairs with a homemade upholstery spray made from detergent, vinegar, and baking soda.

Here’s how to make it.

Miscellaneous Items

Air Freshener

Making your own air freshener is a great way to make sure you know exactly what’s going into it—no mystery chemicals here! To get started all you need is baking soda (or cornstarch), essential oils for scent, water and a spray bottle/container of choice.

Here’s a recipe.

Car De-Icer 

Keep your car ice-free this winter with this simple DIY deicer solution! Just mix 3 parts warm water with 1 part rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.  It’s as simple as that!

Here’s a detailed recipe you can follow.

Cat Food 

If you’re looking for an alternative to store-bought cat food, why not try making it yourself? There are plenty of recipes online that use natural ingredients like chicken breasts or turkey mince plus vegetables like carrots or green beans.

Just be sure to check with your vet before switching from store-bought food to homemade so they can provide advice on the best ingredients for your pet’s diet. 

Here are some quick recipe ideas.

Compost 

Making your own compost is a great way to give back to the environment while also producing nutrient-rich soil for your garden or houseplants. Composting requires three simple ingredients – kitchen scraps (like vegetable peels), yard waste (like grass clippings), and water – that you can easily find in most households.

Here’s how to compost.

Dog Food 

Making homemade dog food may sound daunting but it’s actually quite simple – and much healthier for your pup.

Here’s how to do it.

Dog Treats 

Fido will love these homemade treats! And you’ll love all the money you’ll save.

Check it out here.

Fire Starters

Make campfire or fireplace starters from a few simple items like wax, dryer lint, wax, empty toilet paper rolls, etc. Great for off-grid use too!

Here’s how to make sawdust firestarters.

Here’s how to make cotton ball firestarters.

Gift Wrap 

Wrapping paper isn’t just expensive; it’s also wasteful. Why not make your own gift wrap instead?

Here’s how to do it.

Glue

Make glue from scratch using flour and water! It’s as easy as one-two-three.

Here’s how to do it.

Ice Packs 

Instead of purchasing prepackaged ice packs from the store, why not make them yourself? All you need is water, rubbing alcohol (to prevent freezing), zip-top bags, and anything else you want to add (like glitter!).

Here is an easy recipe.

Insect Repellent 

Keep bugs away with this natural insect repellent that requires just three ingredients—lemon eucalyptus oil, witch hazel, and water. 

Here’s a simple recipe.

Kids Toys 

If you have kids at home, there are plenty of easy DIY toys they’ll love. From play dough to wooden blocks, there are countless fun projects they can help make themselves. This is a great way to keep them entertained while also teaching them valuable skills like problem solving and creativity. 

Here are some fun ideas.

Plant Fertilizer 

Fertilizing plants is essential for their growth, but buying store-bought fertilizer can be expensive. 

Here’s an easy DIY way to make your own fertilizer instead.

Weed Killer 

Making your own weed killer is not only cost-effective, but also eco-friendly. You can make an effective weed killer with common household ingredients like white vinegar, salt, and dish soap. 

Here’s a simple recipe.

Final Thoughts

Making your own household items may seem like a daunting task but it’s actually quite simple! All it takes is some basic ingredients from around the house plus some time to spare—and voila! 

You have yourself quality products made right at home while saving both time AND money along the way.

You May Also Like: